06/08/2021
Defendant appealed a Trial Magistrate’s decision sustaining the charged violation of “Obedience to stop signs.” A patrolman testified that he observed a vehicle fail to come to a complete stop at a stop sign at an intersection. The officer initiated a traffic stop and identified the Defendant as the driver. Further the officer testified that he ran a performance check and learned that the Defendant had previously been cited for the same violation at the same location. The patrolman issued a ticket. The Defendant denied the allegation, claiming that he had been particularly cautious due to the prior violation. The Trial Magistrate found him guilty. The Defendant appealed, arguing that the decision was biased but failed to elaborate any further.
The Appeals Panel noted that “it is well-settled that ‘[t]he task of determining the credibility of witnesses is peculiarly the function of the trial justice when sitting without a jury.’” (citing DeSimone Electric, Inc. v. CMG, Inc., 901 A.2d 613, 621 (R.I. 2006) (quoting Walter v. Baird, 433 A.2d 963, 964 (R.I.1981)). The Panel found that the Trial Judge did not abuse his discretion when finding the patrolman credible and sustained the charged violation.
State of Rhode Island v. Justin Woodford, No. M21-0002 (June 8 2021).pdf