R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-12-13

This is the official text of R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-12-13, part of Rhode Island’s Gen. Laws — part of the compiled statutory law of Rhode Island, published by the state as "Gen. Laws." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.

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§ 2-12-13. Proclamation of hazardous conditions €” Closing of forests.

Official statutory text

(a) Whenever in his or her opinion an unusual forest fire hazard exists, the director of environmental management shall notify the governor, who has the authority to forbid by proclamation, any person or persons entering forests, woodlands or open lands in any parts of the state that he or she deems the public interest requires, and may by that proclamation suspend any woods operations and open season for taking fish, birds and quadrupeds. The proclamation shall be in full force and effect immediately after notice is given in the manner the governor may determine, and shall remain in force until rescinded by the governor. This does not prevent entry into forest or woodland areas by forest fire suppression agents, law enforcement agents, legal residents of those areas or persons engaged in pursuits necessary to the public health and welfare or, by any agency or person authorized by the state director of environmental management.

(b) Any authorized representative or representatives of the director of environmental management, as well as state and local police authorities, shall enforce the provisions of the proclamation. Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this section shall be liable to a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) or imprisonment for not more than ten (10) days.

Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site

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About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the Open US Law dataset (Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine (Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.