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'Casey’s Law’ named in memory of Johnston woman killed on Route 295 last year
STATE HOUSE – Following passage by the General Assembly on June 10, Gov. Daniel J. McKee today signed “Casey’s Law,” legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian and Rep. Arthur J. Corvese to add extra penalties for motor vehicle offenses when they involve road rage.
The bill is named in memory of Casey Bassignani, a 23-year-old Johnston woman who was killed in November in a collision that witnesses said occurred when another driver forced her car off Route 295 in Cranston. Today’s bill signing ceremony at the State House was attended by members of Bassignani’s family, including her parents David and Lynn Bassignani, who testified at the bill’s hearings.
“Road rage incidents are increasingly common, incredibly dangerous and entirely avoidable. Road rage is a choice, and this bill is aimed at sending a message to drivers to choose differently,” said Representative Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence). “Enhanced penalties will act as a deterrent to encourage drivers to stop themselves before they do something impulsive and reckless on the road. It’s my hope that Casey Bassignani’s legacy will be safer roads where cooler heads prevail.”
Said Senator Tikoian (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, Lincoln, North Providence), a retired State Police major, “As a former state trooper, this one hits close to home for me personally, as it impacted our State Police family. Casey was the daughter of State Police Capt. David Bassignani and the sister to State Trooper Jake Bassignani. This bill stiffens penalties to make our roads safer by reminding drivers of the serious consequences of road rage and encouraging safer driving behavior.”
The legislation (2026-S 3169A, 2026-H 8384A) will levy an additional fine of up to $1,000 and up to a year of additional license suspension to any misdemeanor conviction, on top of the penalty for the crime itself, when the defendant engaged in intentionally aggressive, harassing, intimidating or dangerous behavior as a driver or passenger. For felonies, the additional penalty would be at least two and up to 15 years of additional prison time, a mandatory fine of at least $1,000 and license suspension of up to five additional years, or revocation for two additional years.
David and Lynn Bassignani gave moving testimony at the bill’s hearings, telling legislators how hurtful it is to them to know that a crime that took their daughter’s life likely would not result in as long a prison sentence as they feel it warrants.
The sponsors introduced the legislation in conjunction with Gov. Daniel J. McKee.
“After meeting the Bassignani family and hearing their story, I was proud to request this bill, and I am proud to sign it into law,” said Governor McKee. “I want to thank the Bassignani family, as well as Majority Whip Tikoian and Representative Corvese, for their commitment to this cause. Together, we’re making sure Casey’s memory lives on by creating stricter penalties and safer roads.”
“We’re just happy Casey’s legacy will live on through this law,” added Lynn Bassignani.
The law went into effect upon passage.
A 2025 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 96% of respondents admitted to engaging in aggressive driving behavior in the previous year. Eleven percent said they’d engaged in violent actions such as intentionally bumping another vehicle or confronting another driver. The same study found that cutting off other vehicles had risen by 67% in the previous decade, and honking horns out of anger rose 47%.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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