Obedience to Devices

Defendant appealed the decision of the North Providence Municipal Court sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-13-4 (obedience to devices) (specifically, the axle restriction on the Pawtucket River Bridge and the Sakonnet River Bridge imposed by R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-25-30). The Appeals Panel held that a tractor and attached trailer constitute a single vehicle and are not to be considered two separate vehicles. Therefore, the exception in § 31-25-30 for “truck tractors” applies only to tractors without an attached trailer. Here, the defendant’s tractor was carrying an attached trailer. Accordingly, the Court affirmed the decision of the trial magistrate.

City of Pawtucket v. Zsolt Laszki, C.A. No. T08-137 (March 30, 2009).pdf