Public Safety & Smart Streets

Every day, I see people flying through crosswalks while someone’s trying to cross the street. That’s not just dangerous — it’s unacceptable.

We need red-light cameras at busy intersections. Crosswalk violations should carry real fines. And stop signs should be placed where they’re actually needed. Safety must come before convenience.

But we also need to be smart about enforcement. Cameras shouldn’t be traps. Some towns in Rhode Island have 20-mph zones with speed cameras handing out $50 tickets on roads where your car can barely move. That’s not safety — that’s revenue. I don’t support that kind of enforcement.

School zones matter, but enforcement should focus on real risks — not imaginary ones. If no kids are crossing, maybe our resources should go where danger actually exists.

We also need to get serious about distracted driving. Rear-end crashes caused by phone use are out of control. Fines for phone use should be higher, and we should explore innovative ideas like phone-disabling car technology or restrictions on teen phone access while driving.

Let’s build smarter roads, too. Traffic rotaries work wonders in other states — they keep traffic flowing and reduce crashes. We should be using more of them here, especially on high-traffic routes like Route 1 near Westerly, instead of relying on chaotic left turns and badly timed signals.

And then there’s insurance fairness. Speeding tickets shouldn’t haunt drivers for years, especially if there was no accident. We can limit how long minor violations impact insurance rates — because punishment shouldn’t turn into lifelong penalty.

Now, about drunk driving — this is a zero-tolerance issue.

None. Zip. Zilch.

If you’re convicted under my administration, you’ll face consequences. The higher the blood-alcohol level, the higher the penalty — starting with fines and suspensions, escalating to jail time for repeat or high-level offenses. And if you refuse the test? You get the maximum sentence. No exceptions. No erasures. No special treatment.

That’s the standard Rhode Islanders deserve — and that’s the standard I’ll fight for.