Rhode Island General Assembly Passes Bill To Increase Road Rage Penalties

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island General Assembly passed a bill to increase penalties for road rage convictions.

The proposed “Casey’s Law,”was named for Casey Bassignani, a 23-year-old Johnston woman killed in a November collision witnesses said occurred when another driver forced her car off Interstate 295 in Cranston, according to a media release.

The other driver, Juan Archila, 43, was arrested and charged with driving so as to endanger, resulting in death.

During the investigation of the deadly crash a video of a "fully nude adult female" performing sex acts on a "prepubescent male" was extracted from Archila's Samsung cellular device, the Rhode Island State Police said, and Archila was subsequently charged with possession of child pornography as well.

Archila's case remains pending.

Casey's Law calls for an additional fine of up to $1,000 and up to a year of additional license suspension for a misdemeanor conviction on top of the penalty for the crime itself, and at least two and up to 15 years of additional prison time, a mandatory fine of at least $1,000 and license suspension of up to five additional years, or revocation for two additional years for a felony, according to the release.

The legislation was sponsored by state Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian, D-Smithfield, Lincoln and North Providence, and state Rep. Arthur J. Corvese, D-North Providence.

“As a former state trooper, this one hits close to home for me personally, as it impacted our State Police family," Tikoian said in the release.

"Casey was the daughter of State Police Capt. David Bassignani and the sister to State Trooper Jake Bassignani," Tikoian said. "This bill stiffens penalties to make our roads safer by reminding drivers of the serious consequences of road rage and encouraging safer driving behavior.”

Corvese called road rage incidents "increasingly common, incredibly dangerous and entirely avoidable."

"Road rage is a choice, and this bill is aimed at sending a message to drivers to choose differently,” Corvese said in the release.

“Enhanced penalties will act as a deterrent to encourage drivers to stop themselves before they do something impulsive and reckless on the road," Corvese said. "It’s my hope that Casey Bassignani’s legacy will be safer roads where cooler heads prevail.”

Related:

• Police Found Child Porn On Man's Phone During Probe Of Deadly Road Rage Crash: Cops
• Providence Man Charged With Fatal Wreck Now Also Charged With Child Pornography
• Arrest Made In Fatal Cranston Crash: Cops