R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-32-16 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-32 / Section 31-32-16
§ 31-32-16. Payment sufficient to satisfy requirements.
Status: in_force

(a) Judgments referred to in this chapter shall, for the purpose of this chapter only, be deemed satisfied:

(1) When twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) has been credited upon any judgment or judgments rendered in excess of that amount because of bodily injury to or death of one person as the result of any one accident; or

(2) When, subject to the limit of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) because of bodily injury to or death of one person, the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) has been credited upon any judgment or judgments rendered in excess of that amount because of bodily injury to or death of two (2) or more persons as the result of any one accident; or

(3) When twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) has been credited upon any judgment or judgments rendered in excess of that amount because of injury to or destruction of property of others as a result of any one accident; or seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) combined bodily injury and property damage.

(b) Provided, payments made in settlements of any claims because of bodily injury, death, or property damage arising from the accident shall be credited in reduction of the amounts provided for in this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-32-32 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-32 / Section 31-32-32
§ 31-32-32. Owner may give proof for others.
Status: in_force

The owner of a motor vehicle may give proof of financial responsibility on behalf of his or her employee or a member of his immediate family or household in lieu of the furnishing of proof by any person. The furnishing of proof shall permit the person to operate only a motor vehicle covered by the proof. The division of motor vehicles shall endorse appropriate restrictions on the face of the license held by the person or may issue a new license containing the restrictions.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-51-2 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-51 / Section 31-51-2
§ 31-51-2. Live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems.
Status: in_force

(a) All school departments of this state are hereby authorized to install and operate live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems. Such systems shall, at a minimum, be systems which monitor and detect school bus traffic violations. For purposes of this chapter a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system means a system with one or more camera sensors and computers which produce live digital and recorded video of motor vehicles being operated in violation of school bus traffic laws in violation of § 31-20-12. All systems installed for use under this chapter shall, at a minimum, produce a live visual image viewable remotely, a recorded image of the license plate, and be able to record the time, date, and location of the vehicle, and a signed affidavit by a person who witnessed the violation via live video.

(b) On and after July 1, 2027, all new school buses to be operated pursuant to § 31-20-11(a) shall be equipped with a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system that conforms with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

(c) On and after July 1, 2032, all school buses to be operated pursuant to § 31-20-11(a) shall be equipped with a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system that conforms with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

(d) The school departments with input and approval by the municipal police chief may enter into an agreement with a private corporation or other entity to provide live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems and to maintain and operate such systems.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-42-11 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-42 / Section 31-42-11
§ 31-42-11. Penalties  Costs.
Status: in_force

Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter regarding abandoned motor vehicles on private property, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500). In addition, the violator shall be responsible for all costs relating to the approval and disposal of the abandoned motor vehicle paid by the private property owner or local municipality.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-18-20.2 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-18 / Section 31-18-20.2
§ 31-18-20.2. Wheelchair use in roadway prohibited.
Status: in_force

Where sidewalks with curb-cuts and at least thirty-two (32) inches of unobstructed clear width are provided it shall be unlawful for any user of a manual or motorized wheelchair to wheel along and upon an adjacent roadway.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5-17 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-5 / Section 31-5-17
§ 31-5-17. Witnesses before department  Report of findings.
Status: in_force

The department shall have the power in hearings and trials arising under §§ 31-5-1  31-5-20 to determine the place where the hearing shall be held, to subpoena witnesses, to take depositions of witnesses residing without the state in the manner provided for in civil actions in courts of record, to pay witnesses the fees and the mileage for their attendance as is provided for witnesses in civil actions in courts of record, and to administer oaths. Whenever a hearing or trial shall be held before any authorized representative of the licensor, the representative shall report his or her findings in writing to the licensor which shall then make its ruling and orders.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-11-18.1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-11 / Section 31-11-18.1
§ 31-11-18.1. Driving after denial, revocation, or suspension for certain violations.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who drives a motor vehicle on any highway of this state who never applied for a license or who drives after his or her application for a license has been refused, or after his or her license has expired or who otherwise drives without a license or at a time when his or her license to operate is suspended, revoked, or cancelled, for: (1) operating under the influence of a narcotic drug or intoxicating liquor; (2) refusing to submit to a chemical test; reckless driving; (3) manslaughter from the operation of a motor vehicle or operating so as to endanger resulting in death; or (4) three (3) moving violations within a one-year period; shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for the first and second offenses and shall be deemed guilty of a felony for the third or subsequent offenses.

(b) The division of motor vehicles upon receiving a record of the conviction of any person upon a charge of driving a motor vehicle while the license of the person was suspended, for reasons set forth in this section shall suspend the persons license or deny the persons application for any length of time that it shall deem proper but in no case less than an additional three (3) months. Upon receiving a record of conviction of a second violation of driving a motor vehicle while the license of that person was suspended for reasons set forth in this section, the division of motor vehicles shall suspend the persons license or deny the persons application for any length of time that it shall deem proper but in no case less than an additional six (6) months. Any subsequent conviction shall result in license revocation. Upon receiving a record of the conviction of any person upon a charge of driving after his or her application for a license had been refused, or after his or her license had been revoked or cancelled for reasons set forth in this section, the division of motor vehicles shall not issue a new license for an additional period of one year from and after the date the person would otherwise have been entitled to apply for a new license.

(c)(1) Upon a first conviction under this section a mandatory fine of five hundred dollars ($500) shall be imposed, and if the person was driving after his or her application for a license had been refused, or at a time when his or her license to operate was suspended, revoked, or cancelled for operating under the influence of a controlled substance or intoxicating liquor, or his or her refusal to submit to a chemical test, reckless driving, manslaughter from the operation of a motor vehicle, or operation so as to endanger, death resulting, the person shall be imprisoned for a minimum of ten (10) days.

(2) A mandatory fine of five hundred dollars ($500) for a second conviction under this section within a five (5) year period shall be imposed, and if the person was driving after his or her application for a license had been refused, or at a time when his or her license to operate was suspended, revoked, or cancelled for operating under the influence of a controlled substance or intoxicating liquor or his or her refusal to submit to a chemical test, reckless driving, manslaughter from the operation of a motor vehicle, or operation so as to endanger, death resulting, the person shall be imprisoned for a minimum of six (6) months to one year.

(3) For any subsequent conviction within a five (5) year period, a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be imposed and the person may be imprisoned for up to one year or be required to participate in a public service program designated and approved by the court. If the person was driving after his or her application for a license had been refused or at a time when his or her license to operate was suspended, revoked, or cancelled for: (i) operating under the influence of a controlled substance or intoxicating liquor; (ii) his or her refusal to submit to a chemical test; (iii) reckless driving; (iv) manslaughter from the operation of a motor vehicle; or (v) operating so as to endanger, death resulting; the person shall be imprisoned for a minimum of one year. Jurisdiction for violations of this section is given to the district court and the court shall have full authority to impose any sentence authorized for violations of this section.

(d) No fines, suspensions, treatment, or jail provided for under this section can be suspended.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-37-5 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-37 / Section 31-37-5
§ 31-37-5. Information furnished by fuel vehicle drivers  Inspection and sampling.
Status: in_force

The operator or driver of any vehicle used for the transportation of fuels in this state shall furnish to the tax administrator or the administrators agents, on request, any information relative to the transportation of fuels in this state that may be required for the proper administration of the provisions of this chapter and chapter 36 of this title. For the purpose of securing the information the agents may stop on the highways of this state any vehicle which, they have reasonable cause to believe, is used for the transportation of fuels in this state. The agents may take samples of any fuels so transported or offered for sale in this state in sufficient quantity for the purpose of making an analysis of them.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2.7 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-27 / Section 31-27-2.7
§ 31-27-2.7. Driving while impaired.
Status: in_force

(a) A person under the age of twenty-one (21) but at least eighteen (18) years of age who takes a test, as provided for in § 31-27-2, at the request of a law enforcement officer who believes the person to be driving under the influence of alcohol, shall be determined to have been driving while impaired if the test determines the persons blood alcohol concentration to be at least two-hundredths of one percent (.02%) but less than eight one hundredths of one percent (.08%) by weight.

(b) Should, after a hearing in district court, it be determined that: the results of the test are admissible in that it meets all of the conditions, as set forth in § 31-27-2; and the person has been afforded his or her rights as set forth in § 31-27-2; then the judge shall order as follows:

(1) A fine of not more than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) and thirty (30) hours of community restitution. The fine shall be deposited in the general fund.

(2) The persons driving license shall be suspended for not less than one nor more than three (3) months on a first violation, provided the person also shall attend a special course in driving while intoxicated and provided that the person shall also attend an alcohol and/or drug treatment program if ordered by the district court judge. Failure or refusal of the person to attend the course and/or alcohol or drug treatment program shall result in the persons driving license being suspended until such time as the course and/or treatment program has been completed.

(3) On a second and subsequent violation of the section, the person shall be fined not more than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) together with a highway safety assessment of three hundred dollars ($300) and shall be required to perform up to sixty (60) hours of community restitution. The persons driving license shall be suspended for not less than three (3) months nor more than six (6) months. The sentencing judge shall also require the person to attend a special course in driving while intoxicated and also attend an alcohol and/or drug treatment program.

(c) No suspension, assessments, driving while intoxicated school, or alcohol and/or drug treatment programs under this section can be suspended, shortened, altered, or changed.

(d) Any violation of the section shall not be considered a criminal offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-4-11 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-4 / Section 31-4-11
§ 31-4-11. Sale of automobiles  Required equipment.
Status: in_force

(a) No automobile shall be sold, whether new or used, by a dealer, at wholesale or retail, unless the automobile is equipped with a spare tire and a jack, both of which must be functional and operational. The provisions of this section shall not apply:

(1) To an automobile equipped with tires that without any tire air inflation permit vehicle operation for at least fifty (50) miles at speeds up to at least fifty-five (55) miles per hour; or

(2) An automobile equipped with a factory installed tire repair and inflation system.

(b) A violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-6.3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-6.3
§ 31-3-6.3. Unpaid out-of-state toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines  Denial of registration  Denial of transfer of registration  Denial of renewal of registration and licenses.
Status: in_force

(a) Upon receipt of a request from another state or other entity with similar tolling authority with which the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority has entered into an agreement providing for the reciprocal treatment of out-of-state toll violators to take action against a toll violator, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall conduct an independent review of each toll violation that forms the basis for such request, which shall include a review of photographic, video, or other visual evidence, to determine that the requesting state or other entity with similar tolling authority imposed any toll amounts, administrative fees, and/or fines against the actual registered owner of the motor vehicle.

(b) As part of its independent review, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall provide written notice to the registered owner of the motor vehicle in question. The registered owner shall have ten (10) days from the date on the written notice to contact the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority and to provide information, documentation, and any other evidence contesting the requested action against the out-of-state toll violator. Thereafter, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall consider all of the information, documentation, and any other evidence provided as part of its independent review.

(c) If after its independent review the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority is satisfied that any toll amounts, administrative fees, and/or fines are properly imposed against the actual registered owner of the motor vehicle and the registered owner could be subject to reporting to the division of motor vehicles pursuant to § 24-12-37 if such toll violations had occurred on tolled projects in this state, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority may report the registered owner to the division of motor vehicles.

(d) The division of motor vehicles shall not renew any operators license or registration upon expiration thereof; register any motor vehicle; or transfer the registration of any motor vehicle of any person reported to it pursuant to subsection (c) of this section until any toll amounts, administrative fees, and/or fines owed to the other state or other entity with similar tolling authority have been paid in full or the person has entered into, and is in current compliance with, a repayment agreement with respect to any amounts owed. The Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall provide a copy of any notification received from the other state or other entity with similar tolling authority regarding full payment of amounts owed or the existence of a repayment agreement to the division of motor vehicles within five (5) business days of receipt. Within five (5) business days of receiving such notification, the division of motor vehicles shall renew the persons license and renew, transfer, or issue the persons registration.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-4-3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-4 / Section 31-4-3
§ 31-4-3. Temporary registration  Invoice voucher issued by dealer.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who purchases a motor vehicle from a bona fide licensed dealer and who presently has a motor vehicle registered in this state, may operate the newly acquired motor vehicle for a period of thirty (30) days following the date of the original dated voucher. During this period any operator of the newly acquired vehicle shall carry the original dated bill of sale or invoice voucher which shall be accompanied by a numbered state sales tax form. The voucher or bill of sale shall recite the registration number to be transferred from the former vehicle to the newly acquired vehicle.

(b) The bill of sale or invoice voucher shall be sequentially and numerically identified, dated on the day of sale, and shall be valid for not more than thirty (30) days following the date of the original dated voucher. No dealer or any other person shall extend or alter the date nor shall a new bill of sale be issued to the purchaser as a means to circumvent this section.

(c) Every dealer shall keep a sequential record of each temporary certificate issued and those records shall be available during business hours for examination by any police officer or inspector of the division of motor vehicles as designated by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles.

(d) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-17 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-47 / Section 31-47-17
§ 31-47-17. Insurance companies.
Status: in_force

If there is reason to believe that there has been a noncompliance with any of the provisions of this chapter, every insurance company authorized to issue automobile liability policies shall be required upon request to provide the division of motor vehicles with information sufficient to evidence an individuals compliance with this chapter within ten (10) days of request.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-129 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-129
§ 31-3-129. Special plate for the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation.
Status: in_force

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit entity Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation.

(b) The special plate shall be displayed upon the same registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it was issued and shall be used in place of and in the same manner as the registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be removed from the vehicle and returned to the division of motor vehicles. The registration certificate for the plates shall be carried in the vehicle in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate shall be in effect for the special plate.

(c) The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode Island state police.

(d) The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation plates shall be subject to compliance with § 31-3-117 relating to the number of minimum prepaid orders of plates per plate type (i.e., passenger, commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the proper paper work submitted to the division.

(e) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop prepayment procedures and any other procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation plates shall be subject to a forty dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge.

(g) The forty dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be allocated to the general fund and the remaining twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be distributed annually to the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation to conduct collaborative fisheries research and education projects to advance the achievement of sustainable fisheries.

(h) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated to the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation.

(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation plates, the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation must use any Rhode Island-sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.

(j) Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation will be required to submit an annual accounting report before such monies are distributed.

(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation plates.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-73 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-73
§ 31-3-73. Police Major Emeritus, City of East Providence.
Status: in_force

The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is authorized and directed to issue a special registration plate for the private passenger motor vehicle of Brooke McGregor, the widow of deceased Police Major Alister McGregor of the city of East Providence Police Department. The plate is to bear the identification Police Major Emeritus with the designation number to be chosen by the widow and the seal of the state imprinted on it. The plate shall be furnished without additional registration charge for as long as Brooke McGregor desires.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-2 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-2
§ 31-24-2. Means of measuring distance of visibility.
Status: in_force

Whenever a requirement is declared in this chapter as to the distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects visible or within which the lamps or devices shall be visible, the provisions shall apply during the times stated in § 31-24-1 in respect to a vehicle without load when upon a straight, level, unlighted highway under normal atmospheric conditions unless a different time or condition is expressly stated.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-6-4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-6 / Section 31-6-4
§ 31-6-4. Fees payable by jitney operators in interstate commerce.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this chapter or in any other provision of the laws of this state, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles may issue certificates of registration and plates for all the jitneys owned or operated by any carrier of passengers for hire operating jitneys in interstate commerce in the state of Rhode Island and from every state contiguous to it, pursuant to the authority granted by the Interstate Commerce Commission, at a rate equal to the sum represented by the registration fee for a single jitney provided in § 31-6-1, multiplied by the average number of jitneys, as determined by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, required by the applicant to operate the maximum number of schedules provided in the published schedules of the applicant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-4-7 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-4 / Section 31-4-7
§ 31-4-7. Repossession of vehicle.
Status: in_force

In the event of repossession of a motor vehicle under a rental agreement, lease, contract of conditional sale, or other title retention agreement, or in the event title becomes vested in the holder of a lien, mortgage, or encumbrance upon a motor vehicle, the person repossessing or so obtaining title may apply to the division of motor vehicles for and obtain bailee registration plates, and may operate the vehicle under those special plates only for purposes of transporting the same to a garage or warehouse, or for purposes of demonstrating or selling the same. Whoever shall so obtain possession of a vehicle shall return the registration plates found on the vehicle and the registration card, if available, to the division of motor vehicles within five (5) days thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-12 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-47 / Section 31-47-12
§ 31-47-12. Police officers and agents of administrator of the division of motor vehicles  Fees collected, forms of proof.
Status: in_force

(a) For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter, every police officer of a state, town, or municipality is deemed an agent of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. Any police officer who, in the performance of his or her duties as authorized by law, becomes aware of a person whose license is under an order of suspension, or whose certificate of registration and registration plates are under an order of impoundment, pursuant to this section may confiscate the license, certificate of registration, and registration plates, and return them to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. Any forms used by law enforcement agencies in administering this section shall be prescribed by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, the cost of which shall be borne by these agencies. No police officer, law enforcement agency employing a police officer, or political subdivision or governmental agency that employs a police officer shall be liable in a civil action for damages or loss to persons arising out of the performance of the duty required or authorized by this section. Police officer means the full-time police from the rank of patrol up to and including the rank of colonel or chief of any police department in any city or town within the state of Rhode Island or of the state police.

(b) All fees, except court costs, collected under this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the highway safety fund in a special account hereby created, to be known as the financial responsibility compliance special account. This special account shall be used exclusively to cover costs incurred by the division of motor vehicles in the administration of this chapter, and by any law enforcement agency employing any police officer who returns any license, certificate of registration, and registration plates to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles pursuant to this chapter.

(c) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles, court, or traffic tribunal may require proof of financial security. A person may demonstrate proof of financial responsibility under this section by presenting to the court, traffic tribunal, or administrator of the division of motor vehicles any of the following documents or a copy of these documents:

(1) A certificate of proof of financial responsibility;

(2) A bond or certification of the issuance of a bond;

(3) A certificate of deposit of money or securities; or

(4) A certificate of self insurance.

(d) At the time of investigation of a motor vehicle offense or accident by a police officer or when a motor vehicle is stopped by a police officer for probable cause, the police officer making the investigation or stopping the motor vehicle shall ask for evidence of proof of financial security as defined in this chapter. Proof of financial responsibility may be provided using a mobile electronic device; provided, however, that the police officer requiring the proof of financial responsibility shall be prohibited from viewing any other content on the mobile electronic device. Any person utilizing an electronic device to provide proof of insurance shall assume any and all liability for any damage sustained to the mobile electronic device. If the evidence is not provided, a citation to appear before the traffic tribunal shall be issued to the operator. However, any citation issued solely for failing to provide evidence of financial responsibility shall be held by the issuing police officer or law enforcement agency for at least one business day before submitting the citation to the traffic tribunal. Any operator who receives a citation for failing to provide valid evidence of financial responsibility shall have the opportunity to provide evidence of financial responsibility that existed at the time of the violation within the one-business-day period, at which time the issuing police officer or law enforcement agency shall withdraw the citation, and the motorist shall not be required to appear before the traffic tribunal. Notwithstanding this provision, police officers who issue a citation for lack of evidence of financial responsibility, in addition to one or more other citations, need not wait the one-business-day waiting period before submitting the citation for lack of evidence of financial responsibility to the traffic tribunal. The traffic tribunal may, by rule and regulation, prescribe the procedures for processing the citations. Motor vehicles may not be stopped solely for the purpose of checking for evidence of proof of financial security.

(e)(1) Upon a first offense, one must provide proof of current insurance and a binder or release letter covering the cost of the accident, as long as the accident does not include bodily injury or death.

(2) In addition, penalties do not release the motorist from any pending matter before any other appropriate court.

(f) Any operator of a motor vehicle registered in this state who shall operate a motor vehicle without proof of financial security, as defined in this chapter, being in full force and effect on the date of the motor vehicle stop or accident, may be subject to suspension of license and fines as follows:

(1) For a first offense, a suspension of up to thirty (30) days and may be fined one hundred dollars ($100) up to two hundred and fifty dollars ($250);

(2) For a second offense, a suspension of up to six (6) months and may be fined five hundred dollars ($500); and

(3) For a third and subsequent offense, a suspension of up to one year. Additionally, any person violating this section a third or subsequent time shall be punished as a civil violation and may be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-44-1.8 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-44 / Section 31-44-1.8
§ 31-44-1.8. Survey of parks.
Status: in_force

The department of health or its authorized representatives shall conduct a survey every three (3) years of mobile and manufactured home parks.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-44-20 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-44 / Section 31-44-20
§ 31-44-20. Mobile home conveyance tax.
Status: in_force

(a) There is imposed, on every deed, instrument, or writing by which any mobile or manufactured home shall be granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his or her or their direction, when the consideration paid exceeds one hundred dollars ($100), a tax at the rate of one dollar and forty cents ($1.40) for each five hundred dollars ($500) or fractional part thereof which is paid for the purchase of the home (inclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrance remaining on it at the time of sale), and exclusive of any personal property that may be included in the sale which tax shall be payable at the time of making, execution, delivery, acceptance or presenting for recording of the instrument. In the absence of an agreement to the contrary, the tax shall be paid by the grantor.

(b) In the event no consideration is actually paid for the mobile or manufactured home, the instrument of conveyance shall contain a statement to the effect that the consideration is such that no documentary stamps are required.

(c) The tax administrator shall enforce the provisions of this section and may adopt and enforce rules and regulations relating to the enforcement of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-2-28 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-2 / Section 31-2-28
§ 31-2-28. Expiration dates.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provisions of the general or public laws to the contrary, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles may extend the expiration date of any permit, license, registration, certificate, placard, or other privilege issued by the division of motor vehicles for a period of up to ninety (90) days when the administrators ability to properly perform their duties is prevented, hindered, impaired, or otherwise delayed by:

(1) Any upgrade, replacement, or modification of existing technology systems that requires significant time for implementation;

(2) A disaster, as defined in § 30-15-3, that has occurred, or the occurrence of which, or the threat thereof, is imminent; or

(3) The occurrence of any other similar event that warrants such extension.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-2-24 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-2 / Section 31-2-24
§ 31-2-24. Service fees on returned checks.
Status: in_force

The division of motor vehicles is authorized to impose a fee on returned checks, which shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per returned check.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-32-15 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-32 / Section 31-32-15
§ 31-32-15. Discharge in bankruptcy.
Status: in_force

A discharge in bankruptcy following the rendering of the judgment shall not relieve the judgment debtor from any of the requirements of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-2 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-2
§ 31-3-2. Vehicles subject to registration.
Status: in_force

Every motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, pole trailer, motorized camper, tent trailer, travel trailer, pick-up coach, and pick-up camper, owned by a resident of this state when operated or drawn upon a highway within this state for a period of thirty (30) days, shall be subject to the registration provisions of chapters 3  9 of this title except:

(1) Any vehicle operated upon a highway in conformance with the provisions of the chapters relating to manufacturers, transporters, dealers, lien holders, or nonresidents;

(2) Any vehicle that is operated upon a highway only for the purpose of crossing the highway but not along the highway from one property to another;

(3) Any farm vehicle, whether or not of a type otherwise subject to registration under this chapter, that is only incidentally operated upon a highway. For purposes of this title, the phrase incidentally operated upon a highway shall mean the operation upon a highway of a slow-moving motor vehicle that is designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines, and other implements of husbandry, between agricultural operations owned or managed by the owner of the motor vehicle. Unless the incidental operation is only for purposes of crossing the highway but not traveling along it, the farm vehicle engaged in the incidental operation shall display a Slow Moving Vehicle emblem in a manner that complies with requirements established by the division of motor vehicles;

(4) Any special mobile equipment as defined in § 31-1-9;

(5) Any vehicle that is propelled exclusively by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, though not operated upon rails;

(6) Any low-speed motor vehicle or low-speed vehicle as defined in § 31-1-3.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-18-1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-18 / Section 31-18-1
§ 31-18-1. Applicability of regulations to pedestrians.
Status: in_force

Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic control signals at intersections as provided in §§ 31-13-6 and 31-13-7, unless required by local ordinance to comply strictly with the signals, but at all other places pedestrians shall be accorded the privileges and shall be subject to the restrictions stated in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5-39 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-5 / Section 31-5-39
§ 31-5-39. Criminal liability for violations.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm, or corporation who violates the provisions of § 31-5-33 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-51-3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-51 / Section 31-51-3
§ 31-51-3. Procedure  Notice.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as expressly provided in this chapter, all prosecutions based on evidence produced by a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system shall follow the procedures established in chapter 41.1 of this title, chapter 18 of title 8, and the rules promulgated by the chief magistrate of the traffic tribunal for the hearing of civil traffic violations in the traffic tribunal. Provided, that in an action brought pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, references in chapter 41.1 of this title to an operator shall apply to the registered owner of the vehicle. A summons may be issued by an officer solely based on evidence obtained by use of a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system. All summonses issued based on evidence obtained from a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system shall be issued within ten (10) days of the violation. Notwithstanding any provisions of the general laws to the contrary, jurisdiction to hear and decide any violation under this chapter shall be as follows:

(1) By the traffic tribunal over all violations for which the summons is issued by a state agency;

(2) By the traffic tribunal over all violations for which the summons is issued by a city or town which has not established a municipal court; and

(3) By the municipal court over all violations for which the summons is issued by a city or town which has established a municipal court.

(b) It shall be sufficient to commence a prosecution based on evidence obtained from a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system. A copy of the summons and supporting documentation shall be mailed to the address of the registered owner kept on file by the registry of motor vehicles. For purposes of this section, the date of issuance shall be the date of mailing.

(c) The officer issuing the citation shall certify under penalties of perjury that the evidence obtained from the live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system was sufficient to demonstrate a violation of the motor vehicle code. Such certification shall be sufficient in all prosecutions pursuant to this chapter to justify the entry of a default judgment upon sufficient proof of actual notice in all cases where the citation is not answered within the time period permitted.

(d) The summons shall contain all the information provided for on the uniform summons as referred to in § 31-41.1-1 and the rules of procedure promulgated by the chief magistrate of the traffic tribunal as well as the date, time, and location of the violation. In addition, the following information shall be attached to or accompany the summons:

(1) Copies of two (2) or more photographs, or microphotographs, videos, or other recorded images taken as proof of the violation;

(2) A signed statement certified under the penalties of perjury by a trained law enforcement officer that, based on inspection of recorded images and video, the motor vehicle was being operated in violation of this chapter;

(3) A signed statement that recorded images are evidence of a violation of this chapter;

(4) A statement that the person who receives the summons under this chapter may either pay the civil fine in accordance with the provisions of § 31-51-2.2, proceed under § 31-51-5(c)(3) of this section, or elect to stand trial for the alleged violation;

(5) A signed affidavit by a person who witnessed the motor vehicle being operated in violation of this chapter; and

(6) A signed statement certified under the penalties of perjury by a trained law enforcement officer that the summons and attachments required under this subsection were mailed to the address of the registered owner kept on file by the registry of motor vehicles.

(e) Any summons issued pursuant to this chapter shall be issued by a law enforcement officer authorized to issue a traffic violation summons pursuant to this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-47 / Section 31-47-4
§ 31-47-4. Notice of termination.
Status: in_force

(a) No contract of insurance or renewal of it shall be terminated by cancellation or failure to renew by the insurer until at least thirty (30) days after mailing to the named insured, at the address shown on the policy a notice of termination or cancellation by certificate of mailing, except that when cancellation is for nonpayment of premium the notice shall be mailed to the named insured at the address shown on the policy at least ten (10) days prior to the effective date of cancellation.

(b) Time of the effective date and hour of termination stated in the notice shall become the end of the policy period.

(c) Every notice of termination for any cause whatsoever sent to the insured shall include in type of which the face shall not be smaller than twelve (12) point, a statement that financial security is required to be maintained continuously throughout the registration period and that failure to maintain financial security shall subject the violator to a mandatory suspension of license and registration.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-12.3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-27 / Section 31-27-12.3
§ 31-27-12.3. Preparation and disposition of records.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) Responsibility of individual officer. At or before the completion of his or her tour of duty, every police officer who has issued a summons from his or her book or pad shall retain a copy of the summons and shall deliver to the chief administrative officer of his or her department or organization or to the person duly authorized by the chief administrative officer the request for complaint, the division of motor vehicles record and police record all duly signed by the police officer together with all summonses spoiled, mutilated, or voided during the tour of duty, endorsed with a full explanation of each.

(2) Each officer shall, upon using all summonses in a pad or book, return it to the chief administrative officer of his or her department or state police barracks or person duly authorized by him or her.

(b) Responsibility of chief administrative officer of police department or state police barracks. Every chief administrative officer of a police department or state police barracks, or person duly authorized by him or her, shall, upon their receipt from a police officer who has issued a summons, deposit the completed copy, request for complaint, and the division of motor vehicles record with the court having jurisdiction of the alleged violation no later than two (2) days after the date of the issuance of the summons, Sundays and legal holidays excepted. The chief administrative officer shall retain for department records the form designated police record. The chief administrative officer shall also cause to be completed, in duplicate, the summary sheet for each pad or book noting on it the date of issuance of all summonses contained in the book, including the mutilation or destruction of any summonses contained in it together with the court complaint number issued and the disposition, if known, within ten (10) days after receipt of the used book or pad from the police officer and shall, within that time, deposit the original summary sheet signed by the chief administrative officer or person duly authorized by him or her to the clerk of the court which distributed the book or pad, retaining the copy for department records.

(c)(1) Responsibility of courts. A full record shall be kept by every court in this state of every case in which a person is charged with a violation of any provision of this title, or any act relative to motor vehicles, or to the operation of the vehicles. An abstract of that record shall be sent by the court to the division of motor vehicles within ten (10) days of the time when the case is disposed of.

(2) In any case in which the charge is a violation of that portion of § 31-27-2(a) relating to a person operating under the influence of intoxicating liquor, the case shall not be construed as disposed of, if sentence is imposed to attend a special course as provided in that section, until action has been taken by the court having jurisdiction of the charge upon completion of the course or upon a failure to complete it.

(3) If a case was commenced by a summons as provided in § 31-27-12, the abstract shall be made on the division of motor vehicles record provided in § 31-27-12.1, and otherwise the abstract shall be made upon forms prepared by the division of motor vehicles. Every abstract shall include all necessary information as to the parties to the cause, the nature of the offense, the date of the hearing, the plea, the decision, the judgment and the result, and in case an operator or chauffeur shall plead guilty or nolo contendere or be found guilty of a violation of § 31-14-1, the number of miles per hour by which the operator or chauffeur exceeded the reasonable and prudent speed, and every abstract shall be certified by the clerk of the court. The division of motor vehicles shall keep records and they shall be open to the public inspection during the business hours of the division of motor vehicles. The judge of any court in the state may, upon his or her own initiative, or upon the request of the division of motor vehicles or its agents, furnish to the division of motor vehicles the details of all particularly flagrant cases which may be heard before the judge and may make any recommendations to the division of motor vehicles as to the suspension of the license of the persons defendant in the case that the judge may deem necessary.

(4) The clerk of every court which has issued pads or books of summonses and related records provided in § 31-27-12.1 shall be the initial custodian of all summary sheets returned to the court as provided in subsection (b) of this section. The clerk shall determine that all required information is included on the summary sheets and shall annually, during the month of July, deliver all summary sheets returned to his or her custody during the preceding twelve (12) months to the administrative clerk in the judicial department. The clerk shall also, during the month of July, determine the location of all pads or books and summonses distributed by him or her more than one year prior to the month, and the summary sheet for which has not been returned and shall, within the month, report his or her finding to the administrative clerk of the judicial department.

(d) Responsibility of administrative clerk of judicial department. Upon receipt of the summary sheets and reports of clerks as provided by subsection (c) of this section, the administrative clerk of the judicial department shall be the custodian of them and shall keep the sheets and reports for a period of not less than three (3) years, and they shall be open to the public inspection during the hours when the office of the administrative clerk of the judicial department is open.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10-1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-10 / Section 31-10-1
§ 31-10-1. License required to drive.
Status: in_force

(a) No person, except those expressly exempted in this chapter, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless that person has a valid license as an operator or chauffeur under the provisions of this chapter. No person shall receive an operators license unless and until he or she surrenders to the division of motor vehicles all valid operators licenses in his or her possession issued to that person by any other jurisdiction. All surrendered licenses shall be returned by the division of motor vehicles to the issuer together with the information that the licensee is now licensed in this state. No person shall be permitted to have more than one valid operators license at any time. Any resident as defined under § 31-1-18 shall be required to obtain a Rhode Island operators or chauffeurs license within thirty (30) days of establishing residency.

(b) No person shall drive a motor vehicle as a chauffeur unless he or she holds a valid chauffeurs license. No person shall receive a chauffeurs license unless and until he or she surrenders to the division of motor vehicles any operators license issued to him or her, or an affidavit that he or she does not possess an operators license.

(c) Any person holding a valid chauffeurs license under this chapter need not procure an operators license.

(d) Any person licensed as an operator or chauffeur under this chapter may exercise the privilege granted by that license upon all streets and highways in this state, and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise that privilege by any county, municipal, or local board, or by any body having authority to adopt local police regulations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-27 / Section 31-27-2
§ 31-27-2. Driving under influence of liquor or drugs.
Status: in_force

(a) Whoever drives or otherwise operates any vehicle in the state while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor, drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any combination of these, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, except as provided in subsection (d)(3), and shall be punished as provided in subsection (d) of this section.

(b)(1) Any person charged under subsection (a), whose blood alcohol concentration is eight one-hundredths of one percent (.08%) or more by weight, as shown by a chemical analysis of a blood, breath, or urine sample, shall be guilty of violating subsection (a). This provision shall not preclude a conviction based on other admissible evidence, including the testimony of a drug recognition expert or evaluator, certified pursuant to training approved by the Rhode Island department of transportation office on highway safety. Proof of guilt under this section may also be based on evidence that the person charged was under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any combination of these, to a degree that rendered the person incapable of safely operating a vehicle. The fact that any person charged with violating this section is, or has been, legally entitled to use alcohol or a drug shall not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this section.

(2) [Deleted by P.L. 2021, ch. 170, § 1 and P.L. 2021, ch. 171, § 1.]

(c) In any criminal prosecution for a violation of subsection (a), evidence as to the amount of intoxicating liquor, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any combination of these, in the defendants blood at the time alleged as shown by a chemical analysis of the defendants breath, blood, saliva or urine or other bodily substance, shall be admissible and competent, provided that evidence is presented that the following conditions have been complied with:

(1) The defendant has consented to the taking of the test upon which the analysis is made. Evidence that the defendant had refused to submit to the test shall not be admissible unless the defendant elects to testify.

(2) A true copy of the report of the test result was hand delivered at the location of the test or mailed within seventy-two (72) hours of the taking of the test to the person submitting to a breath test.

(3) Any person submitting to a chemical test of blood, urine, saliva or other body fluids shall have a true copy of the report of the test result mailed to him or her within thirty (30) days following the taking of the test.

(4) The test was performed according to methods and with equipment approved by the director of the department of health of the state of Rhode Island and by an authorized individual.

(5) Equipment used for the conduct of the tests by means of breath analysis had been tested for accuracy within thirty (30) days preceding the test by personnel qualified as hereinbefore provided, and breathalyzer operators shall be qualified and certified by the department of health within three hundred sixty-five (365) days of the test.

(6) The person arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21 or any combination of these in violation of subsection (a), was afforded the opportunity to have an additional chemical test. The officer arresting or so charging the person shall have informed the person of this right and afforded him or her a reasonable opportunity to exercise this right, and a notation to this effect is made in the official records of the case in the police department. Refusal to permit an additional chemical test shall render incompetent and inadmissible in evidence the original report.

(d)(1)(i) Every person found to have violated subsection (b)(1) shall be sentenced as follows: for a first violation whose blood alcohol concentration is eight one-hundredths of one percent (.08%), but less than one-tenth of one percent (.1%), by weight, or who has a blood presence of any scheduled controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than three hundred dollars ($300); shall be required to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of public community restitution, and/or shall be imprisoned for up to one year. The sentence may be served in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge and/or shall be required to attend a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans Administration, and his or her drivers license shall be suspended for thirty (30) days up to one hundred eighty (180) days. The sentencing judge or magistrate may prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle, pursuant to subsection (d)(9) or (d)(10) of this section, that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

(ii) Every person convicted of a first violation whose blood alcohol concentration is one-tenth of one percent (.1%) by weight or above, but less than fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%), or whose blood alcohol concentration is unknown, shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred ($100) dollars, nor more than four hundred dollars ($400), and shall be required to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of public community restitution and/or shall be imprisoned for up to one year. The sentence may be served in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge. The persons driving license shall be suspended for a period of three (3) months to twelve (12) months. The sentencing judge shall require attendance at a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance and/or alcoholic or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans Administration. The sentencing judge or magistrate may prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

(iii) Every person convicted of a first offense whose blood alcohol concentration is fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) or above, or who is under the influence of a drug, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in subsection (b)(1), shall be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500) and shall be required to perform twenty (20) to sixty (60) hours of public community restitution and/or shall be imprisoned for up to one year. The sentence may be served in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge. The persons driving license shall be suspended for a period of three (3) months to eighteen (18) months. The sentencing judge shall require attendance at a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance and/or alcohol or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans Administration. The sentencing judge or magistrate shall prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle, pursuant to subsection (d)(9) or (d)(10) of this section, that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

(2)(i) Every person convicted of a second violation within a ten-year (10) period with a blood alcohol concentration of eight one-hundredths of one percent (.08%) or above, but less than fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%), or whose blood alcohol concentration is unknown, or who has a blood presence of any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, and every person convicted of a second violation within a ten-year (10) period, regardless of whether the prior violation and subsequent conviction was a violation and subsequent conviction under this statute or under the driving under the influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, shall be subject to a mandatory fine of four hundred dollars ($400). The persons driving license shall be suspended for a period of one year to two (2) years, and the individual shall be sentenced to not less than ten (10) days, nor more than one year, in jail. The sentence may be served in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge; however, not less than forty-eight (48) hours of imprisonment shall be served consecutively. The sentencing judge shall require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans Administration and shall prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle, pursuant to subsection (d)(9) or (d)(10) of this section, that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

(ii) Every person convicted of a second violation within a ten-year (10) period whose blood alcohol concentration is fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) or above, by weight as shown by a chemical analysis of a blood, breath, or urine sample, or who is under the influence of a drug, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in subsection (b)(1), shall be subject to mandatory imprisonment of not less than six (6) months, nor more than one year; a mandatory fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000); and a mandatory license suspension for a period of two (2) years from the date of completion of the sentence imposed under this subsection. The sentencing judge shall require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans Administration. The sentencing judge or magistrate shall prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle, pursuant to subsection (d)(9) or (d)(10) of this section, that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

(3)(i) Every person convicted of a third or subsequent violation within a ten-year (10) period with a blood alcohol concentration of eight one-hundredths of one percent (.08%) or above, but less than fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%), or whose blood alcohol concentration is unknown or who has a blood presence of any scheduled controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, regardless of whether any prior violation and subsequent conviction was a violation and subsequent conviction under this statute or under the driving under the influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, shall be guilty of a felony and be subject to a mandatory fine of four hundred ($400) dollars. The persons driving license shall be suspended for a period of two (2) years to three (3) years, and the individual shall be sentenced to not less than one year and not more than three (3) years in jail. The sentence may be served in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge; however, not less than forty-eight (48) hours of imprisonment shall be served consecutively. The sentencing judge shall require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans Administration, and shall prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle, pursuant to subsection (d)(9) or (d)(10) of this section, that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

(ii) Every person convicted of a third or subsequent violation within a ten-year (10) period whose blood alcohol concentration is fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) or above by weight as shown by a chemical analysis of a blood, breath, or urine sample, or who is under the influence of a drug, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in subsection (b)(1), shall be subject to mandatory imprisonment of not less than three (3) years, nor more than five (5) years; a mandatory fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000); and a mandatory license suspension for a period of three (3) years from the date of completion of the sentence imposed under this subsection. The sentencing judge shall require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual. The sentencing judge or magistrate shall prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle, pursuant to subsection (d)(9) or (d)(10) of this section, that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

(iii) In addition to the foregoing penalties, every person convicted of a third or subsequent violation within a ten-year (10) period, regardless of whether any prior violation and subsequent conviction was a violation and subsequent conviction under this statute or under the driving under the influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, shall be subject, in the discretion of the sentencing judge, to having the vehicle owned and operated by the violator seized and sold by the state of Rhode Island, with all funds obtained by the sale to be transferred to the general fund.

(4) Whoever drives or otherwise operates any vehicle in the state while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor, drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any combination of these, when his or her license to operate is suspended, revoked, or cancelled for operating under the influence of a narcotic drug or intoxicating liquor, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years and by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000). The court shall require alcohol and/or drug treatment for the individual; provided, the penalties provided for in this subsection (d)(4) shall not apply to an individual who has surrendered his or her license and served the court-ordered period of suspension, but who, for any reason, has not had his or her license reinstated after the period of suspension, revocation, or suspension has expired; provided, further, the individual shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (d)(2)(i), (d)(2)(ii), (d)(3)(i), (d)(3)(ii), or (d)(3)(iii) regarding subsequent offenses, and any other applicable provision of this section.

(5)(i) For purposes of determining the period of license suspension, a prior violation shall constitute any charge brought and sustained under the provisions of this section or § 31-27-2.1.

(ii) Any person over the age of eighteen (18) who is convicted under this section for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs, or a combination of these, while a child under the age of thirteen (13) years was present as a passenger in the motor vehicle when the offense was committed shall be subject to immediate license suspension pending prosecution. Any person convicted of violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for a first offense and may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than one year and a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). Any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense shall be guilty of a felony offense and may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than five (5) years and a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). The sentencing judge shall also order a license suspension of up to two (2) years, require attendance at a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance, and alcohol or drug education and/or treatment. The individual may also be required to pay a highway assessment fee of no more than five hundred dollars ($500) and the assessment shall be deposited in the general fund.

(6)(i) Any person convicted of a violation under this section shall pay a highway assessment fine of five hundred dollars ($500) that shall be deposited into the general fund. The assessment provided for by this subsection shall be collected from a violator before any other fines authorized by this section.

(ii) Any person convicted of a violation under this section shall be assessed a fee of eighty-six dollars ($86).

(7)(i) If the person convicted of violating this section is under the age of eighteen (18) years, for the first violation he or she shall be required to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of public community restitution and the juveniles driving license shall be suspended for a period of six (6) months, and may be suspended for a period up to eighteen (18) months. The sentencing judge shall also require attendance at a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance and alcohol or drug education and/or treatment for the juvenile. The juvenile may also be required to pay a highway assessment fine of no more than five hundred dollars ($500) and the assessment imposed shall be deposited into the general fund.

(ii) If the person convicted of violating this section is under the age of eighteen (18) years, for a second or subsequent violation regardless of whether any prior violation and subsequent conviction was a violation and subsequent conviction under this statute or under the driving under the influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, he or she shall be subject to a mandatory suspension of his or her driving license until such time as he or she is twenty-one (21) years of age and may, in the discretion of the sentencing judge, also be sentenced to the Rhode Island training school for a period of not more than one year and/or a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).

(8) Any person convicted of a violation under this section may undergo a clinical assessment at the community college of Rhode Islands center for workforce and community education. Should this clinical assessment determine problems of alcohol, drug abuse, or psychological problems associated with alcoholic or drug abuse, this person shall be referred to an appropriate facility, licensed or approved by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, for treatment placement, case management, and monitoring. In the case of a servicemember or veteran, the court may order that the person be evaluated through the Veterans Administration. Should the clinical assessment determine problems of alcohol, drug abuse, or psychological problems associated with alcohol or drug abuse, the person may have their treatment, case management, and monitoring administered or approved by the Veterans Administration.

(9) Notwithstanding any other sentencing and disposition provisions contained in this chapter, if the judge or magistrate makes a finding beyond a reasonable doubt that a motorist was operating a vehicle in the state while under the influence of drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as evidenced by the presence of controlled substances on or about the person or vehicle, or other reliable indicia or articulable conditions thereof, but not intoxicating liquor based on a preliminary breath test, results from a breathalyzer that indicates no blood alcohol concentration, or both, the judge or magistrate may exercise his or her discretion and eliminate the requirement of an ignition interlock system; provided, that blood and/or urine testing is mandated as a condition to operating a motor vehicle as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

(10) Notwithstanding any other sentencing and disposition provisions contained in this chapter, if the judge or magistrate makes a finding beyond a reasonable doubt that a motorist was operating a vehicle in the state while under the influence of drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as evidenced by the presence of controlled substances on or about the person or vehicle, or other reliable indicia or articulable conditions thereof and intoxicating liquor based on a preliminary breath test, results from a breathalyzer that indicates blood alcohol concentration, or both, the judge or magistrate may require an ignition interlock system in addition to blood and/or urine testing as a condition to operating a motor vehicle as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

(e) Percent by weight of alcohol in the blood shall be based upon milligrams of alcohol per one hundred cubic centimeters (100 cc) of blood.

(f)(1) There is established an alcohol and drug safety unit within the division of motor vehicles to administer an alcohol safety action program. The program shall provide for placement and follow-up for persons who are required to pay the highway safety assessment. The alcohol and drug safety action program will be administered in conjunction with alcohol and drug programs licensed by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals.

(2) Persons convicted under the provisions of this chapter shall be required to attend a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance, and/or participate in an alcohol or drug treatment program, which course and programs must meet the standards established by the Rhode Island department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans Administration. The course shall take into consideration any language barrier that may exist as to any person ordered to attend, and shall provide for instruction reasonably calculated to communicate the purposes of the course in accordance with the requirements of the subsection. Any costs reasonably incurred in connection with the provision of this accommodation shall be borne by the person being retrained. A copy of any violation under this section shall be forwarded by the court to the alcohol and drug safety unit. In the event that persons convicted under the provisions of this chapter fail to attend and complete the above course or treatment program, as ordered by the judge, then the person may be brought before the court, and after a hearing as to why the order of the court was not followed, may be sentenced to jail for a period not exceeding one year.

(3) The alcohol and drug safety action program within the division of motor vehicles shall be funded by general revenue appropriations.

(g) The director of the department of health is empowered to make and file with the secretary of state regulations that prescribe the techniques and methods of chemical analysis of the persons body fluids or breath and the qualifications and certification of individuals authorized to administer this testing and analysis.

(h) Jurisdiction for misdemeanor violations of this section shall be with the district court for persons eighteen (18) years of age or older and to the family court for persons under the age of eighteen (18) years. The courts shall have full authority to impose any sentence authorized and to order the suspension of any license for violations of this section. Trials in superior court are not required to be scheduled within thirty (30) days of the arraignment date.

(i) No fines, suspensions, assessments, alcohol or drug treatment programs, course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance, public community restitution, or jail provided for under this section can be suspended.

(j) An order to attend a special course on driving while intoxicated, that shall be administered in cooperation with a college or university accredited by the state, shall include a provision to pay a reasonable tuition for the course in an amount not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), and a fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175), which fee shall be deposited into the general fund.

(k) For the purposes of this section, any test of a sample of blood, breath, or urine for the presence of alcohol that relies in whole or in part upon the principle of infrared light absorption is considered a chemical test.

(l) If any provision of this section, or the application of any provision, shall for any reason be judged invalid, such a judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of the section, but shall be confined in this effect to the provision or application directly involved in the controversy giving rise to the judgment.

(m) For the purposes of this section, servicemember means a person who is presently serving in the armed forces of the United States, including the Coast Guard, a reserve component thereof, or the National Guard. Veteran means a person who has served in the armed forces, including the Coast Guard of the United States, a reserve component thereof, or the National Guard, and has been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-49-5 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-49 / Section 31-49-5
§ 31-49-5. List of certified ignition interlock systems.
Status: in_force

(a) The division of motor vehicles shall publish a list of certified ignition interlock systems that shall be included on the division of motor vehicles website.

(b) A manufacturer of an ignition interlock system that seeks to sell or lease the ignition interlock system to persons subject to the provisions of § 31-27-2.8 shall pay the costs of obtaining the required certification.

(c) Said manufacturer who shall install and monitor said systems shall be approved by the division of motor vehicles every year. Said manufacturer shall also submit quarterly reports concerning proof of installation and proper use of said ignition interlock systems to the division of motor vehicles, which will be aggregated by the division of motor vehicles.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-31-2 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-31 / Section 31-31-2
§ 31-31-2. Appeals from division of motor vehicles.
Status: in_force

Any person aggrieved by any decision, or order, of the division of motor vehicles, made pursuant to the provisions of chapters 31  33 of this title may appeal it to the traffic tribunal by filing, within ten (10) days from the date of the notice to the person of the issuance of the decision, or order, appealed from, a petition in that court stating the ground upon which the appeal is taken. Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall give thirty (30) days notice of the pendency of it to the division of motor vehicles by serving the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, in the manner in which subpoenas in equity are served, with a certified copy of the petition and the petition shall follow the course of equity so far as is applicable. Upon hearing the petition the court may review the evidence taken at a hearing, or investigators reports, or other information upon which the divisions action was taken and may, in its discretion, affirm or reverse or modify the decision or order, of the division of motor vehicles in whole or in part. The court shall determine whether the filing of the petition shall operate as a stay of the order or act of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. A party aggrieved by a final order of the court may seek appellate review of it pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 31-41.1-8.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-16-7 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-16 / Section 31-16-7
§ 31-16-7. Signaling of stops.
Status: in_force

No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner described in this chapter to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear when there is opportunity to give the signal. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-16 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-16
§ 31-24-16. Spot lamps.
Status: in_force

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two (2) spot lamps and every lighted spot lamp shall be aimed and used upon approaching another vehicle so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam will be directed to the left of the prolongation of the extreme left side of the vehicle nor more than one hundred feet (100²) ahead of the vehicle. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-9-4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-9 / Section 31-9-4
§ 31-9-4. Manipulating controls with malicious intent.
Status: in_force

Any person who with intent to commit any malicious mischief, injury, or other crime climbs into or upon a vehicle whether it is in motion or at rest, or with like intent attempts to manipulate any of the levers, starting mechanism, brakes, or other mechanisms or devices of a vehicle while the vehicle is at rest and unattended, or with like intent sets in motion any vehicle while the vehicle is at rest and unattended is guilty of a misdemeanor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-12 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-12
§ 31-24-12. Stop lamps required.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell any new motor vehicle, including any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, in this state, or for any person to drive a vehicle on the highways, unless it is equipped with a stop lamp meeting the requirements of §§ 31-24-13 and 31-24-14; provided, that all motor vehicles shall be equipped with stop lamps. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-44-23 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-44 / Section 31-44-23
§ 31-44-23. Applicability.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall not apply to manufactured homes that are not located in a mobile and manufactured home park and which meet the criteria set forth in § 45-24-31.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10-43 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-10 / Section 31-10-43
§ 31-10-43. Penalties for violations.
Status: in_force

Any person violating the provisions of § 31-10-6, 31-10-35, or 31-10-39 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200) or be imprisoned not exceeding three (3) months.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-21-14 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-21 / Section 31-21-14
§ 31-21-14. Opening vehicle doors.
Status: in_force

No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, available to moving traffic, unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, including pedestrians and bicycles on sidewalks, shoulders, or bicycle lanes. No person shall leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic, including pedestrians and bicycles on sidewalks, shoulders or bicycle lanes, for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be fined as provided in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-48.1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-48.1
§ 31-3-48.1. Plates for recipients of Distinguished Service Cross.
Status: in_force

(a) The administrator of motor vehicles is empowered to make available to recipients of the United States Army Distinguished Service Cross medal a special motor vehicle registration plate for any motor vehicle eligible for registration as an automobile or commercial vehicle having a gross weight of twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, indicating the owner as a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross. The applicant shall be required to pay a registration fee and a transfer charge of five dollars ($5.00) for the plate.

(b) The plate shall contain the words Distinguished Service Cross across the top of the plate, shall bear an insignia for the distinguished service cross, and then a numeral or numerals.

(c) Upon the death of the holder of any Distinguished Service Cross plate, the plate shall be transferred to the surviving spouse for the spouses lifetime or until remarriage.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19-17 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-19 / Section 31-19-17
§ 31-19-17. Inspecting bicycles.
Status: in_force

A uniformed police officer may at any time upon reasonable cause to believe that a bicycle is unsafe or not equipped as required by law, or that its equipment is not in proper adjustment or repair, require the person riding the bicycle to stop and submit the bicycle to an inspection and a test with reference to it as may be appropriate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-14-11 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-14 / Section 31-14-11
§ 31-14-11. Vehicles with solid rubber or cushion tires.
Status: in_force

No person shall drive any vehicle equipped with solid rubber or cushion tires at a speed greater than a maximum of ten miles per hour (10 mph).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-13-4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-13 / Section 31-13-4
§ 31-13-4. Obedience to devices.
Status: in_force

The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device applicable to him or her placed in accordance with the provisions of chapters 12  27 of this title, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in those chapters. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-4.3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-27 / Section 31-27-4.3
§ 31-27-4.3. Forfeiture of motor vehicle.
Status: in_force

(a) Any motor vehicle including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, vessels, or motorcycles, which has been or is being used in violation of § 31-27-4.1, may be seized and upon conviction forfeited; provided, that no motor vehicle as enumerated in this section used by any person shall be forfeited under the provisions of this chapter unless it shall appear that the owner of the vehicle had knowledge, actual or constructive, and was a consenting party to the alleged illegal act.

(b)(1) The motor vehicle taken or detained under this section shall not be repleviable, but shall be deemed to be in the custody of the law enforcement agency making the seizure. Whenever a motor vehicle is forfeited under this chapter it shall be retained and utilized by the law enforcement agency that seized the vehicle where the use of the vehicle is reasonably related to the law enforcement duties of the seizing agency. If the seized vehicle is inappropriate for use by law enforcement agency for reasons including, but not limited to, style, size, or color, the seizing agency shall be allowed to apply the proceeds of sale or the trade-in value of the vehicle towards the purchase of an appropriate vehicle for use for activities reasonably related to law enforcement duties.

(2) As to the proceeds from the sale of the property under subdivision (1) of this subsection, the distribution shall be as follows:

(i) All proceeds of the forfeiture of the motor vehicle shall be distributed as follows: all costs of advertising administrative forfeitures and costs for any damage to any state or municipal vehicles which occurred as a result of the high speed pursuit shall first be deducted from the amount forfeited. Of the remainder, eighty percent (80%) of the proceeds shall be divided among the state and local law enforcement agencies proportionately based upon their contribution to the investigation of the criminal activity related to the asset being forfeited, and twenty percent (20%) of the proceeds shall be provided to the state victims indemnity fund.

(ii) Each state or local law enforcement agency shall be entitled to keep the proceeds from sales of forfeited vehicles. The funds shall be used for law enforcement purposes. The funds received by a state law enforcement agency shall be maintained in a separate account by the general treasurer. The funds received by a local law enforcement agency shall be maintained in a separate account by the local agencys city or town treasurer.

(c) Each law enforcement agency making any seizure(s) which result(s) in a forfeiture pursuant to this section shall certify and file with the state treasurer between January 1 and January 30 an annual report detailing the vehicle or money forfeited during the previous calendar year and the use or disposition of the property or money. The report shall be made in the form and manner that may be provided or specified by the treasurer and the annual law enforcement agency reports as provided in this subsection shall be provided to the local governmental body governing the agency and to the house and senate judiciary committees.

(d) Any law enforcement agency whose duty it is to enforce the laws of this state is empowered to authorize designated officers or agents to carry out the seizure provisions of this chapter. It shall be the duty of any officer or agent so authorized or designated or authorized by law, upon or by means of which any violation of this chapter has taken place or is taking place, to seize the vehicle and to place it in the custody of the person who is authorized or designated for that purpose by the respective law enforcement agency pursuant to those provisions.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5-18.3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-5 / Section 31-5-18.3
§ 31-5-18.3. Sale of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Status: in_force

(a) No motor vehicle dealer licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall sell, lease, or rent any class of all-terrain vehicle to any person under the age of sixteen (16) years.

(b) Violations of this section shall be grounds for denial, suspension or revocation of the dealers license under § 31-5-11 and also be subject to the penalties provided by § 31-5-14.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-52-5 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-52 / Section 31-52-5
§ 31-52-5. Vehicles not in funeral procession.
Status: in_force

The operator of a vehicle that is not part of a funeral procession may not:

(1) Drive between the vehicles forming a funeral procession while they are in motion except when authorized to do so by law enforcement personnel or when driving an authorized emergency vehicle emitting an audible or visible signal.

(2) Join a funeral procession to secure the right-of-way as granted by this chapter.

(3) Pass a funeral procession on a multiple lane highway on the funeral processions right side unless the funeral procession is in the farthest left lane.

(4) Enter an intersection, even if the operator is facing a green traffic control signal, when a funeral procession is proceeding through a red traffic control signal at the intersection as permitted under this chapter, unless the operator can do so without crossing the path of the funeral procession. If the red signal changes to green while the funeral procession is within the intersection, the operator of the vehicle facing a green signal may proceed subject to the right-of-way of a vehicle participating in a funeral procession.

(5) Any person who willfully violates this section shall be guilty of a civil violation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-21 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-21
§ 31-24-21. Lighting of farm tractors.
Status: in_force

Every farm tractor equipped with an electric lighting system shall at all times mentioned in § 31-24-1 display a red tail lamp and either multiple beam or single beam head lamp equipment meeting the requirements of §§ 31-24-7  31-24-9, 31-24-22, and 31-24-24. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-25-29 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-25 / Section 31-25-29
§ 31-25-29. Refuse-hauling vehicles  Exemption from permit.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of this chapter, a motor vehicle designed and used for the hauling of refuse shall not be subject to state axle weight restrictions when hauling refuse. Nothing in this provision shall waive or modify existing state gross weight restrictions for refuse vehicles or other size and weight restrictions. To the extent that application of this section to highways which are part of the national system of interstate and defense highways would cause this state to be deprived of any federal funds for highway purposes, this section shall not be applicable to highways which are part of the system. Nothing in this section shall permit these vehicles to travel over any structure, highway, or portion of highway that is weight restricted for the vehicle load.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-32-9 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-32 / Section 31-32-9
§ 31-32-9. Division of motor vehicles to notify licensing state.
Status: in_force

If the defendant named in any certified copy of a judgment reported to the division of motor vehicles is a nonresident, the division of motor vehicles shall transmit a certified copy of the judgment to the official in charge of the issuance of licenses and registrations in the state of which the defendant is a resident.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-2-23 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-2 / Section 31-2-23
§ 31-2-23. Denial of license or registrations for nonpayment of delinquent child support.
Status: in_force

(a) The department of human services, child support enforcement shall periodically within each year furnish the division of motor vehicles, department of revenue with a list or compilation of names of individuals, together with such other identifying information and in such form as the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall require, who as of the date of the list or compilation, have an unpaid child support order arrearage in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) as shown on the Rhode Island family court/department of human services, child support enforcement computer system (CSE system). For purposes of this section, the terms used in this section shall be given the meaning and definitions specified in §15-16-2. The department of human services shall, at times and in the manner prescribed by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, furnish to the division of motor vehicles information relating to the subsequent payment of those child support order arrearages by or on behalf of the individuals, and the division shall remove the name of the individual(s) from the list.

(b) No individual whose name appears on the list or compilation referred to in subsection (a) of this section, and whose name has not been subsequently removed from the list, shall be permitted to (1) register or renew a registration of any motor vehicle and/or (2) obtain an original license or renewal of a license to operate a motor vehicle, until all child support order arrearages have been paid in full or a satisfactory arrangement for payment has been made with the family court, and payment has been certified to the division of motor vehicles by the department of human services, child support enforcement.

(c) The identifying information furnished by the department of human services, child support enforcement to the division of motor vehicles shall not include individuals social security numbers.

(d) A refusal by the division of motor vehicles to register or renew a registration of any motor vehicle and/or issue an original license or renew a license to operate a motor vehicle is a final determination for purposes of chapter 35 of title 42.

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-25-27.10 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-25 / Section 31-25-27.10
§ 31-25-27.10. Weight restrictions on Forest Avenue and Turner Road  Middletown.
Status: in_force

(a) The operation of through commercial vehicles on Forest Avenue and Turner Road is prohibited.

(b) For purposes of this section, a commercial vehicle is defined as a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles used to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle:

(1) Has a gross combination weight rating of twenty-six thousand one pounds (26,001 lbs.) or more, or a towed unit with a gross vehicle rating of more than ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) or more, or has a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one pounds (26,001 lbs.) or more; or

(2) Is designed to transport sixteen (16) or more passengers including the driver; or

(3) Is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 172, Subpart F, as it may be revised from time to time.

(c) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the use of such streets or highways by:

(1) Any fire truck, town public works department truck, police vehicle, ambulance, school bus, bus serving the area, or other motor truck using such streets or highways in any emergency or engaged in delivering goods, wares, merchandising or materials to or from any residence, building or lot within the town bordering on such streets or highways; or

(2) Any farm vehicle as defined in § 31-1-8, which is registered with farm plates pursuant to § 31-3-31.

(d) In all instances where motor vehicle traffic is restricted or prohibited under this section, the town administrator is directed to cause signs to be erected on such streets or highways giving notice of such, in accordance with the manual on uniform traffic control devices.

(e) Any driver who operates a commercial vehicle in contravention of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for a first violation, fifty dollars ($50.00) for a second violation, and not less than one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125), but no more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each subsequent violation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-51-9 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-51 / Section 31-51-9
§ 31-51-9. Reports.
Status: in_force

The school department authorizing the installation of a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system shall prepare an annual report containing data on:

(1) The number of citations issued;

(2) The number of those violations paid;

(3) The number of those violations found after trial or hearing;

(4) The number of violations dismissed after trial or hearing;

(5) The amount of revenue obtained from the live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-11.5 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-22 / Section 31-22-11.5
§ 31-22-11.5. Use of school bus with suspended registration  Penalty.
Status: in_force

No registered owner, school superintendent, or driver shall use or allow to be used any school bus for transporting children after notification that the bus registration has been suspended for failure to appear for its scheduled inspection or for failure to pass the inspection. The registered owner of the bus shall be fined an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) for each day the bus is used to transport children in violation of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-10 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-10
§ 31-24-10. Rear reflectors required.
Status: in_force

Every new motor vehicle sold and operated upon a highway, other than a truck tractor, shall carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two (2) red reflectors, except that every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall carry at least one reflector, meeting the requirements of § 31-24-11, and except that vehicles of the type mentioned in § 31-24-37 shall be equipped with reflectors. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-52-1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-52 / Section 31-52-1
§ 31-52-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

(a) Funeral director and funeral establishment shall have the same meanings set forth in chapter 5-33.2-1 of the general laws.

(b) Funeral escort means a person or entity that provides escort services for funeral processions, including, but not limited to, law enforcement personnel and agencies.

(c) Funeral escort vehicle means any motor vehicle properly equipped pursuant to this chapter and which escorts a funeral procession.

(d) Funeral lead vehicle means any motor vehicle, including a funeral hearse, properly equipped pursuant to this chapter, leading and facilitating the movement of a funeral procession.

(e) Funeral procession means two (2) or more vehicles accompanying the body or the cremated remains of a deceased person, in the daylight hours, including a funeral lead vehicle or a funeral escort vehicle.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-33-12 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-33 / Section 31-33-12
§ 31-33-12. Proof of responsibility for registration of vehicles for hire.
Status: in_force

The division of motor vehicles shall not register any motor vehicle for hire as defined in chapter 1 of this title until the owner of it shall furnish proof of financial responsibility.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-2-10 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-2 / Section 31-2-10
§ 31-2-10. Abstracts of operators records.
Status: in_force

The administrator shall upon request furnish a certified abstract of the record of any operator on file fully designating the motor vehicles, if any, registered in the name of the operator, the record of all convictions of the operator of any of the provisions of this title, and the record of all the operators involvements in accidents required to be reported under the provisions of § 31-33-1. If the operator has no such record, the administrator shall so certify. The administrator shall collect for each certificate the sum of sixteen dollars ($16.00); however, if the request for the certificate is made by any governmental agency, bureau, or department for use in its official capacity, the administrator shall collect no fee. The requirement of this section that the certificate shall be furnished shall not make the certificate admissible as evidence in any legal proceeding or in any trial, whether criminal or civil.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-7 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-7
§ 31-3-7. Registration  Indexing of records.
Status: in_force

The division of motor vehicles shall file each application received and when satisfied as to its genuineness and regularity, and that the applicant is entitled to register the vehicle, shall register the vehicle and keep a record of it in suitable books or on index cards as follows:

(1) Under a distinctive regulation number assigned to the vehicle;

(2) Alphabetically, under the name of the owner;

(3) Under the motor number if available, otherwise any other identifying number of the vehicle; and

(4) In the discretion of the division of motor vehicles, in any other manner it may deem desirable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-22 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-22
§ 31-3-22. Service vehicles owned by dealer.
Status: in_force

The provisions of §§ 31-3-20  31-3-27 shall not apply to work or service vehicles owned by a manufacturer, bailee, transporter, or dealer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-2-18 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-2 / Section 31-2-18
§ 31-2-18. Service of notice.
Status: in_force

Whenever, by virtue of § 31-2-17, notice to any person, firm, or corporation is required, or in any other instance when notice may be required, the notice shall consist of personal delivery to the person, firm, or corporation involved, or by mailing of a registered or certified letter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-4
§ 31-24-4. Head lamps on vehicles other than cycles.
Status: in_force

Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least two (2) head lamps with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, and the head lamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations of this chapter. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-17 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-17
§ 31-24-17. Road lamps and fog lamps.
Status: in_force

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two (2) road lamps or fog lamps which shall be rigidly affixed to the motor vehicle below the level of the head lamps, and shall be so aimed and used that no part of the high-intensity portion of the light beam shall rise more than eighteen inches (18") above the ground at a distance of seventy-five feet (75²) or more in front of the vehicle or be directed left of the prolongation of the extreme left side of the vehicle. Fog lamps and road lamps shall not be used in lieu of head lamps. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-21-15 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-21 / Section 31-21-15
§ 31-21-15. Temporary no parking.
Status: in_force

In the event that the state or any municipality creates a temporary parking ban in a given area, any signs within that area allowing parking shall be covered in such a manner that the lettering on the signs shall not be visible, provided that, the provisions of this section pertaining to the covering of signs need not be complied with during any snow emergency or other emergency, or when the state or municipality is conducting any street sweeping or other maintenance activities. Any costs to be incurred shall be borne by the municipality in which the signs are located, and the provisions of this section shall not be considered as state mandated costs pursuant to chapter 13 of title 45.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-11-12 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-11 / Section 31-11-12
§ 31-11-12. Operation under foreign license during suspension or revocation in this state prohibited.
Status: in_force

Any resident or nonresident whose operators or chauffeurs license, or right or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state, has been suspended or revoked as provided in this chapter, shall not operate a motor vehicle in this state under a license, permit, or registration certificate issued by any other jurisdiction or otherwise during or after the suspension or revocation until he or she has been restored to the right to drive as provided in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-37-16.2 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-37 / Section 31-37-16.2
§ 31-37-16.2. Air pumps.
Status: in_force

(a) Every retail dealer shall display and maintain a compressed air pump which shall be available during the hours the business is open whether the business is an attended or self service gas station. The division of motor vehicles of motor vehicles, safety and emission control unit, shall be responsible for the enforcement of this section and the bringing of complaints under § 31-37-17.

(b) The provisions of § 31-37-18 shall apply to the division of motor vehicles, and any of its agents in the enforcement of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-25-27.5 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-25 / Section 31-25-27.5
§ 31-25-27.5. Weight restrictions on state roadways  East Providence.
Status: in_force

(a) No commercial motor vehicle with a gross weight exceeding five (5) tons, except those listed in this section, shall be allowed to park on any state roadway in the city of East Providence in excess of two (2) hours.

(b) The director of the department of transportation is directed to post signs to limit parking of commercial vehicles as prescribed in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Any and all emergency vehicles, state vehicles, municipal vehicles, public transit vehicles, any construction vehicles performing work on said roadways, and marked school transportation vehicles shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.

(d) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense, not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) for each and every subsequent offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-50-1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-50 / Section 31-50-1
§ 31-50-1. Office of automobile theft and insurance fraud  Powers and duties of investigators.
Status: in_force

(a) There is established an office of automobile theft and insurance fraud.

(b) The scope and purpose of the office of automobile theft and insurance fraud shall be to investigate and prosecute crimes involving the theft or other unauthorized use of motor vehicles and to investigate and prosecute all forms of automobile insurance-related fraud.

(c) The office of automobile theft and insurance fraud shall consist of a director, and not less than five (5) nor more than eight (8) investigators, who shall be selected and who shall be specially-trained to investigate instances of automobile theft and automobile claim insurance fraud. The director shall be a member of the Rhode Island state police with at least the rank of sergeant, and shall remain on the personnel rolls of the Rhode Island state police, with the same salary and benefits schedule, and shall retain all powers of a member of the Rhode Island state police of that rank.

(d) The office of automobile theft and insurance fraud shall be under the jurisdiction of the superintendent of the state police. He or she shall appoint the director of that office from amongst the members of state police who have attained the rank of sergeant or above. The director, with the approval of the superintendent, shall have the authority to appoint and to remove, if necessary, the investigators and staff of the office.

(e) The director and the investigators shall have the following powers:

(1) To arrest independently or in conjunction with local, state or federal law enforcement agencies.

(2) To apply for and execute search warrants;

(3) To serve civil and criminal process.

(f) No person shall be appointed as an investigator in the office unless he or she has successfully completed the basic course of instruction for police officers at the Providence Police Training Academy, the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy, or the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy, and has at least three (3) years of active law enforcement experience, or has served as a member of the United States Marshals Service or as a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a criminal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Justice, the United States Department of State, the United States Department of the Treasury or the United States Postal Inspection Service and has at least three (3) years of active law enforcement experience, or has been certified as a police officer by the duly-constituted state commission on police officer standards and training of another state, and has at least three (3) years of active law enforcement experience. Prior to the appointment of any individuals, a background examination shall be conducted utilizing federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, bureau of criminal identification, national crime information center, and any and all relevant records existing within the federal and state court systems.

(g) The attorney general shall designate one assistant or special assistant attorney general to the office whose duties shall be exclusively devoted to the office of automobile theft and insurance fraud. That assistant shall be funded from the account established in § 31-50-4.

(h) The state shall hold the director and each investigator harmless and indemnify them to the extent provided under § 9-31-12 for acts committed within the scope of their employment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-32-13 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-32 / Section 31-32-13
§ 31-32-13. Exception when insurer liable.
Status: in_force

No license, registration, or nonresidents operating privilege of any person shall be suspended under the provisions of this chapter if the division of motor vehicles shall find that an insurer was obligated to pay the judgment upon which the suspension is based, at least to the extent and for the amounts required in this chapter, but has not paid the judgment for any reason. A finding by the division of motor vehicles that an insurer is obligated to pay a judgment shall not be binding upon the insurer and shall have no legal effect whatever except for the purpose of administering this section. Whenever in any judicial proceedings it shall be determined by any final judgment, decree, or order than an insurer is not obligated to pay the judgment, the division of motor vehicles, notwithstanding any contrary finding previously made by it, shall immediately suspend the license and registration and any nonresidents operating privilege of any person against whom the judgment was rendered, as provided in § 31-32-10.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10-5 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-10 / Section 31-10-5
§ 31-10-5. Special restrictions for drivers for compensation.
Status: in_force

(a) No person who is under the age of twenty-one (21) years shall drive any school bus transporting school children or any motor vehicle when in use for the transportation of persons or property for compensation nor in either event until the person has been licensed as a chauffeur for either purpose and the license so indicates. Colleges and universities shall be exempt from the requirement for a public plate for vehicles used to shuttle only students or employees to various points within the college or university campus or if a college or university owned or leased vehicle is used for the occasional transportation of college or university employees or students either on or off campus provided that the vehicle is operated by a college or university employee possessing a valid Rhode Island chauffeurs license or a commercial drivers license with a passenger endorsement. Provided, however, that the college or university shall operate the shuttle service and there shall be no specific charge for the transportation of students or employees. The division of motor vehicles shall not issue a chauffeurs license for either purpose unless the applicant has had at least one year of driving experience prior to the application, and has filed with the division of motor vehicles one or more certificates signed by a total of at least three (3) responsible people to whom the applicant is well known certifying to the applicants good character and habits and the administrator of the division of motor vehicles is fully satisfied as to the applicants competency and fitness to be so employed.

(b) In addition to the requirements provided in subsection (a) of this section, any person (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an applicant) attempting to obtain a chauffeurs license to drive a school bus transporting school children shall, prior to being certified:

(1) Successfully complete a ten-hour (10) school bus driver training course conducted by the department of revenue or the department of revenues designee and file a certificate of successful completion with the division of motor vehicles. The curriculum of that course and the accreditation of courses offered shall be pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the division of motor vehicles. Provided, for an applicant who holds a valid commercial drivers license, the course shall be abbreviated and reduced in time and shall focus on the specific Rhode Island requirements for school bus drivers;

(2) Pass a written examination prepared and given by the department of revenue or the department of revenues designee; and

(3) Pass a driving test in a school bus of a like type which that person will be employed to drive. The test will be prepared and given by the department of revenue.

(c) Prior to issuing a certificate to any person who intends to drive a school bus, the division of motor vehicles shall conduct a search of that persons motor vehicle record. Any violation of any safety regulation or conviction of any motor vehicle law in this or any other state shall be grounds for refusing to issue a certificate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-33 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-33
§ 31-3-33. Renewal of registration.
Status: in_force

(a) Application for renewal of a vehicle registration shall be made by the owner on a proper application form and by payment of the registration fee for the vehicle as provided by law.

(b) The division of motor vehicles may receive applications for renewal of registration, and may grant the renewal and issue new registration cards and plates at any time prior to expiration of registration.

(c) Upon renewal, owners will be issued a renewal sticker for each registration plate that shall be placed at the bottom, right-hand corner of the plate. Owners shall be issued a new, fully reflective plate beginning July 1, 2022, at the time of initial registration or at the renewal of an existing registration and reissuance will be conducted no less than every ten (10) years.

(d) No later than August 15, 2019, and every fifteenth day of the month through August 15, 2020, the division of motor vehicles shall submit a report outlining the previous months activity and progress towards the implementation of the license plate reissuance to the chairpersons of the house finance and senate finance committee, the house fiscal advisor, and the senate fiscal advisor. The report shall include, but not be limited to, information on the status of project plans, obstacles to implementation, and actions taken toward implementation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-5 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-22 / Section 31-22-5
§ 31-22-5. Safety zones.
Status: in_force

No vehicle shall at any time be driven through or within a safety zone. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-28-1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-28 / Section 31-28-1
§ 31-28-1. Parking meter defined.
Status: in_force

For the purpose of this chapter, parking meter means a meter device installed upon the public highways or the sidewalks adjacent to it, in which a coin must be deposited for the privilege of occupying, for a certain period, a space which is situated in a zone which a lawful authority has designated as a parking meter zone for the purpose of regulating parking of vehicles on public highways.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-33-13 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-33 / Section 31-33-13
§ 31-33-13. Proof of responsibility to obtain dealers plates.
Status: in_force

The division of motor vehicles shall not issue a registration under the provisions of §§ 31-3-20  31-3-27 until the person applying for the registration shall furnish proof of financial responsibility.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-32-20 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-32 / Section 31-32-20
§ 31-32-20. Alternate methods of giving proof.
Status: in_force

Proof of financial responsibility when required under this chapter, with respect to a vehicle or with respect to a person who is not the owner of a vehicle, may be given by filing:

(1) A certificate of insurance as provided in § 31-32-21 or 31-32-22;

(2) A bond as provided in 31-32-27;

(3) A certificate of deposit of money or securities as provided in § 31-32-30;

(4) A certificate of self-insurance, as provided in § 31-33-9, supplemented by an agreement by the self-insurer that, with respect to accidents occurring while the certificate is in force, the self-insurer will pay the same amounts that an insurer would have been obliged to pay under an owners motor vehicle liability policy if it had issued a policy to the self-insurer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-16 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-23 / Section 31-23-16
§ 31-23-16. Windshield and window stickers  Obstructions to clear view  Snow and ice on vehicle.
Status: in_force

(a) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material, or dirt, snow, or ice upon the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows of the vehicle which obstructs the drivers clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway; provided, that the administrator of the division of motor vehicles may permit the placing of special stickers upon the windshield or any of the windows of a motor vehicle in the manner specified by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles.

(b) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any significant amounts of snow or ice upon the vehicle. The term significant is construed as any amount of accumulation which might reasonably be expected, when blowing off the vehicle while driving, to obscure the vision of an operator of another vehicle. However, the natural accumulation of snow while driving during adverse weather conditions shall not constitute a violation of this section. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-34-3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-34 / Section 31-34-3
§ 31-34-3. Operation by person other than lessee.
Status: in_force

Whenever the owner of a motor vehicle rents a vehicle without a driver to another it shall be unlawful for the lessee to permit any other person to operate the vehicle without the permission of the owner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-37-21 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-37 / Section 31-37-21
§ 31-37-21. Enforcement.
Status: in_force

The tax administrator shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and chapter 36 of this title, except that the director of labor and training shall enforce the provisions of §§ 31-37-11  31-37-17 and §§ 11-18-13  11-18-18. The department of labor and training shall cause any violation subject to its jurisdiction under this chapter to be referred to law enforcement officials in the city or town where the violation has or is occurring for prosecution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-91 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-91
§ 31-3-91. Special plate for the Bristol Fourth of July Committee.
Status: in_force

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available a special motor vehicle registration plate for the Bristol Fourth of July Committee.

(b) The special plate shall be displayed upon the same registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it was issued, and shall be used in place of, and in the same manner as the registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be removed from the vehicle and the registration certificate for the plates shall be carried in the vehicle in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate shall be in effect for the special plate.

(c) The Bristol Fourth of July Committee motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Bristol Fourth of July Committee in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode Island state police.

(d) The Bristol Fourth of July Committee plates shall be subject to a minimum pre-paid order of at least nine hundred (900) plates. The Bristol Fourth of July Committee plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order shall be handled by the Bristol Fourth of July Committee and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for the production until the minimum order has been met and the proper paperwork submitted to the division. Subsequent Bristol Fourth of July Committee plate orders shall be handled by the division of motor vehicles.

(e) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall develop application forms, pre-payment procedures and any other procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, Bristol Fourth of July Committee plates shall be subject to a forty dollar ($40) issuance surcharge.

(g) The forty dollar ($40) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: twenty dollars ($20) shall be allocated to the general fund and the remaining twenty dollars ($20) shall be distributed annually to the Bristol Fourth of July Committee to assist in the fiscal needs required to conduct Bristols historic Fourth of July celebration. (The distribution to the Bristol Fourth of July Committee shall be placed in a restricted receipt account and shall be paid to the Bristol Fourth of July Committee.)

(h) The Bristol Fourth of July Committee will be required to submit an annual financial statement before such monies are distributed.

(i) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Bristol Fourth of July Committee plates.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5-13 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-5 / Section 31-5-13
§ 31-5-13. Procedure for suspension or revocation of license.
Status: in_force

No license shall be suspended or revoked, except after a hearing in accordance with the administrative procedures act, §§ 42-35-1  42-35-18.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-1-22 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-1 / Section 31-1-22
§ 31-1-22. Local authorities.
Status: in_force

Local authorities means every city, town, or other local board or body having authority to enact laws relating to traffic under the constitution and laws of this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-13-12 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-13 / Section 31-13-12
§ 31-13-12. Traffic control near road construction and maintenance operation.
Status: in_force

The standards set forth in section VI of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, prepared by the National Joint Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, pertaining to situations where traffic must be moved through or around road construction and maintenance operations, are incorporated by reference and are to be considered the minimum standards relative to those situations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-38-13 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-38 / Section 31-38-13
§ 31-38-13. Fleet operators.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall provide maintenance facilities for the servicing of vehicles used in his or her business, except licensed motor vehicle dealers, which facilities shall be approved by the director of the department of revenue, and shall maintain any records and follow any procedures that shall be established by the director, shall be qualified as an official inspection station for the vehicles. The person shall not issue inspection certificates for any vehicle not used in the operation of the business.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-76 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-76
§ 31-3-76. Special license plate decal.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any general law or regulation to the contrary, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles is hereby directed to make available a special license plate decal of the American flag made of the same material as the year sticker.

(b) Upon the registration or renewal of a motor vehicle registration, the division of motor vehicles shall provide the owner the option to purchase for five dollars ($5.00), the American flag decal. Such decal shall be affixed at the lower left corner of the rear license plate and shall not obscure the reading of any part of the license plate.

(c) After payment for the cost of production of the American flag decals, the next fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) generated from sales, shall be used to advertise and promote the purchase of these decals. All funds generated which exceed the production and promotion costs shall be contributed to the Rhode Island Military Family Relief Fund.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-11-22 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-11 / Section 31-11-22
§ 31-11-22. Rental to unauthorized person prohibited.
Status: in_force

No person shall rent a motor vehicle to any other person unless the latter person is then duly licensed under this title or, in the case of a nonresident, then duly licensed under the laws of the state or country of his or her residence, except a nonresident whose home state or country does not require that an operator be licensed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-6-13 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-6 / Section 31-6-13
§ 31-6-13. Disposition of fees.
Status: in_force

All fees collected under chapters 1  27 of this title shall be paid into the hands of the general treasurer to be credited to the general funds of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-108 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-108
§ 31-3-108. Special plate for The Rocky Point Foundation, Inc.
Status: in_force

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available special motor vehicle registration plates for The Rocky Point Foundation, Inc. (hereafter referred to as Rocky Point Foundation). The plates shall be designed to reference Rocky Point Foundation.

(b) The special plate shall be displayed upon the same registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it was issued and shall be used in place of, and in the same manner as, the registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be removed from the vehicle and returned to the division of motor vehicles. The registration certificate for the plates shall be carried in the vehicle in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate shall be in effect for the special plates.

(c) The Rocky Point Foundation motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Rocky Point Foundation, in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with design approval by the Rhode Island state police.

(d) The Rocky Point Foundation plates shall be subject to a minimum prepaid order of at least nine hundred (900) sets of plates per plate type (i.e. passenger, commercial, etc.). The Rocky Point Foundation plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order(s) requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Rocky Point Foundation and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the proper paperwork submitted to the division.

(e) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall develop prepayment procedures and any other procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, the Rocky Point Foundation plates shall be subject to a forty-dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge.

(g) The forty-dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: Twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be allocated to the general fund and the remaining twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be distributed annually to the Rocky Point Foundation in furtherance of its mission.

(h) A ten-dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated to the Rocky Point Foundation.

(i) The Rocky Point Foundation shall be required to submit an annual accounting report before such monies are distributed.

(j) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Rocky Point Foundation plates.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22.1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-22 / Section 31-22-22.1
§ 31-22-22.1. Child passenger protection  Warnings of hazard and risk.
Status: in_force

(a) All law enforcement officers in this state are authorized to provide a verbal warning to any person who shall be deemed to have left a child under the age of seven (7) unattended in a motor vehicle. The warning shall apprise the offending person of the dangers of this practice including, but not limited to, the risk of kidnapping and/or abduction, and the dangers which may result from the accumulation of excessive temperatures within the motor vehicle.

(b) No fine or sanction shall be imposed for a violation of this section, other than a verbal warning, and no record of any kind shall be maintained of the warning.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-11-8 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-11 / Section 31-11-8
§ 31-11-8. Recommendation of court  Violation of § 31-27-4.
Status: in_force

(a) The division of motor vehicles shall suspend or revoke the license of a juvenile to operate a motor vehicle whenever the family court shall recommend the suspension or revocation, for any period of time as shall be recommended by the family court.

(b) The license of any chauffeur or operator of a motor vehicle shall be suspended by the division of motor vehicles for a period fixed by any court of the state, not exceeding six (6) months, after final conviction for willfully evading or attempting to evade an order to stop by a uniformed police officer operating a marked police vehicle, as provided in § 31-27-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-6 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-47 / Section 31-47-6
§ 31-47-6. Release of financial security bonds or deposits.
Status: in_force

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles, upon the surrender of the registration and number plates for a motor vehicle for which a financial security bond or deposit was accepted by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, shall permit the cancellation of any bond or shall direct that any deposit be returned by the general treasurer. The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall not release the bond or deposit in the event any action for damages upon a liability referred to in this chapter is then pending, or any judgment upon any liability then outstanding and unsatisfied, or in the event the administrator of the division of motor vehicles has received notice that the person has within the period of three (3) months immediately preceding been involved as a driver in any motor vehicle accident. An affidavit of the applicant of nonexistence of those facts shall be sufficient evidence of it in the absence of evidence to the contrary in the records of the division of motor vehicles.

(b) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles, subject to any reasonable regulations that he or she may establish, shall permit the form of financial security acceptable under this chapter to be substituted for another form of financial security which may already have been accepted by the assistant director as complies with the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-33-7 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-33 / Section 31-33-7
§ 31-33-7. Prima facie evidence of consent of owner.
Status: in_force

In all civil proceedings, evidence that at the time of the accident or collision the motor vehicle was registered in the name of the defendant, shall be prima facie evidence that it was being operated with the consent of the defendant, and the absence of consent shall be an affirmative defense to be set up in the answer and proved by the defendant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10-6 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-10 / Section 31-10-6
§ 31-10-6. Graduated licensing for person under the age of eighteen (18).
Status: in_force

(a) Purpose. To ensure that license holders have sufficient training and experience and to promote safe, responsible driving, persons under the age of eighteen (18) shall be granted driving privileges on a limited basis as follows:

(1) Level 1  Limited instruction permit.

(2) Level 2  Limited provisional license.

(3) Level 3  Full operators license.

(b) Requirements and privileges. A permit or license issued pursuant to this section must have a color background or border that indicates the level of driving privileges granted by the permit or license.

(1) Limited instruction permit. Any person who is at least sixteen (16) years of age but less than eighteen (18) years of age may apply to the division of motor vehicles for a limited instruction permit. The division of motor vehicles may, after the applicant has successfully completed a course of driver training prescribed in §31-10-19 and passed a standardized written examination approved by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles or otherwise complied with the requirements of §31-10-21, issue to the applicant a limited instruction permit that shall entitle the applicant to drive a motor vehicle only under the following conditions:

(i) The permit holder must be in possession of the permit;

(ii) A supervising driver must be seated beside the permit holder in the front seat of the vehicle when it is in motion;

(iii) No person other than the supervising driver can be in the front seat;

(iv) Every person occupying the vehicle being driven by the permit holder must have a safety belt properly fastened about his or her body, or be restrained by a child passenger restraint system as provided in §31-22-22 when the vehicle is in motion;

(v) The permittee shall wear a safety belt at all times unless the permittee provides the division of motor vehicles with a statement from a physician indicating that for medical reasons the permittee cannot wear a safety belt. A limited instruction permit shall be valid for a period of one year, and may be extended for a reasonable period of time if the holder of the permit provides the division of motor vehicles with evidence of a hardship. Any person who is at least sixteen (16) years of age and is enrolled in a commercial drivers school or in a regularly recognized secondary school or college driver training program that is approved by the division of motor vehicles shall not be required to have a limited instruction permit while operating a dual-control training vehicle regularly used by that school in its driver training program and while a regular instructor in that school or program is occupying the seat beside that person.

(2) Limited provisional license. A person may obtain a limited provisional license if the person meets all of the following requirements:

(i)(A) Has held a limited instruction permit issued by the division of motor vehicles for at least six (6) months;

(B) Has not been convicted of a motor vehicle moving violation or seat belt infraction during the preceding six (6) months;

(C) Passes a road test administered by the division of motor vehicles and shall also meet the requirements of subsection (b)(2)(iii) of this section.

(ii) A limited provisional license authorizes the license holder to drive a motor vehicle only under the following conditions:

(A) The license holder must be in possession of the license.

(B) The license holder may drive without supervision in any of the following circumstances:

(I) From 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.;

(II) When driving to or from work;

(III) When driving to or from an activity of a volunteer fire department, volunteer rescue squad, or volunteer emergency medical service, if the driver is a member of one of these organizations;

(IV) From 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. when driving between the license holders home and a school-sponsored athletic activity for which no transportation is provided by the school.

(C) The license holder may drive with supervision at any time. When the license holder is driving with supervision, the supervising driver must be seated beside the license holder in the front seat of the vehicle when it is in motion.

(D) Every person occupying the vehicle being driven by the license holder must have a safety belt properly fastened about his or her body, or be restrained by a child safety passenger restraint system as provided in §31-22-22 when the vehicle is in motion.

(iii) In addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (b)(2)(i) of this section, a person under the age of eighteen (18) years seeking to obtain a provisional license shall present with his or her application a statement signed by the persons parent or guardian stating that the applicant has obtained a minimum of fifty (50) hours of experience with ten (10) of those at night as a driver while driving with a supervising driver. These fifty (50) hours may include driving lessons with a commercial driving school or any other supervised driving.

(iv) During the first twelve (12) months of a limited provisional license no more than one passenger younger than twenty-one (21) years of age is allowed in the vehicle. Immediate family/household members are excepted from this subsection.

(3) Full operators license.(i) A person who is at least seventeen (17) years old but less than eighteen (18) years old may apply for and obtain a full operators license if the person meets all of the following requirements:

(A) Has held a limited provisional license issued by the division of motor vehicles for at least twelve (12) months; and

(B) Has not been convicted of a motor vehicle moving violation or seat belt infraction during the preceding six (6) months.

(ii) A person who meets the requirements of this section may obtain a full operators license by mail. The restrictions on Level 1 and Level 2 drivers concerning time of driving, supervision and passenger limitations do not apply to a full operators license.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-48-4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-48 / Section 31-48-4
§ 31-48-4. Seizure.
Status: in_force

(a) Any tool, implement, or instrumentality, including, but not limited to, a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part, used or possessed in connection with any violation of § 31-48-3 may be seized by a member of a state or local law enforcement agency upon process issued by any court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) Seizure of property described in subsection (a) of this section may be made by a member of a state or local law enforcement agency without process:

(1) If in accordance with any applicable law or regulation;

(2) If the seizure is incident to inspection under an administrative inspection warrant;

(3) If the seizure is incident to search made under a search warrant;

(4) If the seizure is incident to a lawful arrest;

(5) If the seizure is made pursuant to a valid consent to search;

(6) If the property seized has been the subject of a prior judgment in favor of the state in a criminal proceeding, or in an injunction or forfeiture proceeding under § 31-48-6; or

(7) If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the property is directly or indirectly dangerous to health or safety.

(c) When property is seized under this section, the seizing agency may:

(1) Lock and secure the property at its location; or

(2) Remove the property to a place selected and designated by the seizing agency.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-7-3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-7 / Section 31-7-3
§ 31-7-3. Nonresidents carrying on business in state.
Status: in_force

Every nonresident, including any foreign corporation carrying on business within this state and owning and regularly operating in the business any motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer within this state, shall be required to register each vehicle and pay the same fees for it as is required for like vehicles owned by residents of this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-15 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-15
§ 31-24-15. Mechanical signal devices self-illuminated.
Status: in_force

All mechanical signal devices shall be self-illuminated when in use at the times mentioned in § 31-24-1. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-53-9 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-53 / Section 31-53-9
§ 31-53-9. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or any part of this chapter is declared invalid, the remaining sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or parts thereof shall in no manner be affected and shall remain in full force and effect.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-28-8 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-28 / Section 31-28-8
§ 31-28-8. Use of meters for charitable contributions.
Status: in_force

During the period when any annual national march of dimes campaign is taking place for infantile paralysis, any city or town in this state, in which parking meters have been established by authority of law, is authorized to permit the inserting of dimes into any of the parking meters by pedestrians or motorists, the dimes to be collected and turned over to the respective committee in charge of the collection of dimes for the specific march of dimes campaign to be used for those purposes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5-18.2 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-5 / Section 31-5-18.2
§ 31-5-18.2. Sale of used motor vehicles  Annual reports.
Status: in_force

Every licensed dealer shall file with the department an annual report which lists:

(1) The total number of used motor vehicles sold in the previous year by the dealer; and

(2) The total number of used motor vehicles sold without a warranty pursuant to chapter 5.4 of this title.

(3) The licensed dealer shall specify the make, year, and sale price of each used motor vehicle sold without a warranty pursuant to chapter 5.4 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-33-1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-33 / Section 31-33-1
§ 31-33-1. Accident reports.
Status: in_force

The operator of every motor vehicle which is in any manner involved in an accident within this state, in which any person is killed or injured, or in which damage to the property of any one person, including the operator, in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) is sustained, shall, within twenty-one (21) days after the accident, report the matter in writing to the division of motor vehicles. The report, the form of which shall be prescribed by the division of motor vehicles, shall contain information to enable the division of motor vehicles to determine whether the requirements for the deposit of security under chapters 31 and 32 of this title are inapplicable by reason of the existence of insurance or other exceptions specified in the chapters, and the administrator of the division of motor vehicles may regard the information given as true, until the contrary reasonably appears. If that operator is physically incapable of making the report, the owner of the motor vehicle involved in the accident shall, within twenty-one (21) days after learning of the accident, make the report. The operator or the owner shall furnish any additional relevant information that the division of motor vehicles shall require.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-12-10 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-12 / Section 31-12-10
§ 31-12-10. Animals and animal-drawn vehicles.
Status: in_force

Every person riding an animal or driving any animal-drawn vehicle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by chapters 12  27 of this title, except those provisions of those chapters which by their very nature can have no application.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10-19_31-10-19 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-10 / Section 31-10-19_31-10-19
§ 31-10-19. Driver education  Traffic safety education. [Effective until contingency in P.L. 2017, ch. 156 and 160 is met.]31-10-19. Driver education  Traffic safety education. [Effective when contingency in P.L. 2017, ch. 156 and 160 is met.]
Status: in_force

(a) The community college of Rhode Island shall provide thirty-three (33) hours of classroom instruction for applicants or prospective applicants, not more than twenty-one (21) years of age for a limited instruction permit or license. The instruction shall include eight (8) hours, specifically for instruction on the effects of alcohol and drugs on a driver, and the instruction shall be given by a person eligible for a teachers certificate issued under the authority of the state board of regents and which course of instruction shall be approved by the board of governors for higher education. In case of emergency, the president of the community college of Rhode Island may declare, when no certified instructor is available to teach, an individual eligible to teach at the community college of Rhode Island who has taken the required course of instruction in driver education, may provide driver education instruction. All driver education programs shall include information concerning the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, chapter 18.6.1 of title 23, and information on donor cards pursuant to the applicable provisions of chapter 18.6.1 of title 23. The board of governors for higher education shall ensure that each person properly certified and approved to instruct driver education courses shall be given an equal opportunity for employment as an instructor within the driver education program. No person teaching driver education under this section shall own, be employed by, or be associated with a commercial driving school.

(b) Driver education instruction shall be available to any eligible resident applicant not less than fifteen (15) years and ten (10) months of age.

(c) That the state shall also provide a separate program of instruction, as previously set forth in this section, for special needs students whose individual education plan (IEP) indicates a need for a separate program of instruction.

(d) The community college of Rhode Island shall provide a driver training program for physically handicapped drivers. The program shall instruct the physically handicapped driver in the operation of adapted vehicles for the handicapped. The adapted vehicles are to be provided by the handicapped individual. A physically handicapped person must be certified by a licensed physician that he or she is physically handicapped and possesses sufficient potential to become a competent motor vehicle operator. The community college of Rhode Island shall establish a tuition fee sufficient to cover the cost of the program.

(e) A tuition or enrollment fee shall be required to be paid by an eligible applicant in accordance with rules and regulations of the board of governors for higher education; provided, that personal checks shall be an acceptable method of payment of the tuition or enrollment fee. The tuition or enrollment fee shall be deposited in a restricted receipt account established to pay any and all costs associated with the driver education program at the community college of Rhode Island and administered by the community college of Rhode Island.

(f) The board of governors for higher education is authorized to establish administrative regulations to further implement this section.

(g) The community college of Rhode Island shall establish tuition fees sufficient to cover the cost of the program and the administration of the driver education program. All positions established to implement the driver education program and funded in full by driver education program fees shall be exempt from the full-time equivalency cap established in Article 1 of the Appropriations Act, provided, however, that the board of governors shall report by June 1, 2004, the actual number of filled positions funded exclusively by driver education fees to the chairperson of the house finance committee, the chairperson of the senate finance committee, and the state budget officer.

(h) The board of governors for higher education shall provide for an optional and voluntary course of instruction for the applicants parent, guardian, or designee where applicable, on the content of the driver education curriculum and the requirements for the graduated licensing for persons under the age of eighteen (18) as contained in § 31-10-6. The community college of Rhode Island shall be responsible to develop the course of instruction and content for the parent instruction, or may approve a similar course of instruction, such as AAAs course, as equivalent to it, and shall promulgate regulations and establish the appropriate method of providing the instruction.

(i) Dangers of distracted driving, including, but not limited to, use of cell phones would be included in this section curriculum and included in all testing as part of the states drivers license examination.

(j) Included in the classroom instruction shall be curriculum related to the dangers of marijuana-impaired driving such as the course provided by AAA or similar equivalent.

(k) The curriculum required by subsection (j) of this section shall become effective upon the effective date of this subsection [June 19, 2023] and shall only be implemented upon the approval of the course by the state board of education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-28-4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-28 / Section 31-28-4
§ 31-28-4. Exemption of persons with disabilities from payment of fees.
Status: in_force

No city or town or any agency of a city or town shall exact any fee for parking on the public highways or in any metered parking space from any person who has been issued a disability parking privilege placard or sticker pursuant to § 31-28-7, 31-28-7.1 or 31-29-5, nor from the owner of the motor vehicle transporting the person with a disability, provided that upon which vehicle there is displayed any disability parking placard or sticker that shall be issued by the division of motor vehicles.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-18 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-22 / Section 31-22-18
§ 31-22-18. Newspaper advertisement of sale.
Status: in_force

Every licensed wrecker, after giving notice to the registered owner of the motor vehicle to be sold as prescribed in § 31-22-17, shall advertise notice of the sale for two (2) consecutive days at least ten (10) days but not more than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the sale, in a daily newspaper of general circulation, the following information:

(1) A general description of the motor vehicle to be sold, including its make, model, year, color, and motor or serial number;

(2) The name and address of the registered owner and the license plate number, if known, to the wrecker; and

(3) The place and date of the proposed sale.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-46 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-23 / Section 31-23-46
§ 31-23-46. Department of environmental management  Vehicles.
Status: in_force

All vehicles in use by the department of environmental management shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher shall contain a potassium bicarbonate base dry chemical fire extinguishing agent, have an underwriters laboratory rating of six (6) B:C, and a capacity of two and one-half pounds (21/2 lbs.).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-24 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-27 / Section 31-27-24
§ 31-27-24. Multiple moving offenses.
Status: in_force

(a) Every person convicted of moving violations on four (4) separate and distinct occasions within an eighteen (18) month period may be fined up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), and shall be ordered to attend sixty (60) hours of driver retraining, shall be ordered to perform sixty (60) hours of public community service, and the persons operator license in this state may be suspended up to one year or revoked by the court for a period of up to two (2) years. Prior to the suspension or revocation of a persons license to operate within the state, the court shall make specific findings of fact and determine if the persons continued operation of a motor vehicle would pose a substantial traffic safety hazard.

(b) At the expiration of the time of revocation as set by the court pursuant to subsection (a) above, the person may petition that court for restoration of his or her privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state. The license privilege shall not thereafter be reinstated until evidence satisfactory to the court, following a hearing, establishes that no grounds exist which would authorize refusal to issue a license and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.

(c) For the purposes of this section only, the term moving violations shall mean any violation of the following sections of the general laws:

(1) 31-13-4. Obedience to devices.

(2) 31-14-1. Reasonable and prudent speeds.

(3) 31-14-2. Prima facie limits.

(4) 31-14-3. Conditions requiring reduced speeds.

(5) 31-15-5. Overtaking on the right.

(6) 31-15-11. Laned roadways.

(7) 31-15-12. Interval between vehicles.

(8) 31-15-16. Use of emergency break-down lane for travel.

(9) 31-17-4. Vehicle entering stop or yield intersection.

(10) 31-20-9. Obedience to stop signs.

(11) 31-27.1-3. Aggressive driving defined.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-25-18 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-25 / Section 31-25-18
§ 31-25-18. Weighing of suspected overweight vehicles.
Status: in_force

Any proper officer having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and load is unlawful is authorized to require the driver to stop and submit to a weighing of the vehicle and load by means of either portable or stationary scales, and may require that the vehicle be driven to the nearest available stationary scales. Any carrier or persons found to be operating in excess of their registered, permitted, and/or legal weight limits may be fined and released, required to reduce weight or dimensions to legal, and/or required to pursue a legal permit at the officers discretion. Any carrier or persons found to have pending motor vehicle fines in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) may have their permit privileges suspended until pending fines are paid.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-8 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-27 / Section 31-27-8
§ 31-27-8. Commercial vehicles  Penalty for excessive hours of driving.
Status: in_force

Any person, or the officers of any corporation, company, or association, who shall violate any provision of §§ 31-27-5  31-27-7, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not more than sixty (60) days, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-51-5.1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-51 / Section 31-51-5.1
§ 31-51-5.1. Revenue.
Status: in_force

The revenue generated from each fine imposed pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated as follows:

Forty percent (40%) to the state general fund;

(2)(i) Thirty percent (30%) to the municipality where the violation takes place; and

(ii) Thirty percent (30%) to the vendor who supplies and supports the video detection monitoring system being used; and

(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to contracts existing at the time of the enactment of this section, and shall only apply to new contracts, or extensions of existing contracts, entered into on or after the effective date of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-14 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-14
§ 31-3-14. Bailee and in transit plates.
Status: in_force

(a) Bailee plates. The division of motor vehicles shall issue plates designated as bailee plates to garages, automobile repairers, or any person in the business requiring repossession of motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers.

(b) In transit plates. The division of motor vehicles shall issue plates designated as in transit plates for use on special mobile equipment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-34-2 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-34 / Section 31-34-2
§ 31-34-2. Maintenance of policies.
Status: in_force

The owner shall maintain the policy or policies or provide proof of financial responsibility or self-insurance during all times that the owner is engaged in the business of renting any motor vehicle without a driver.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-38-20 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-38 / Section 31-38-20
§ 31-38-20. Appropriations and disbursements.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate, out of any money not otherwise appropriated, any sums that it may deem necessary for the purpose of this chapter. The state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum, or so much of it that may be required from time to time, upon receipt by him or her of properly authenticated vouchers approved by the director of the department of revenue.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-16-4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-16 / Section 31-16-4
§ 31-16-4. Places where U-turns prohibited.
Status: in_force

No vehicle shall be turned so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any curve or upon the approach to, or near the crest of a grade, where the vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of any other vehicle approaching from either direction within five hundred feet (500²). Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-19-1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-19 / Section 31-19-1
§ 31-19-1. Violations.
Status: in_force

It is a violation for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this chapter. The violations shall be adjudicated administratively under the provisions of chapter 41.1 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-21 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-23 / Section 31-23-21
§ 31-23-21. Permits for operation of vehicles having tracks with transverse corrugations.
Status: in_force

The department of revenue and local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may in their discretion issue special permits authorizing the operation upon a highway of traction engines or tractors having movable tracks with transverse corrugations upon the periphery of the movable tracks or farm tractors or other farm machinery, the operation of which upon a highway would otherwise be prohibited under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-83 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-83
§ 31-3-83. Judge Emeritus  Vincent A. Ragosta.
Status: in_force

The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is authorized and directed to issue a special registration plate for the private passenger motor vehicle of former Superior Court Judge, Vincent A. Ragosta. This plate is to bear the identification Judge Emeritus with an appropriate number and a seal of the state thereon imprinted and the plate shall be furnished without an additional registration charge for such period of time as Judge Ragosta so desires.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-36-8 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-36 / Section 31-36-8
§ 31-36-8. Declarations under penalty of perjury.
Status: in_force

The oath or affirmation required by the provisions of this chapter or chapter 37 of this title as to any report or written statement shall not be required if the report or statement to be sworn to contains or is verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury. Whoever signs or issues the report or statement containing or verified by the written declaration shall, if the report or statement is willfully false, be guilty of perjury.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-29-1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-29 / Section 31-29-1
§ 31-29-1. Reciprocity board established.
Status: in_force

There is established a reciprocity board, referred to in this chapter as the board. The board shall be composed of three (3) members, consisting of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, the chair of the public utilities commission, and an assistant attorney general designated by the attorney general, ex officio. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum and the action of the majority of the members in attendance at any meeting shall be the action of the board. Whenever a member of the board is absent from a meeting of the board, the member may designate one of his or her assistants or employees to attend on the members behalf. The assistant or employee shall be entitled to participate in the discussions and proceedings of the board, but he or she shall not be entitled to vote.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-1.1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-47 / Section 31-47-1.1
§ 31-47-1.1. Legislative findings and intent.
Status: in_force

WHEREAS, the General Assembly has conducted extensive hearings on the issue of mandatory automobile insurance and finds that:

(1) Mandatory automobile liability insurance will not guarantee that all drivers will carry automobile liability insurance and in other states with mandatory automobile insurance nearly twenty percent (20%) to twenty-five percent (25%) of drivers do not comply with the state mandate and drive without insurance;

(2) Because of the evidence described in subdivision (1), Rhode Island drivers will need to carry additional insurance, to protect themselves from harm by uninsured motorists;

(3) All presently uninsured drivers who try to acquire automobile insurance will be placed in the assigned risk pool regardless of a good driving record, at an excessive rate;

(4) The state of Rhode Island ranks the eighth (8th) highest in the country for the cost of automobile insurance litigation per capita, this high cost of legal action adds to the already high cost of automobile insurance;

(5) No-fault insurance can reduce the cost of automobile insurance by reducing litigation and right-to-sue, but evidence also indicates that no-fault insurance can increase the cost of insurance if not properly enacted;

(6) A proposed rate increase in the Rhode Island Auto Insurance Plan of thirty-four percent (34%) has been granted without full disclosure by insurance companies of their investments, profits, losses, administrative costs and other pertinent information to justify the rate increase;

(7) Fraud, theft and inflated automobile repair costs are significant elements of the increased cost of automobile insurance which must be reduced;

(8)(i) The Governor of the state has agreed to immediately institute a blue ribbon task force to investigate the causes for the high cost of automobile insurance, recommend remedies to reduce the cost of automobile insurance and prepare legislation for introduction. The scope of the task force shall include, but not be limited to, the reviewing of:

(A) Procedures and processes concerning claims, appraisals, adjustments and auto repair charges,

(B) Costs of litigation, including the imposition of ceiling or caps on legal fees,

(C) Disclosure by insurance companies of all costs to do business, including those that affect premium rates,

(D) Enforcement and restitution procedures.

(ii) The task force shall make specific recommendations to the general assembly pertaining to the alternatives of no-fault insurance, traditional liability and so-called choice legislation which provides an option of no-fault or traditional liability insurance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-12-6 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-12 / Section 31-12-6
§ 31-12-6. Emergency vehicles  Times when entitled to special privileges.
Status: in_force

(a) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an alleged violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in § 31-12-7, but subject to the conditions stated in this section and in §§ 31-12-8 and 31-12-9.

(b) Upon establishment of the law enforcement agency accreditation council, the council shall adopt uniform rules and regulations to govern high speed pursuits in the state in accordance with the standards established by the National Law Enforcement Accreditation Agency. Until such rules are adopted, all police departments within the state shall submit to the department of the attorney general a copy of their high speed pursuit policies, which shall be available to the public.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-17.4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-17.4
§ 31-3-17.4. Firefighter plates.
Status: in_force

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered and authorized to make available to all active firefighters and retired firefighters a special motor vehicle registration plate for any motor vehicle eligible for registration as an automobile, or commercial vehicle having a gross weight of ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) or less, or vehicle eligible for a combination registration plate, pursuant to § 31-3-64.

(b) The special motor vehicle registration plate shall carry on it the designation Firefighter and a Maltese cross with the design provided by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs.

(c) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue the plate upon payment of a service charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and a transfer charge of five dollars ($5.00) for the plate, of which fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be deposited to the division of motor vehicles manufacturing account.

(d) For the purpose of this section, an active or retired member of any fire department shall be defined as any person certified by the chief of the fire department as currently a member of said department with at least one year active service or retired under honorable condition as a firefighter.

(e) In a state of emergency, any active member of a fire department driving a vehicle bearing the special motor vehicle registration plate shall be authorized and empowered to travel upon the highways of the state notwithstanding any driving ban imposed by the state or municipal authority in accordance with their official duties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-2-7 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-2 / Section 31-2-7
§ 31-2-7. Forms.
Status: in_force

The administrator shall prescribe and provide suitable forms of applications, registration cards, operators and chauffeurs licenses, and all other forms requisite or deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of chapters 1  50 of this title and any other laws, the enforcement and administration of which are vested in the division of motor vehicles.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-18-4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-18 / Section 31-18-4
§ 31-18-4. Overtaking of vehicle stopped for pedestrian.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.

(b) Whenever there are no markings to the contrary, there shall be a presumption that there is an unmarked crosswalk at any intersection.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-7 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-7
§ 31-24-7. Tail lamps required.
Status: in_force

Every motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear, which when lighted as required in this chapter, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500²) to the rear, provided that in the case of a train of vehicles only the tail lamp on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-25 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-23 / Section 31-23-25
§ 31-23-25. List of approved types of glass  Enforcement of requirements.
Status: in_force

The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall compile and publish a list of types of glass by name approved by him or her as meeting the requirements of §§ 31-23-22  31-23-24. The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall not register any motor vehicle which is subject to the provisions of this chapter unless it is equipped with an approved type of safety glass, and he or she shall subsequently suspend the registration of any motor vehicle subject to this chapter which he or she finds is not so equipped until it is made to conform to the requirements of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5-20 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-5 / Section 31-5-20
§ 31-5-20. Appropriations for dealer licensing law.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum that it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 31-5-1  31-5-19, and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum, or so much of it as may be required from time to time, upon the receipt by him or her of proper authenticated vouchers.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-29 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-29
§ 31-24-29. Maximum intensity of lights.
Status: in_force

Any lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle other than head lamps, spot lamps, auxiliary lamps, or flashing front direction signals which projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than three hundred (300) candle power, shall be directed so that no part of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than seventy-five feet (75²) from the vehicle. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-9 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-9
§ 31-3-9. Registration card carried in vehicle.
Status: in_force

(a) Every registration card shall at all times be carried in the vehicle to which it refers, or shall be carried by the person driving or in control of such vehicle who shall display it upon demand of a proper officer.

(b) The provisions of this section requiring that a registration card be carried in the vehicle to which it refers or by the person driving the vehicle shall not apply to vehicles bearing dealer or bailee registration plates, or when the card is used for the purpose of making a transfer of registration of the vehicle.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-36 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-36
§ 31-3-36. Replacement of lost or mutilated registration card or plates.
Status: in_force

In the event any registration card or plate is lost, mutilated, or becomes illegible, the owner, legal representative, or successor in interest of the owner of the vehicle for which the registration card or plate was issued as shown by the records of the division of motor vehicles shall immediately apply for and may obtain a duplicate, substitute, or a new registration under a new registration number, as determined to be most advisable by the division of motor vehicles, upon the applicant furnishing information satisfactory to the division of motor vehicles.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-52 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-23 / Section 31-23-52
§ 31-23-52. Removal of catalytic converter prohibited.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly remove or render inoperative, a catalytic converter installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine in compliance with federal regulations prior to or after its sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser, except that a defective catalytic converter may be replaced with another device originally manufactured for use as a catalytic converter. Any person who violates this section shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-29-3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-29 / Section 31-29-3
§ 31-29-3. Authority exercised by governor.
Status: in_force

All authority previously vested in the administrator of the division of motor vehicles and the public utilities administrator, in respect to determining the privileges granted to nonresident owners and operators of motor vehicles, in registration of motor vehicles, licenses of operators, or fees incidental to public utilities permits and plates, is transferred and vested in the governor, subject, however, to the provisions of §§ 31-29-1 and 31-29-2.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-43 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-23 / Section 31-23-43
§ 31-23-43. Wheel safety chocks.
Status: in_force

(a) Every bus having a seat capacity of more than seven (7) passengers, every truck with a gross weight of more than seven thousand pounds (7,000 lbs.), and every tractor or trailer, or combination, operated upon the public highways shall be equipped with one pair of approved wheel safety chock blocks. Whenever the motor vehicle shall be parked on a highway on a grade sufficient to cause the vehicle to move of its own momentum, and is left unattended by the operator, the safety chock blocks shall be securely placed around the rear wheel of the vehicle so as to prevent movement of the vehicle.

(b) Whenever the motor vehicle is equipped with positive spring-loaded air parking brakes, the vehicle need not be equipped with the safety wheel chocks.

(c) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-17-4 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-17 / Section 31-17-4
§ 31-17-4. Vehicle entering stop or yield intersection.
Status: in_force

(a) Preferential right-of-way at an intersection may be indicated by stop signs or yield signs.

(b) Except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic-control signal, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop intersection indicated by a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection. After having stopped, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian intending to cross the lane of traffic in a crosswalk or any vehicle which has entered the intersection from another highway or which is approaching so closely on the highway as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the driver is moving across or within the intersection.

(c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall, in obedience to the sign, slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and, if required for safety to stop, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway. After slowing or stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian intending to cross the lane of traffic in a crosswalk or any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the driver is moving across or within the intersection.

(d) Violations of this section are subject to the fines enumerated in section 31-41.1-4, unless bodily injury, serious bodily injury or death occurs to any person other than the offending operator under this section.

(e) When bodily injury of any person other than the offending operator of any motor vehicle is caused by violation of this section, the offending operator shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200). When serious bodily injury of any person other than the offending operator of any motor vehicle is caused by violation of this section, the offending operator shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) and his/her drivers license shall be suspended for a period of three (3) months. When the death of any person other than the offending operator of any motor vehicle is caused by violation of this section, the offending operator shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) and his/her drivers license shall be suspended for a period of one year.

(f) As used in this section, serious bodily injury means physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or causes serious physical disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-9-7 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-9 / Section 31-9-7
§ 31-9-7. Reports by police officers of thefts and recoveries.
Status: in_force

Every proper officer, upon receiving reliable information that any vehicle registered under this title has been stolen, shall immediately report the theft to the division of motor vehicles unless prior to this discovery information has been received of the recovery of the vehicle. Any officer, upon receiving information that any vehicle, which was previously reported as stolen, has been recovered, shall immediately report the fact of that recovery to his or her department and the division of motor vehicles.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-28-3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-28 / Section 31-28-3
§ 31-28-3. Unauthorized meters.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful to install or operate parking meters in any town or city in this state until the qualified electors of the city or town have had submitted to them for their approval or rejection the question of the installation of parking meters, and have signified their approval of the question, and until any town or city council shall enact ordinances or regulations governing the installation and operation of the parking meters.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-20.1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-20.1
§ 31-3-20.1. Operation with auto body repair shop plates.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) An auto body repair shop, officially licensed by the department of business regulations, may loan a motor vehicle to a client/customer whose registered motor vehicle is undergoing auto body repair on the premises of the respective auto body repair shop, and may affix to the loaned motor vehicle number plates registered to the motor vehicle undergoing auto body repair when the number plates are of the same classification. The licensed auto body repair shop may issue a temporary certificate of registration to the loaned motor vehicle under which the loaned vehicle may be operated upon the public highways for a period of twenty (20) days from the date of issuance. The certificate shall be issued on a form obtained from the division of motor vehicles and shall be titled agreement  temporary loan of motor vehicle.

(2) The certificate shall be issued under any conditions that the division of motor vehicles may impose. The certificate shall be carried in the loaned vehicle for which it is issued and the operator or person in control of the loaned vehicle shall display the certificate for examination upon demand of any proper officer. The client/customer shall furnish proof to the auto body repair shop that he or she has liability and property damage insurance which will cover any damage to any person or property caused by the operation of the loaned vehicle for which the client/customer would have been liable if he or she had been the owner.

(3) This proof of insurance shall be set forth on the certificate issued by the division of motor vehicles and shall be subject to any conditions that the division of motor vehicles may impose. In the event the client/customer to whom the vehicle is loaned shall not have proper insurance in effect, then any liability or property damage shall be covered by the auto body repair shops insurance policy. Section 31-47-12(d) shall apply to loaned motor vehicles, and the acceptable evidence of financial responsibility as filed in the rules and regulations relative to compulsory insurance or financial responsibility shall apply.

(b) An auto body repair shop may not extend the use of agreement  temporary loan of motor vehicle certificates to anyone who is not a client/customer whose registered motor vehicle is undergoing auto body repair on the premises of the respective auto body repair shop. This legislation does not apply to any motor vehicle owned by a dealer, manufacturer, or operator of an auto body repair shop which is rented or leased for compensation to any person for any purpose.

(c) Every auto body repair shop shall keep a record of each loaned vehicle showing the date loaned, date returned, name, address, and operators license number of the client/customer, the number plate transferred to the loaned vehicle, and the number of the certificate issued. This record shall be available during business hours for examination by any police officer or inspector designated by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. This legislation does not apply to any motor vehicle owned by a dealer, manufacturer, or operator of an auto body repair shop which is rented or leased for compensation to any person for any purpose.

(d) Penalties. Any owner and/or employee of any auto body repair shop or customer who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a fine of two hundred dollars ($200) and have the authority to issue agreement  temporary loan of motor vehicle certificates revoked.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-46-2 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-46 / Section 31-46-2
§ 31-46-2. Salvage by insurer.
Status: in_force

If the insurance company sells the motor vehicle for any reason, it shall make application for a salvage certificate of title. The division of motor vehicles shall issue the salvage certificate of title on a form prescribed for by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, that shall be of a color easily distinguished from the original certificate of title, and shall bear the same number and information as the original certificate of title. The salvage certificate of title shall be assigned by the insurance company to a salvage dealer or any other person for use as evidence of ownership upon the sale or other disposition of the salvage motor vehicle, and the title shall be assignable to any other person. The division of motor vehicles shall charge the insurance company a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the cost of processing each salvage certificate title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-52-6 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-52 / Section 31-52-6
§ 31-52-6. Liability.
Status: in_force

(a) Liability for any death, personal injury or property damage suffered by any person in a funeral procession shall not be imposed upon the funeral director, funeral establishment, funeral escort or their employees or agents if the funeral procession was operating in compliance with this chapter or would have been operating in such compliance but for the operator or operators of one or more vehicles in the funeral procession not exercising due care as required by this chapter.

(b) Liability for any death, personal injury or property damage that results from, is caused by, or arises out of any action or inaction of any operator of a vehicle in a funeral procession under the control of a funeral director funeral establishment, funeral escort or their employees or agents shall not be imposed upon such funeral director, funeral establishment, funeral escort or their employees or agents if the funeral procession was operating in compliance with this chapter or would have been operating in such compliance but for the operator or operators of one or more vehicles in the funeral procession not exercising due care as required by this chapter.

(c) This section shall not apply if the death, personal injury, or property damage allegedly arose from the negligent acts or omissions in the operation of a vehicle by the funeral director, funeral establishment, funeral escort, or their employees or agents. The operator of a vehicle in a funeral procession shall not be deemed to be an agent of the funeral director, funeral establishment, or funeral escort unless such operator is an employee of the funeral director, funeral establishment, or funeral escort and is acting in the course of their employment, or unless the operator was retained as an independent contractor of the funeral director, funeral establishment, or funeral escort and is performing services thereto.

(d) This section does not create a new cause of action or substantive legal rights against any funeral director, funeral establishment, funeral escort, or their employees or agents. This section does not affect any immunities from civil liability or defenses established by another section of the general laws or any immunities from civil liabilities or defenses available at common law to which a funeral director, funeral establishment, funeral escort, or their employees or agents may be entitled.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-16-8 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-16 / Section 31-16-8
§ 31-16-8. Method of giving signals.
Status: in_force

Any stop or turn signal when required in this chapter shall be given either by means of the hand and arm or by a signal lamp or lamps or mechanical signal device, except as otherwise provided in § 31-16-9. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-18-8 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-18 / Section 31-18-8
§ 31-18-8. Due care by drivers.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter or the provisions of any local ordinance, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or any person propelling a human-powered vehicle upon any roadway, shall give an audible signal when necessary, and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused, intoxicated, or incapacitated person. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-51-2.1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-51 / Section 31-51-2.1
§ 31-51-2.1. Installation and signage.
Status: in_force

(a) All vehicles installed with a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system shall post a warning sign indicating the use of such system.

(b) Warning signage shall remain on each vehicle as long as a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system is in operation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-1-23 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-1 / Section 31-1-23
§ 31-1-23. Types of roads.
Status: in_force

(a) Bicycle lane means a portion of highway right-of-way designated by the state and identified by official traffic control devices (pavement markings) for the exclusive use of bicyclists. The operation and parking of motor vehicles is prohibited within the lane identified for exclusive use by bicyclists, except when making a turn, entering or leaving the roadway or a parking lane, or when required in the course of official duty.

(b) Bicycle route means a shared right-of-way along a highway, designated by the state and identified by official traffic control devices (signs) for use by bicyclists.

(c) Bicycle trail or path means a bikeway physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway right-of-way or within an independent right-of-way. Bicycle trails or paths may also be used by pedestrians, skaters, riders of Class 1 electric bicycles as defined in § 31-19.7-1, wheelchair users, joggers, and other nonmotorized users.

(d) Laned roadway means a roadway which is divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.

(e) Limited access highway means every highway, street, or roadway to or from which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access except at those points and in that manner determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over it.

(f) Local highway means every street or highway other than a state highway, private road, or driveway.

(g) Private road or driveway means every way or place in private ownership that is used for vehicular travel only by the owner and by those others having express or implied permission from the owner.

(h) Roadway means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, excluding the sidewalk, berm, or shoulder even when used by persons riding bicycles. In the event a highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways, roadway refers to the roadway separately and not the roadways collectively.

(i) Sidewalk means that portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.

(j) State highway means every street or highway constructed and/or maintained by the department of transportation.

(k) Street or highway means the entire width between boundary lines of every way when any part of it is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic.

(l) Through highway means every highway or portion of a highway having entrances from intersecting highways at which vehicular traffic is required by law to stop before entering or crossing, and where stop signs are erected under the provisions of chapters 1  27 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-1-18 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-1 / Section 31-1-18
§ 31-1-18. Resident and nonresident.
Status: in_force

(a) Nonresident means any person who is not a resident of this state or is temporarily residing in this state as a student or as a member of the armed forces of the United States.

(b) Resident means a person:

(1) Who owns, rents, or leases real estate within the state as his or her residence and:

(i) Engages in a trade, business, or profession in this state; or

(ii) Enrolls his or her children in a school in this state for a period exceeding ninety (90) days; or

(2) Who is registered to vote or is eligible to register to vote under the laws of this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10-37 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-10 / Section 31-10-37
§ 31-10-37. Fee  Expiration of license  Duplicates.
Status: in_force

The fee for each application for a commercial drivers school license shall be fifty dollars ($50.00). The license shall be granted or denied by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles within thirty (30) days after the application has been filed. The license shall expire, unless sooner revoked or suspended, on the 30th day of June following its effective date. The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue a separate license certificate for each location designated by the applicant and the certificate shall be displayed at that location. In case of the loss, mutilation, or destruction of a certificate, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue a duplicate of it upon proof of the facts and payment of a fee of one dollar ($1.00).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-44-4.1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-44 / Section 31-44-4.1
§ 31-44-4.1. Recording of sale or transfer documents  Penalties.
Status: in_force

Every deed, instrument, or writing by which an interest in any mobile or manufactured home is granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, a purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, shall be filed with the recorder of deeds of the city or town in within which the mobile home or manufactured home is located, within ten (10) days after execution of the deed instrument, or writing. The fee for the filing shall be in accordance with § 34-13-7. The city or town shall assess a fine to be determined by each city or town for failure to comply with the provisions of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-6-3 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-6 / Section 31-6-3
§ 31-6-3. Gross weight of tractors to be used with semi-trailers.
Status: in_force

In computing the fees for the registration of every tractor to be used in combination with a semi-trailer, the gross weight shall include the weight of the tractor, the weight of the semi-trailer to be used with it, and the weight of the maximum load to be carried.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5-19 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-5 / Section 31-5-19
§ 31-5-19. Sunday business permitted.
Status: in_force

(a) Motor vehicle dealers shall be permitted to have open for the conduct of business any display room or outdoor display lot where motor vehicles are exhibited on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

(b) Business as used in this section means the sale of or the attempt to sell motor vehicles. The storage alone of motor vehicles in open lots shall not be held to be displaying for sale purposes, or the use of dealer plates for transporting motor vehicles from one point to another shall not be considered to be for display or sale purposes.

(c) Any person or persons, partnership, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-28 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-28
§ 31-24-28. Maximum number of lamps lighted.
Status: in_force

Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with head lamps as required by this chapter is also equipped with any auxiliary lamps or a spot lamp or any other lamp on the front of it projecting a beam of an intensity greater than three hundred (300) candle power, not more than a total of four (4) of the lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when upon a highway. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-15-10 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-15 / Section 31-15-10
§ 31-15-10. Rotary traffic islands.
Status: in_force

A vehicle passing around a rotary traffic island shall be driven only to the right of the island. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-11 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-47 / Section 31-47-11
§ 31-47-11. Reinstatement of suspended license or registration.
Status: in_force

Any order of suspension or impoundment issued under this chapter may be terminated at any time if the administrator of the division of motor vehicles determines upon a showing of proof of financial security that the operator or owner of the motor vehicle was in compliance with financial security requirements of this chapter at the time of the traffic offense or accident which resulted in the order against the person. That determination may be made without a hearing. This section does not apply unless the person shows good cause for the persons failure to present satisfactory proof of financial responsibility to the court, traffic tribunal, or administrator of the division of motor vehicles prior to the issuance of the order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-24-11 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-24 / Section 31-24-11
§ 31-24-11. Specifications for reflectors.
Status: in_force

Every reflector referred to in § 31-24-10 shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than twenty inches (20") nor more than sixty inches (60") measured as set forth in § 31-24-3, and shall be of such size and characteristics and so mounted as to be visible at night from all distances within three hundred fifty feet (350²) from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps, except that visibility from a greater distance is required by this chapter of reflectors on certain types of vehicles. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5-1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-5 / Section 31-5-1
§ 31-5-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever the words licensor and/or department are used in chapters 5 and 5.1 of this title, they shall mean the department of revenue.

(b) For the purposes of this section, an electric motorized bicycle as defined in § 31-1-3(g) is not considered a motor vehicle.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-2.1 — RI Code / Title 31 / Chapter 31-3 / Section 31-3-2.1
§ 31-3-2.1. Out-of-state motorized bicycles.
Status: in_force

Out-of-state residents owning motorized bicycles, whose state of residence does not require the registration of those vehicles, shall register the vehicles in the state of Rhode Island and upon payment of the registration fee shall be issued stickers to be placed on the vehicle evidencing registration.