RI District Court and Traffic Tribunal Case Law

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Town of Bristol v. Frank Polverino A.A. No.09-00023-Coercion by Officer

Defendant appealed the decision of the Appeals Panel sustaining the violation of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-15-1 (right half of road), § 31-15-11 (laned roadways), and § 31-27-2.1 (refusal to submit to a chemical test). The District Court held that the defendant was not coerced into refusing to submit because he independently chose to refuse to submit where he wanted to get out of jail and thought that refusing would get him out of jail.  Accordingly, the Court affirmed the decision of the Appeals Panel.

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