R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-21-11: Removal of disabled vehicle obstructing traffic on state highway, state bridge, or state tunnel.

Whenever a vehicle, whether attended or unattended, is disabled upon any state highway, state bridge, state causeway, or in a state tunnel where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic, the department of transportation is authorized to remove, or to provide for the removal of, the vehicle to the nearest garage, service station, or other place of safety at no expense to the owner or operator of the disabled vehicle for its removal.