Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School
50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
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State
Rhode Island
Type of enforcement mechanism
Civil judgment
Other
Statute
R.I. Gen. Laws. Ann. § 12-21-1(1)
Statutory language
Unless otherwise specially provided:
(1) All fines of five hundred dollars ($ 500) and under shall be recovered by complaint and summons;
(2) All fines of upwards of five hundred dollars ($ 500), by indictment or information;
(3) All penalties and pecuniary forfeitures, by action of debt; and
(4) All forfeitures of personal property, by complaint and warrant or by information.
Mandatory
Yes
Level of offense
Traffic
Misdemeanor
Felony
Type of court
Other
Traffic
State
Municipal
Type of charge
Fine