Defendant appealed a decision of the Appeals Panel sustaining a violation of G.L. 1956 § 31-12-4 (obedience to traffic control devices). Defendant failed to appear at the appeal hearing. As a result, the Appeals Panel dismissed Defendant’s appeal on procedural grounds. Defendant raised a “myriad” of issues, but the District Court noted that its only role was to determine whether or not the Appeals Panel’s procedural ruling was lawful. The District Court held that the Appeals Panel’s decision was appropriate based upon the circumstances known to the Panel at the time that it acted. Although defendant later asserted that he had a valid reason for missing the appeal hearing, that statement was not part of the Traffic Tribunal record and, therefore, the District Court had no basis to overturn the Appeals Panel’s decision. Accordingly, the District Court affirmed the decision of the Appeals Panel.

*Note: The District Court mentioned that Defendant may be able to file a Motion to Vacate pursuant to Rule 20 of the Traffic Tribunal Rules of Procedure as an avenue to put his reasons for missing the hearing on his appeal into the record.