Failure to Maintain Control

The Defendant appealed the trial magistrate’s decision to sustain the charged violations of R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-15-11 (laned roadway) and R.I.G.L. 1956 § 31-14-1 (failure to maintain control). The Defendant argued that the trial magistrate erred in sustaining the violations because there was not reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the record. Here, the Defendant’s counsel conceded that the evidence supported the laned roadway violation. Additionally, a witness to the accident testified that she observed the Defendant’s vehicle strike another car while attempting to change lanes and then “bolt over the guardrail.” The Panel held that the trial magistrate had sufficient evidence to support the charged violations. Accordingly, the Panel upheld the trial magistrate’s decision to sustain the charged violations.

State of Rhode Island v. Ramel Shaw, C.A. No. T14-0060 (September 25, 2015).pdf