03/30/2015
The Defendant appealed the trial magistrate’s decision to sustain the charged violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-13-4 (obedience to traffic control devices). The Defendant argued that the trial magistrate improperly imposed sanctions pursuant to the Colin Foote Act because failed to make specific findings of fact to establish that the Defendant posed a substantial threat to safety. Here, the trial magistrate imposed sanctions after finding that the Defendant had the requisite four moving violations within an eighteen-month period, suggesting that he had a “flagrant disregard for the traffic laws,” and that he would “pose a potential hazard if he continue[d] to operate a motor vehicle in the State of Rhode Island.” The Panel held that because the trial magistrate did make specific findings that the Defendant posed as a safety hazard, the trial magistrate did not err in imposing sanctions. Accordingly, the Panel upheld the trial magistrate’s decision to sustain the charged violation and the trial magistrate’s sentence.
Town of Burrillville v. Nfamara Jadama, C.A. No. T14-0039 (March 30, 2015).pdf