2012 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other vehicles
Chapter 31-21.2 - Racial Profiling Prevention Act of 2004
Chapter 31-21.2-5 - Law enforcement practices.

§ 31-21.2-5 Law enforcement practices. – (a) Unless there exists reasonable suspicion or probable cause of criminal activity, no motor vehicle stopped for a traffic violation shall be detained beyond the time needed to address the violation. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the detention of a motor vehicle for a reasonable period of time for the arrival of a canine unit or subsequent criminal investigation, if there is reasonable suspicion or probable cause of criminal activity.

(b) No operator or owner-passenger of a motor vehicle shall be requested to consent to a search by a law enforcement officer of his or her motor vehicle which is stopped solely for a traffic violation, unless there exists reasonable suspicion or probable cause of criminal activity.

(c) Any evidence obtained as a result of a search prohibited by subsection (a) or (b) shall be inadmissible in any judicial proceeding. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude any search otherwise based upon any legally sufficient cause.

(d) Law enforcement agencies using video and/or audio surveillance cameras in their vehicles shall adopt written policies and procedures regarding the use of such cameras, which shall be public records.

(e) The policies and procedures established by this section shall be added to, and prominently placed in, all relevant departmental policy and training manuals. Other appropriate training about the requirements of this chapter shall also be provided to all officers.

History of Section.
(P.L. 2004, ch. 331, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 356, § 1.)