Removes the forfeiture provision for a first offense eluding law enforcement in a high speed pursuit. It would also require that forfeiture of a motor vehicle for a violation of § 31-27-4.1(2) be allowed only after conviction of that offense.

Plain-English Summary

This Rhode Island bill makes changes to the rules about when the government can take away someone's vehicle after they flee from police in a high-speed chase. Under current law, a person's car can be forfeited (permanently taken by the government) even for a first-time offense of evading law enforcement. This bill would remove that forfeiture penalty for first-time offenders, meaning someone caught fleeing police for the first time would no longer automatically risk losing their vehicle as part of their punishment.

The bill also addresses a due process concern for repeat or more serious offenses. Currently, a vehicle can potentially be seized before a person is convicted of a crime. This bill would require that a vehicle can only be permanently forfeited after the person has actually been convicted in court — not simply charged or accused. This change ensures that someone doesn't permanently lose their property unless and until a court has found them guilty.

This bill would primarily affect drivers in Rhode Island who are charged with fleeing or eluding law enforcement in a high-speed pursuit. It offers greater legal protections to first-time offenders by removing the threat of vehicle forfeiture entirely, and it provides stronger due process protections to all defendants by tying any vehicle forfeiture to an actual criminal conviction. The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is scheduled for a hearing.