Rhode Island General Laws Title 24. Highways § 24-8-42. Emergency management--Lane clearance

(a) Whenever any public safety agency through the legitimate exercise of its police powers determines that an emergency is caused by the immobilization of any vehicle(s) on the interstate system or limited access highway, as defined in § 31-1-23(e), resulting in lane blockage and posing a threat to public safety, public safety agencies and those acting at their direction or request shall have emergency authority to move the immobilized vehicle(s).

(b) There shall be no liability incurred by any state or local public safety department or agents directed by them whether those agents are public safety personnel or not for damages incurred to the immobilized vehicle(s), its contents or surrounding area caused by the emergency measures employed through the legitimate exercise of the police powers vested in that agency to move the vehicle(s) for the purpose of clearing the lane(s) to remove any threat to public safety.