Operating without Insurance

The Defendant appealed the trial magistrate’s decision to sustain the charged violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-47-9 (proof of financial security). The Defendant was suspected in a hit-and-run accident because the Defendant’s vehicle had damage consistent with a collision and his license plate closely matched the plate of the vehicle involved. Further, the Defendant’s vehicle did not have insurance on the date of the hit-and-run, but he obtained insurance two days after the crash. The Defendant argued that the trial magistrate erred in not crediting his testimony that the damage to his vehicle was caused after the collision. The Panel held that the trial magistrate’s decision was not affected by error of law because the decision was supported by legally competent evidence. Accordingly, the Panel upheld the trial magistrate’s decision and sustained the charged violation.

State of Rhode Island v. Derrick Corey, C.A. T08-0111 (November 5, 2008).pdf