RI District Court and Traffic Tribunal Case Law

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State of Rhode Island v. Jim Desrosiers, C.A. No. T09-0052 Speedometer Calibration

Defendant appealed the decision of the trial magistrate sustaining the violations of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-14-2 (prima facie limits), R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-3-1 (operation of an unregistered vehicle), and R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-47-9 (verification of proof of financial security). The Appeals Panel held that the trial magistrate erroneously allowed the trooper to testify as to the calibration of his cruiser’s speedometer without first requiring him to introduce the calibration sheet into evidence. The Court held that this constituted reversible error of law pursuant to State v. Mancino, 340 A.2d 128 (R.I. 1975). Accordingly, the Court reversed the decision of the trial magistrate and remanded with instructions to dismiss the speeding violation.

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