§ 31-15-18. Unsafe passing of a person operating a bicycle; penalty.
(a) A driver of a motor vehicle commits the offense of unsafe passing of a person operating
a bicycle if the driver violates any of the following requirements:
(1) The driver of a motor vehicle may only pass a person operating a bicycle by driving
to the left of the bicycle at a safe distance and returning to the lane of travel
once the motor vehicle is safely clear of the overtaken bicycle. For the purposes
of this subdivision, a "safe distance� means a distance that is sufficient to prevent
contact with the person operating the bicycl
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
§ 31-15-18. Unsafe passing of a person operating a bicycle; penalty.
(a) A driver of a motor vehicle commits the offense of unsafe passing of a person operating
a bicycle if the driver violates any of the following requirements:
(1) The driver of a motor vehicle may only pass a person operating a bicycle by driving
to the left of the bicycle at a safe distance and returning to the lane of travel
once the motor vehicle is safely clear of the overtaken bicycle. For the purposes
of this subdivision, a "safe distance� means a distance that is sufficient to prevent
contact with the person operating the bicycle if the person were to fall into the
driver's lane of traffic. This subdivision does not apply to a driver operating a
motor vehicle:
(i) In a lane that is separate from and adjacent to a designated bicycle lane;
(ii) At a speed not greater than fifteen miles per hour (15 mph); or
(iii) When the driver is passing a person operating a bicycle on the person's right side
and the person operating the bicycle is turning left.
(2) The driver of a motor vehicle may drive to the left of the center of a roadway to
pass a person operating a bicycle proceeding in the same direction only if the roadway
to the left of the center is unobstructed for a sufficient distance to permit the
driver to pass the person operating the bicycle safely and avoid interference with
oncoming traffic. This subdivision does not authorize driving to the left of center
of a roadway when prohibited under § 31-15-1 (failure to drive on right), § 31-15-3 (passing of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions) or § 31-15-13 (divided highway).
(b) The driver of a motor vehicle that passes a person operating a bicycle shall return
to an authorized lane of traffic as soon as practicable.
(c) Violations of this section are subject to the fine enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
(d) This section may be cited as "Frank's Law.�