Defendant appealed the decision of the trial judge sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L 1956 § 31-14-2 (prima facie limits).  The Appeals Panel held that the trial magistrate was not mandated to recuse himself because the purpose of raising the defendant’s previous traffic offenses before trial was only to give notice to the defendant and her attorney.  The Court noted that nothing in the record suggested that the trial magistrate preconceived anything about the defendant’s guilt or innocence before the trial.  Thus, the Court held that recusal was not warranted and sustained the violation against the defendant.