R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-12 (2026)

Service of notice — Summons

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) Any police officer observing the violation of any statute or ordinance relating to the operation, control, or maintenance of a motor vehicle or a violation of subparagraphs 21-28-4.01(c)(2)(iii) and 21-28-4.01(c)(2)(iv), shall at the time or place of the violation or, if it is not possible to halt the alleged offender, as soon as possible after observing the violation, issue a written notice, of a form and content provided for in § 31-27-12.1, signed by the police officer and constituting a summons to appear before the court having jurisdiction at a time and place designated in the notice.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall preclude a police officer from exercising in the alternative his or her statutory powers of arrest, nor shall anything contained in this chapter preclude the making of additional complaints against the alleged offender arising out of the violation of any statute or ordinance relating to the operation, control, or maintenance of a motor vehicle observed by the police officer. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a person other than a police officer from applying for a criminal complaint for the violation of any statute or ordinance relating to the operation, control, or maintenance of a motor vehicle, and the person need not show that the alleged offender has been issued a summons in connection with the alleged violation.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case, 1980–1980 · leading case: State v. Frazier, 421 A.2d 546 (R.I. 1980).
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State v. Frazier, 421 A.2d 546 (R.I. 1980). “1956 (1968 Reenactment) § 31-27-12 (1979 Cum.Supp.). At its January 1978 session, the General Assembly amended § 31-41^1 with its enactment of P.”
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