R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-7-9
Every nonresident operator, who is charged by a member of the state police or by a member of the police department of any city or town of this state with a violation of any provision of chapters 14, 15, and 16 of this title, except for a violation included under chapter 41 of this title, may be required to deposit in escrow the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), or to post a proper bond for that amount, with the state or local police department preferring the charge as a prerequisite to the nonresident operator being released for appearance at a later date before the court of proper jurisdiction upon the charge. The deposit so posted shall be returned to the nonresident, or the bond so posted shall be cancelled, upon the nonresident's appearance before the court of proper jurisdiction for the disposition of the offense charged and effectuation of sentence, if any. If the nonresident shall fail to appear before the court of proper jurisdiction on the date and at the time assigned for the disposition of the offense charged, the deposit or bond, as the case may be, shall be forfeited and paid over to the clerk of court to be disbursed as if the defendant had been convicted and a fine and costs equal to that sum had been imposed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-7-9