Rhode Island General Laws Title 46. Waters and Navigation § 46-9.1-10. Use of unlicensed pilots--Penalties

(a) It shall be unlawful for the master, owner, agent, or consignee of any vessel, not exempt from the provisions of this chapter, entering or departing from any port or landing place of the state or transversing the waters of Block Island Sound, to take on any person not licensed as a Block Island Sound pilot under this chapter or any person not licensed as such a pilot under the laws of any state having concurrent jurisdiction over the waters to pilot a vessel in those waters.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person not licensed as a Block Island Sound pilot or any person not licensed as such a pilot by any state having concurrent jurisdiction over the waters of Block Island Sound, to pilot or offer to pilot a vessel, not exempt from the provisions of this chapter, entering or departing from any port or landing place of the state or transversing the waters of Block Island Sound. It shall likewise be unlawful for any master or person on board a tug or towboat to tow a vessel transversing the waters of Block Island Sound unless the vessel shall have on board a duly licensed state pilot.

(c) Violation of the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment not to exceed one year, or both.