Right to counsel – seizure of vehicles used for explosives transport

Rhode Island , Legislation , Other subject area

If a “vehicle, vessel, or aircraft” is subject to seizure or forfeiture on the grounds that it is intentionally used by its owner to transport explosives illegally, the court must appoint counsel to represent any owner who is either out of state or unknown. R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-28.28-35(c).

Appointment of Counsel: Yes
Qualified: No
? If "yes", the established right to counsel or discretionary appointment of counsel is limited in some way, including any of: the only authority is a lower/intermediate court decision or a city council, not a high court or state legislature; there has been a subsequent case that has cast doubt; a statute is ambiguous; or the right or discretionary appointment is not for all types of individuals or proceedings within that category.