Funds the state crime victim compensation program through an additional one dollar ($1.00) fine on traffic violations, exclusive of violations related to the parking of vehicles.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would add a $1.00 fee to most traffic violations in Rhode Island. The extra dollar would not apply to parking tickets — only to moving violations like speeding, running a red light, or other traffic infractions. The money collected from this additional fee would go directly to Rhode Island's crime victim compensation program, which provides financial assistance to people who have been harmed by crime.

The crime victim compensation program helps cover costs that victims may face after a crime, such as medical bills, counseling, or lost wages. Currently, the program is funded through other means, and this bill is designed to bring in additional money to support it. By spreading the cost across a large number of traffic tickets issued each year, each individual driver would pay only a small amount more, while the total funds available for crime victims could grow significantly.

This bill would affect anyone in Rhode Island who receives a non-parking traffic ticket — they would simply owe one extra dollar when paying their fine. It would also potentially benefit crime victims across the state who rely on the compensation program for help during difficult times. As of now, the bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and was recommended to be held for further study, meaning it has not yet been passed into law.