Rhode Island § 11-47-51 - Weapons

§ 11-47-51. Loaded rifles and shotguns in vehicles and roadways.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to have in their possession a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun or a rifle or shotgun from the magazine of which all shells and cartridges have not been removed while upon or along any public highway, road, lane, or trail within this state; provided, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to deputy sheriffs, the superintendent and members of the state police, prison or jail wardens or their deputies, members of the city or town police force, investigators of the department of attorney general appointed pursuant to § 42-9-8.1, the director, assistant director and other inspectors and agents at the Rhode Island state fugitive task force appointed pursuant to § 12-6-7.2 [repealed], nor to other duly appointed law enforcement officers, including conservation officers, nor to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, or Marine Corps of the United States, or the National Guard or organized reserves, when on duty, nor to officers or employees of the United States authorized by law to carry a concealed firearm, nor to any civilian guard or criminal investigator carrying sidearms or a concealed firearm in the performance of their official duties under the authority of the commanding officer of the military establishment in the state of Rhode Island where the person is employed by the United States; nor to persons legally engaged in hunting activity pursuant to the provisions of chapter 13 or 18 of title 20.

(b) Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or by a fine of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.