R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-13-11: Injury to signs and devices.

No person shall without lawful authority attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield, or insignia on it or any other part of it. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.