Credibility

Defendant appealed the decision of the trial magistrate sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-20-09 (obedience to stop sign). Defendant claimed that he came to a complete stop at the stop sign and white stop line, and that the trial magistrate’s ruling was clearly erroneous because he credited the testimony of the officer over his own.  The Panel noted that the trial magistrate chose to believe the officer’s testimony that he had an unobstructed and clear view of defendant when he slowed down but did not come to a complete stop.  Accordingly, the Panel sustained the violation.

Town of Middletown v. Gary Lewis, C.A. No. T11-0086 (May 3, 2012).pdf