Trespass in Rhode Island is the unauthorized entry onto property under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-26. The charge is typically a misdemeanor with penalties up to 6 months jail and fines up to $500. Aggravated trespass (entering after warning, entering with intent to commit a crime, refusing to leave when asked) can carry higher penalties. Trespass is distinct from burglary (which requires intent to commit a crime inside) and from breaking and entering (which requires unlawful entry into a structure). Many trespass cases involve disputes over permission, easement rights, or whether warning signs were visible.
