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Good morning, Newport! Today is Wednesday, Sept. 24, the 267th day of 2025. There are 98 days left in the year.

🚨 You need to know

The Newport Police Department released a press release Wednesday clarifying state laws governing electric bicycles, emphasizing that officers enforce Rhode Island General Laws rather than information found through search engines or artificial intelligence sources.

The department’s public safety bulletin, released by Lt. Joseph C. Carroll, outlines key restrictions that may surprise some e-bike users. Most notably, Rhode Island law prohibits anyone under 16 years old from operating electric motorized bicycles of any class — a restriction that applies statewide regardless of local ordinances.

Under Rhode Island General Law 31-3-2.2(a), electric motorized bicycles are defined as vehicles “propelled by electric motor or both with human power with a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour.” The law also requires helmet use for all operators and passengers under 21 years old, and mandates that all bicycles — electric or human-powered — must obey traffic laws including stop signs, traffic lights and one-way restrictions.

Violations can result in fines ranging from $85 to $100 and may appear on driving records, according to the police guidance. The department emphasized these enforcement priorities as part of efforts to keep cyclists, motorists and the general public safe throughout the community.

The Newport Police Department directed residents seeking additional safety resources to Bike Newport’s websites, which offer information on free bicycles, helmets, e-bike education and safety training programs.

Newport Police Department Press Release

In order help the community understand applicable and updating laws with methods of transportation, such as E-bikes, the Newport Police Department is providing information in regards to the Electric Motorized Bicycle (E-bike) laws.

The Newport Police Department enforces RI General Laws and do not follow or enforce what a search engine or Artificial Intelligence (AI) produces in regards to laws of the state.

The following RI General Laws (RIGL) pertain to E-bikes and are what police enforce:

RIGL: Types of Vehicles: 31-1-3(g): “Electric Motorized Bicycle”, also called an “electric bicycle” propelled by electric motor or both with human power with a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour.

RIGL: Registrations of motorcycles, motorized bicycles, and motorized tricycles: 31-3-2.2(a):

  • At the end of this statute, it states; “Electric Motorized Bicycles shall not be operated in this state by a person under the age of sixteen (16) years.”

This is the statute that prohibits E-bikes, of any class, as defined in RIGL “Types of Vehicles” to be operated in the state by anyone under 16 years of age.

RIGL: Helmets required on electric bicycles for operators and passengers under 21 years old: 31-19.7-3. Must, “under 21 shall wear a helmet” if an operator or passenger of an e-bike.

RIGL: Application of traffic laws: 31-19-3:

  • All bicycles (electric or human power) must obey all traffic laws (just as drivers of any other vehicle) as described in chapters 12-27. ( i.e., stop signs, traffic lights, one ways…etc.). With fines subjected from $85 to $100 and can go on your driving record.

These are some of the commonly observed state statutes we are governed to enforce to help keep the bicyclist, motorists and public safe in the community.

Feel free to visit Bike Newport’s websites for information on free bikes, helmets, e-bike education and bike safety training.

https://bikenewportri.org/community-bike-garage/ https://bikenewportri.org/ebike-education

Here’s what else to know

Class of 2025 National Sailing Hall of Fame Induction – The 14th Annual Induction ceremony takes place September 24-25 at The Sailing Museum & New York Yacht Club’s Harbour Court. Welcome events today, with the main induction ceremony tomorrow. Some events are invitation only, most are ticketed, and the ceremony is free but requires reservations.

Newport superintendent to discuss school updates in live Q&A Wednesday – Burns Jermain will take community questions on curriculum, budget and student achievement at 1:30 p.m. Join the conversation about Newport’s schools.

Newport City Council meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. to consider harbor ordinance revisions and approve several major infrastructure contracts in what could be one of the year’s most significant meetings. The agenda includes harbor regulations, infrastructure contracts, and licensing items.

Sports Roundup: Portsmouth boys soccer falls to Pawtucket Co-op 3-1, with senior captain Nolan Fox scoring the lone goal for the Patriots. Meanwhile, Salve Regina dominated Mass Maritime 5-0 behind five different scorers, extending their winning streak against the Buccaneers to 10 games.

Also in today’s news: Newport oceanfront estate sells for $12.1 million, ranking among the top 3 sales statewide this year. Newport Festa Italiana returns Sept. 26-Oct. 13 with food, music and cultural celebrations. Fed Chair Jerome Powell calls for moderation on monetary policy in Tuesday remarks at Providence Chamber event.

📰 The Latest from What’sUpNewp

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📈 Yesterday’s most-read

The following were yesterday’s most-read What’sUpNewp articles.

  1. What Sold: A look at 15 recent sales across Newport County (Sept. 15-19)
  2. Westerly golf course saga goes to the state Supreme Court
  3. Warren man charged after crime spree began at Newport police station
  4. Middletown plans 700-square-foot expansion of Second Beach pavilion deck
  5. Newport oceanfront estate sells for $12.1 million
  6. Rock the Beach Gala returns to Newport this Thursday
  7. On This Day In History – September 21: Hurricane of ’38 hits Newport
  8. Notes: Salve Regina launches $1.95M mobile health unit to serve Rhode Island communities
  9. La Vecina adds Sunday brunch with authentic Mexican fare
  10. Letter to the Editor: Middletown resident questions town’s bidding process for development project

📅 What’s Up Today

Weather Forecast

  • Today – A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71°F. Light east wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
  • Tonight – Showers likely, mainly after 3 a.m. Patchy fog before 1 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 65°F. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
  • Thursday – Showers likely before 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then showers likely after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 72°F. South wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
  • Thursday Night – Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 9 p.m. Low around 67°F. Southwest wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Marine Forecast

  • Today – Variable winds less than 5 kt becoming E 5 to 8 kt in the morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight – ESE wind around 6 kt. Showers likely, mainly after 3 a.m. Patchy fog before 1 a.m. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Thursday – S wind 7 to 11 kt. Showers likely before 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then showers likely after 5 p.m. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Thursday Night – SW wind around 10 kt. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 9 p.m. Seas 1 ft or less.

Sun & Tide Information

  • Sunrise: 6:35:17 a.m., Sunset: 6:39:01 p.m.
  • Daylight: 12 hours and 3 minutes
  • Low tides: 2:59 a.m., 3:38 p.m. High tides: 10:02 a.m., 10:19 p.m.

Weather Forecast

  • Today – A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71°F. Light east wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
  • Tonight – Showers likely, mainly after 3 a.m. Patchy fog before 1 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 65°F. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
  • Thursday – Showers likely before 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then showers likely after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 72°F. South wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
  • Thursday Night – Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 9 p.m. Low around 67°F. Southwest wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Marine Forecast

  • Today – Variable winds less than 5 kt becoming E 5 to 8 kt in the morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight – ESE wind around 6 kt. Showers likely, mainly after 3 a.m. Patchy fog before 1 a.m. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Thursday – S wind 7 to 11 kt. Showers likely before 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then showers likely after 5 p.m. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Thursday Night – SW wind around 10 kt. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 9 p.m. Seas 1 ft or less.

Sun & Tide Information

  • Sunrise: 6:35:17 a.m., Sunset: 6:39:01 p.m.
  • Daylight: 12 hours and 3 minutes
  • Low tides: 2:59 a.m., 3:38 p.m. High tides: 10:02 a.m., 10:19 p.m.

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Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...