If you are a driver who has been cited for violating Rhode Island’s axle restriction on the Pawtucket River Bridge, you may be wondering exactly what the language of the state law says.
So you may be better informed of your rights, Rhode Island State Law § 31-25-30 has been copied below:
Axle Restriction on the Pawtucket River Bridge and the Sakonnet River Bridge.
- (a) It shall be unlawful to transport or operate over or upon the Pawtucket River Bridge or the Sakonnet River Bridge, any single vehicle equipped with more than two (2) axles or any combination vehicle equipped with more than two (2) axles per unit except those listed in this section.
- (b) The director of the department of transportation is directed to post signs to limit access as prescribed in subsection (a) of this section.
- (c) The following vehicles shall be exempt from the provisions of this section: any and all emergency vehicles, state vehicles, municipal vehicles, truck tractors as defined in § 31-1-4 and Rhode Island public transit authority vehicles.
- (d) For the purposes of this section, “carrier” means and includes any company or person who furthers their commercial or private enterprise by use of the vehicle.
- (e) Any carrier operating a vehicle or combination of vehicles in violation of this section shall be fined three thousand dollars ($3,000) for the first offense, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each and every subsequent offense.
- (f) Nothing in this provision shall waive or modify existing weight restrictions on the bridges as defined in § 31-25-27.
If you drive a vehicle that has been cited for violating the axle restriction on the Pawtucket River Bridge, you may be facing serious consequences. Your driving privileges may be restricted; your driving record will be affected; the cost of your insurance may increase; and you may face heavy fines. Furthermore, if you drive a commercial vehicle, you and your employer may face even more severe sanctions.
If you have been cited by a Rhode Island police officer for violating the axle restriction on the Pawtucket River Bridge, you should contact an experienced Rhode Island criminal defense attorney immediately. Attorney John R. Grasso is a former police officer and successful criminal defense attorney who will use his unique experiences to defend your citation and fines.
With Attorney John R. Grasso defending you, you can rest assured your criminal defense attorney will aggressively defend your rights and work tirelessly to reduce or dismiss your Pawtucket River Bridge citation.
