Section 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) eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for the first offense,(2) ninety-five dollars ($95.00) 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.R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-51
Amended by 2013 Pub. Laws, ch. 422, § 1, eff. 7/15/2013.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.