What a Rhode Island speeding ticket is

Rhode Island General Laws title 31 (webserver.rilegislature.gov, retrieved 29 Oct 2026) sets speed rules in chapter 31-14, “Speed Restrictions”, and a schedule of violations in chapter 31-41.1, “Adjudication of Traffic Offenses”. This page quotes sections of both chapters. It does not apply them to any notice. Read the charge and the date printed on your notice, and any speed limit, alleged speed, or section number shown on it. Confirm what your notice says.

If the paper is a camera notice from a red light camera or a school-zone speed camera, see Rhode Island camera citations: what chapters 31-41.2 and 31-41.3 say about red light cameras and school-zone speed cameras. Confirm what your paper says.

The General Laws text below is quoted from the Rhode Island General Assembly’s site as shown when retrieved on 29 Oct 2026.

What § 31-14-1 says about reasonable and prudent speeds

§ 31-14-1: “No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.” It continues: “In every event, speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle, or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.” and “Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.” That is the statute’s statement.

What § 31-14-2 says about prima facie speed limits

§ 31-14-2(a): “Where no special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with § 31-14-1, the speed of any vehicle not in excess of the limits specified in this section or established as authorized in this title shall be lawful, but any speed in excess of the limits specified in this section or established as authorized in this title shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful:”

(1) “Twenty-five miles per hour (25 mph) in any business or residence district;”
(2) “Fifty miles per hour (50 mph) in other locations during the daytime;”
(3) “Forty-five miles per hour (45 mph) in such other locations during the nighttime;”
(4) “Twenty miles per hour (20 mph) in the area within three hundred feet (300′) of any school house grounds’ entrances and exits during the daytime during the days when schools shall be open.”
(5) “The provisions of subdivision (4) of this subsection shall not apply except when appropriate warning signs are posted in proximity with the boundaries of the area within three hundred feet (300′) of the school house grounds, entrances, and exits.”

§ 31-14-2(b): “Daytime means from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.” It continues: “Nighttime means at any other hour.” § 31-14-2(c): “The prima facie speed limits set forth in this section may be altered as authorized in §§ 31-14-4 — 31-14-8.” That is the statute’s statement. This page does not list the speed limits posted on particular roads. Read any speed limit shown on your notice.

What § 31-14-12.1 says about highway construction and maintenance operations

§ 31-14-12.1(a) lets the department of transportation or a local governing unit declare temporary speed limits through a highway construction or maintenance operation. It states: “A temporary speed limit so determined and declared shall become effective and shall suspend the applicability of any other speed limit prescribed in this chapter when appropriate signs of the design prescribed by the department giving notice of the limits are erected at or along the operation.” It continues: “When these signs are erected, the total of fines, penalties, and costs assessed upon conviction shall be twice the amount otherwise set by the general laws.”

§ 31-14-12.1(b) is about signs at street, highway, or bridge construction or maintenance operations that declare a doubled fine in a temporary traffic control zone. It states: “When these signs are erected, the total of the fines, penalties, and costs assessed upon conviction shall be twice the amount otherwise set by the general laws.” That is the statute’s statement. This page does not calculate a doubled amount. Read whether your notice mentions a work zone or a temporary traffic control zone.

What § 31-41.1-4 says about the speeding lines of the schedule

§ 31-41.1-4(a): “The penalties for violations of the enumerated sections, listed in numerical order, correspond to the fines described.” It continues: “However, those offenses for which punishments may vary according to the severity of the offense, or punishment that requires the violator to perform a service, shall be heard and decided by the traffic tribunal or municipal court.” and “The following violations may be handled administratively through the method prescribed in this chapter.” and “This list is not exclusive and jurisdiction may be conferred on the traffic tribunal with regard to other violations.”

The “VIOLATIONS SCHEDULE” that follows lists many sections of the General Laws. Its line for section 31-14-1 reads “Reasonable and prudent speed”, printed beside “95.00”. This page does not cover the schedule’s other section lines. Its part headed “SPEEDING” has two lines, quoted here with the amount printed beside each:

(A) “One to ten miles per hour (1-10 m.p.h.) in excess of posted speed limit”, printed beside “$ 95.00”
(B) “Eleven miles per hour (11 m.p.h.) in excess of posted speed limit with a fine of ten dollars ($10.00) per mile in excess of speed limit shall be assessed.”, printed beside “205.00 minimum”

That is the statute’s statement. This page does not calculate a fine for any speed, and it does not say which line of the schedule applies to a particular notice. Read any amount shown on your notice.

What § 31-41.1-4 says about additional penalties and license suspension

§ 31-41.1-4(b): “In addition to any other penalties provided by law, a judge may impose the following penalties for speeding:”

(1) “For speeds up to and including ten miles per hour (10 m.p.h.) over the posted speed limit on public highways, a fine as provided for in subsection (a) of this section for the first offense; ten dollars ($10.00) per mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the second offense if within twelve (12) months of the first offense; and fifteen dollars ($15.00) per mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the third and any subsequent offense if within twelve (12) months of the first offense. In addition, the license may be suspended up to thirty (30) days.”
(2) “For speeds in excess of ten miles per hour (10 m.p.h.) over the posted speed limit on public highways, a mandatory fine of ten dollars ($10.00) for each mile over the speed limit for the first offense; fifteen dollars ($15.00) per mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the second offense if within twelve (12) months of the first offense; and twenty dollars ($20.00) per mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the third and subsequent offense if within twelve (12) months of the first offense. In addition, the license may be suspended up to sixty (60) days.”

That is the statute’s statement. This page does not say how that statement applies to a particular citation, license, or insurance policy.

What § 31-41.1-4 says about additional costs

§ 31-41.1-4(c): “Except for a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11, any person charged with a violation who pays the fine administratively pursuant to this chapter shall not be subject to any additional costs or assessments, including, but not limited to, the hearing fee established in § 8-18-4.” That is the statute’s statement. The sections quoted on this page do not state the amount of the technology surcharge, and this page does not state one.

What § 31-41.1-1 and § 31-41.1-2 say about the summons

§ 31-41.1-1(a): “The summons and complaint to be issued to an offending operator shall contain any information, and be in any form that may be required by the rules of procedure promulgated by the chief magistrate of the traffic tribunal.” It continues: “Every summons shall provide notice of:”

(1) “The charge or charges against the operator; and”
(2) “A date to appear in the traffic tribunal and answer the charges against him or her.”

§ 31-41.1-2: “Any member of the state police, or any member of the police department of any city or town and any other duly authorized law enforcement officer who charges any person with an offense as set out in § 31-41.1-4 shall, in addition to issuing a summons for the offense, provide the offending operator with a form which will allow the offender to dispose of the charge without the necessity of personally appearing before the traffic tribunal.” It continues: “This section shall apply to resident and nonresident operators.” That is the statute’s statement.

What § 31-41.1-7 says about a good driving record

§ 31-41.1-7(a): “Any person who has had a motor vehicle operator’s license for more than three (3) years, and who has been issued traffic violations which are his or her first violations within the preceding three (3) years, may request a hearing seeking a dismissal of the violations based upon the operator’s good driving record.” § 31-41.1-7(d): “The following violations shall not be dismissed pursuant to this statute:” Its paragraph (5) reads: “Any speeding violation in excess of fourteen miles per hour (14 m.p.h.) above the posted speed limit;” That is the statute’s statement. Subsection (d) has other paragraphs, and the section has other subsections, that this page does not cover. This page does not say how the section applies to a particular notice.

Paths the notice describes (not which to choose)

Read which police department, officer, or agency issued your notice, the court named on it, the charge, the date, any amount, and the response instructions printed on it. We do not tell you which path to choose or what step to take.

Violation.com does not collect Rhode Island fines. If you upload a speeding notice, we summarize what the notice shows. It is not legal advice.

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Sources retrieved 29 Oct 2026:

Not legal advice. Not a law firm. Not affiliated with a government agency. Information Only.

Information on this page was last checked against official sources on November 2, 2026.