RI District Court and Traffic Tribunal Case Law

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T12-0051 Right to Appeal

Defendant appealed the decision of the trial judge sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-14-2 (prima facie limits). The Appeals Panel held that Rule 18(b), provided that “after imposing a sentence the court shall advise the defendant of his or her right to appeal to an appellate panel of the traffic tribunal,” but the rule does not mandate that the Court comport with the rule after a guilty plea. Thus, the Appeals Panel held that Rule 18(b) did not require the trial court to instruct a motorist regarding her appellate rights after a plea of guilty.  Accordingly, the vioation was sustained.

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