Interval between Vehicles

Defendant appealed the decision of the trial court sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. § 31-15-12 (“interval between vehicles”). Defendant argued that the officer failed to provide the exact distance between the vehicles as required by Wray v. Green, 126 A.3d 476 (R.I. 2015). The Appeals Panel held that Wray is inapplicable to § 31-15-12 and that the officer’s testimony that the vehicle was “travelling too closely” and “leaving insufficient amount of space for another overtaking vehicle to occupy the space,” standing alone, was sufficient to establish the violation. Accordingly, the trial court’s decision was affirmed.

State of Rhode Island v. Hagop Saribekian, No. T16-0006 (September 8, 2016).pdf