Rhode Island General Laws Title 19. Financial Institutions § 19-9-24. Fraudulent checks--Small amounts

(a) Any person who purchases any goods, materials, or services, makes payment for that purchase by check, draft, or order for payment of money, and takes possession of the goods or materials, or has the benefit of the service, and who subsequently orders payment stopped on the check, draft, or order for payment, or who, with intent to defraud, makes, draws, utters, or delivers any check, draft, or order for the payment of money, in an amount not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), upon any regulated institution or other depository, knowing at the time of making, drawing, uttering, or delivering that the maker or drawer has not sufficient funds in, or credit with, that regulated institution or other depository for the payment of that check, draft, or order, in full, upon its presentation, shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or be imprisoned not exceeding one year, or may be subjected to both fine and imprisonment.

(b) With regard to the purchase of any goods or materials, it shall not be in violation of this section if goods or materials are returned to the vendor within three (3) business days of the filing of the stop payment order.

(c) The word “ credit” means an arrangement or understanding with the regulated institution or other depository for the payment of the check, draft, or order.

(d) Any person violating any of these provisions may be prosecuted and proceeded against in any judicial district or in any county in which the offense was committed, or in which the check, draft, or order was uttered or delivered.