R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-9-17

The city or town council of the city or town where a vessel as described in this chapter arrives shall confine on board that vessel, or send to some hospital or other suitable place, all persons who came in that vessel, for a convenient time, until those of them that have, or are likely to have, the smallpox or other infectious or contagious distemper are perfectly recovered and cleansed from that distemper, or have passed a suitable quarantine, and also all persons who have gone on board that vessel without license, at the charge and expense of those persons respectively.