Judge at Municipal Court of Providence dismisses two of three red-light citations, cites confusing stop lines

At a hearing at the Municipal Court of Providence, the presiding judge dismissed two of three red-light citations charged against Lisonbee, a defendant, after finding in two instances the vehicle was past the first stop line when the traffic signal turned red. Court staff identified the location of the violations as Allen's Avenue and Terminal Street and said the court would review the third citation.

The presiding judge said the intersection layout — including “2 stop lines” and “another light up a little past that” — creates “a great deal of confusion at this location.” The judge said, “if you are past the first stop line when the light turns red... I'll dismiss it.” Based on that position, the judge said the two citations shown to the court would be dismissed.

A court staff member told the court there were “3 red light violations on Allen's Avenue and Terminal Street.” During the hearing the judge reviewed recorded images or evidence for the citations and determined the drivers in the two cases were beyond the first stop line when the signal changed.

Lisonbee, identified in court as the defendant, at several points declined to view the evidence, saying, “I don't wanna see that” and, earlier, “I'm not even gonna bother. I'm serious.” After the judge said two citations would be dismissed and that the court would “look at the third one now,” Lisonbee indicated a change in position and said, “No. I wanna see them all now. Now I wanna see.”

The presiding judge did not issue a formal written explanation on the record beyond the statements noted above; the court's oral ruling dismissed two of the three listed violations and left the third under further review.

No statutes, ordinances, or other legal authorities were cited on the record during the portion of the hearing in the transcript.