Portsmouth Police Department

Prudence Island

Prudence Island is part of the municipality of Portsmouth. Officer Glenn Young has been an employee of the Portsmouth Police Department since 2005 and is the Public Safety Officer for the island. All calls for service on Prudence Island are taken by the Portsmouth Police Dispatch Center. To contact the police for an emergency while on Prudence Island dial 911. For non-emergency police services call (401) 683-0300 you will be connected to the Portsmouth Police Dispatch Center.

The speed limit on Prudence Island is 20 mph

Prudence Island Transfer Station Info:

The rules for purchasing a transfer station sticker can be found on the Town of Portsmouth web site. Click here to view the transfer station FAQ

Visitors to Prudence Island can purchase a 1 week temporary use permit for the transfer station. The cost is $15 (check or exact change). Temporary Use Permits can be purchased from the officer on duty at Homestead Dock around ferry times.

Prudence Island Hunting Permission Slips

Hunting Permission Slips can be purchased for $5 from the officer on duty at Homestead Dock during ferry arival and departure times.

Low Speed Vehicle (golf cart) registration information

RIGL 31-19.4-1. Prudence Island low speed vehicles.

Click here to view the state law governing low speed vehicles

Federal Safety Standards for all low-speed vehicles states that

each low-speed vehicle shall be equipped with the following:

(1) Headlamps

(2) Front and rear turn signal lamps

(3) Tail lamps

(4) Stop lamps

(5) Reflex reflectors: one red on each side as far to the rear as practicable, and one red on the rear

(6) An exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the vehicle and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or an interior mirror

(7) A parking brake

(8) A windshield of AS-1 or AS-5 composition, that conforms to the American National Standard Institute's ``Safety Code for Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operating on Land Highways,'' Z-26.1-1977, January 28, 1977, as supplemented by Z26.1a, July 3, 1980 (incorporated by reference; see 49 CFR 571.5)

(9) A VIN that conforms to the requirements of part 565 Vehicle Identification Number of this chapter

(10) A Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly conforming to Sec. 571.209 of this part, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209, Seat belt assemblies, installed at each designated seating position.

Proof of insurance is also required to register a golf cart.

Golf Carts can be registered by the officer
on duty at Homestead Dock around ferry times.

Links to points of interest on Prudence Island:

Narragansett Bay Research Reserve (located on PI)
http://www.nbnerr.org/

Prudence Conservancy
http://www.prudenceconservancy.org

Farnham Farm
http://www.farnhamfarm.org

Narragansett Bay Reserve, Rhode Island
http://www.nerrs.noaa.gov/Reserve.aspx?ResID=NAR

Prudence Island Ferry

http://www.prudenceferry.com