R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-41.2-6: Driver/registered owner liability.

(a) The registered owner of the motor vehicle shall be primarily responsible in all prosecutions brought pursuant to the provisions of this chapter except as otherwise provided in this section.

(b) In all prosecutions of civil traffic violations based on evidence obtained from an automated traffic violation detection system, the registered owner of a vehicle which has been operated in violation of a civil traffic violation, may be liable for such violation. The registered owner of the vehicle may assume liability for the violation by paying the fine; or by defending the violation pursuant to the procedures in § 31-41.2-4.

(c) The lessee of a leased vehicle shall be considered the owner of a motor vehicle for purposes of this section.