Rhode Island § 31-23-51 § 31-23-51. Earphones and headsets prohibited.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 31-23-51 — § 31-23-51. Earphones and headsets prohibited.

Rhode Island·Title 31 Motor and Other vehicles·Ch. 31-23 Equipment and Accessories Generally

§ 31-23-51. Earphones and headsets prohibited.

(a) No person shall operate a bicycle or motor vehicle upon any highway while wearing earphones, a headset, headphone, or other listening device. Any person who violates this section shall be fined:

(1)one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense,

(2)one hundred ten dollars ($110) for the second offense, and (3) one hundred forty dollars ($140) for the third and each subsequent offense.

(b) This section shall not apply to:

(1) Any emergency vehicle operator using an integrated intercom system;

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§ 31-23-51. Earphones and headsets prohibited.

(a) No person shall operate a bicycle or motor vehicle upon any highway while wearing earphones, a headset, headphone, or other listening device. Any person who violates this section shall be fined: (1) one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense, (2) one hundred ten dollars ($110) for the second offense, and (3) one hundred forty dollars ($140) for the third and each subsequent offense.

(b) This section shall not apply to:

(1) Any emergency vehicle operator using an integrated intercom system;

(2) Any person operating a motorcycle who is using a headset installed in a helmet and worn so as to prevent the speakers from making direct contact with the user's ears so that the user can hear surrounding sounds;

(3) Any person using a headset in conjunction with a cellular telephone that only provides sound through one ear and allows surrounding sounds to be heard with the other ear;

(4) Any person using a headset in conjunction with the communicating with the central base operation that only provides sound through one ear and allows surrounding sounds to be heard with the other ear;

(5) Any person using a hearing aid(s) or instrument for the improvement of hearing.

(c) The department of motor vehicles shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

Rhode Island § 31-23-51 (§ 31-23-51. Earphones and headsets prohibited.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Legislative History

P.L. 1983, ch. 234, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 72, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 58, § 4; P.L. 2002, ch. 292, § 127; P.L. 2002, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 12, § 10; P.L. 2013, ch. 422, § 1; P.L. 2025, ch. 278, art. 11, § 5, effective June 29, 2025.