Rhode Island § 23-33-20 - Elevators, Escalators, and Dumbwaiters

§ 23-33-20. Penalty for violations — Prosecution.

(a) Any owner who willfully or repeatedly violates the requirements of § 23-33-9.1, any code, rule, or order promulgated pursuant to § 28-20-24, or regulations prescribed pursuant to this chapter, may be assessed an initial civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation.

(b) Any owner who has received a compliance order for a serious violation of the requirements of § 23-33-9.1 of any code, rule, or order promulgated pursuant to § 28-20-24, or of any other regulations prescribed pursuant to this chapter, shall be assessed an initial civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation.

(c) Any owner who has received a compliance order for a violation of the requirements of § 23-33-9.1 of any code, rule, or order promulgated pursuant to § 28-20-24, or of other regulations prescribed pursuant to this chapter, and the violation is specifically determined not to be of serious nature, may be assessed a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation. Each day during which any portion of a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

(d) Any owner who fails to correct a violation for which a compliance order has been issued under § 23-33-9.1 within the period permitted for its correction, which period shall not begin to run until the date of the final order of the review board in the case of any review proceeding under § 23-33-15.1, initiated by the owner in good faith and not solely for delay or avoidance of penalties, may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation. Each day during which any portion of a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

(e) Any owner who willfully violates any code, rule or order promulgated pursuant to § 28-20-24, or of any regulations prescribed pursuant to this chapter and that violation causes death to any person, shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both.

(f) Any person who gives advance notice of any inspection to be conducted under this chapter, without authority from the director, shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both.

(g) Whoever knowingly makes any false statements, representations, or certifications in any application, record, report, plan or other document filed or required to be maintained pursuant to this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both.

(h)(1) Any person who shall refuse to have inspected any elevator or other device subject to this chapter, or who shall obstruct or otherwise interfere with the director of labor and training or his or her representative while engaged in the performance of their duties, shall be imprisoned for a period not exceeding one year, or be fined a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).

(2) The preceding provision in no way shall limit the authority of the state to impose such other penalties as may be deemed appropriate for other offenses by any person against any employee or other representative of the division of occupational safety while engaged in the performance of his or her duties.

(i) Any person that shall use or allow to be used any elevator or other device subject to the provisions of this chapter before a certificate of inspection has been issued, or after the certificate has been revoked or after use of the elevator or other device has been prohibited shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). Any owner that shall use or allow to be used any elevator or other device and fails to conspicuously post, within the required frame, a valid certificate of operation when issued shall be assessed a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100).

(j)(1) Any person, firm, or corporation who installs or constructs, or attempts to install or construct, any elevator or other device subject to the provisions of this chapter without having first obtained a permit to install or construct and without paying the required fee; or (2) any person, firm, or corporation that shall repair or maintain or attempt to repair or maintain any elevator or other device subject to the provisions of this chapter without being licensed pursuant to § 23-33-2.3, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), and all such work shall be stopped until the required permit or license has been obtained.

(k) The director shall have the authority to propose all civil penalties provided in this section, consideration to the appropriateness of the penalty with respect to the size of the business of the owner being charged, and the history of previous violations. The review board shall have the authority to review or modify proposed assessments of penalty.

(l) For purposes of this section, a serious violation shall be deemed to exist if there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a condition which exists, or from one or more practices or processes which have been adopted or are in use, unless the owner could not with the exercise of reasonable diligence know of the presence of the violation.

(m) Civil penalties due under this chapter shall be paid to the director for deposit into the restricted receipt account established for the implementation and enforcement of this chapter.

(n) The director or the chief of the division of occupational safety may make complaint to the justice or clerk of any district court within whose jurisdiction any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall occur, and shall not be required to give surety for costs.