RI District Court and Traffic Tribunal Case Law

This website is in no way affiliated with, sponsored by, or supported by the Rhode Island Judiciary, the Rhode Island District Court, or Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.

M09-0025-Seat Belt Use

Defendant appealed the decision of the Middletown Municipal Court sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-22-22 (safety belt use). The Court agreed with the trial judge and held that § 31-22-22 only requires that there be a basis for a traffic stop other than a safety belt violation and that the defendant need not be charged with the “primary offense” in order to be charged with a seat belt violation. Thus, the Court affirmed the decision of the trial judge sustaining the charge against the defendant.

Case Index