Appellate Procedure

Defendant appealed a decision of the Appeals Panel sustaining a violation of G.L. 1956 § 31-14-2 (prima facie limits). Defendant contended that the Appeals Panel erred when it sustained the charged violation, but Defendant failed to present any arguments alleging legal error to the District Court. The District Court held that the Appeals Panel properly applied the correct law with regard to the speeding violation and the court noted that a showing of prejudice—which Defendant failed to allege—was required for an error in a citation to justify a dismissal. Accordingly, the District Court affirmed the decision of the Appeals Panel.

Kenton Smith v. State of Rhode Island, A.A. No. 18-126 (March 25, 2019).pdf