Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 280 - Department of Revenue › Chapter 30 - Division of Motor Vehicles › Subchapter 15 - Safety and Emissions › Part 3 - Official Manual for Vehicle Inspection › Section 280-RICR-30-15-3.3 - Vehicle Inspection Regulations

Current through June 14, 2024
3.3.1
SCOPE
				 AND APPLICABILITY
A. In accordance with
				 R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 31-38, standards for the inspection of vehicles and
				 related equipment as set forth in this Part have been established by the State
				 of Rhode Island for the administration and enforcement of the inspection laws
				 of the State of Rhode Island.
B.
				 Every vehicle subject to inspection shall display upon such vehicle, or produce
				 upon demand, the certificate of inspection and approval issued to such vehicle
				 until the inspection and approval certificate expires.
C. Every vehicle required to be inspected
				 shall be inspected for emission and/or safety items according to the following:
1. All motor vehicles, except motorcycles,
				 registered with a gross weight of eight-thousand five hundred (8,500) pounds or
				 less shall be inspected for emissions and safety items biennially or according
				 to a schedule that may be required by the State.
2. All motor vehicles registered with a gross
				 weight of more than eight thousand five hundred (8,500) pounds shall be
				 inspected for safety items annually.
3. All motorcycles shall be inspected for
				 safety items before the end of June of each year.
4. All trailers, except trailers and
				 semi-trailers used to transport horses or other livestock, registered with a
				 gross weight of more than 1,000 pounds shall be inspected for safety items
				 before the end of June of each year.
5. Every new vehicle, except public
				 conveyance vehicles, and school buses, shall be inspected and approved before
				 it is twenty-four (24) months old from the first purchase date (statement of
				 origin) or before the vehicle accumulates twenty-four (24) thousand miles,
				 whichever occurs first.
6. Every
				 used vehicle, except public conveyance vehicles and school buses without a
				 valid Rhode Island inspection approval shall be inspected and approved within 5
				 (five) Division of Motor Vehicles business days from the date of registering in
				 Rhode Island.
7. Public conveyance
				 vehicles including but not limited to school buses, taxis, jitneys, child care
				 and other public service vehicles shall be inspected according to all the rules
				 and regulations established by the federal and state laws also in accordance
				 with the manufacturer's recommendations for inspection. Reject any vehicle for
				 a safety and/or emission item that is found to be worn, missing, broken or
				 defective in any manner that exceeds the manufacturer's tolerance for
				 replacement. All 1996 and newer vehicles will be tested for OBD II.
8. All Diesel vehicles registered with a
				 gross vehicle weight of less than 8,500 lbs. will tested at Diesel Approved
				 Inspection Stations
9. All Rhode
				 Island registered vehicles located on Block Island and registered with a Block
				 Island address will be subject to a safety inspection and a two- speed idle
				 emission inspection in accordance with a schedule as directed by the
				 Department.
10. All vehicles
				 registered as farm vehicles under R.I. Gen. Laws §
												31-3-31,
				 except farm tractors, shall be subject to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws
				 Chapter 31-38 entitled "Inspection of Motor Vehicles."
11. All motorized bicycles and/or motorized
				 tricycles, that are required to be inspected, shall be inspected at motorcycle
				 inspection stations for safety items before the end of June of each
				 year.
12. All trailers and
				 semi-trailers used to transport horses or other livestock, irrespective of the
				 registered gross weight, shall be inspected for vehicle safety items and other
				 safety requirements needed for the safe transportation of horses and other
				 livestock before the end of June of each year.
13. The Director of the Department of Revenue
				 or designee may extend the time within which a certificate of inspection and
				 approval shall be obtained.
14. The
				 Director of the Department of Revenue or designee may extend the thirty (30)
				 day repair period.
15. The Director
				 of the Department of Revenue or designee may authorize any inspection station
				 to issue a certificate of inspection and approval to any vehicle after
				 concluding that a reasonable effort to meet the emission standards has been
				 made.
16. The Director of the
				 Department of Revenue or designee may suspend the registration of any school
				 bus or public conveyance type vehicle from transporting passengers which he or
				 she determines is in such unsafe condition to transport passengers or which
				 does not meet the requirements established for such school or public conveyance
				 type vehicles or for failure to deliver said vehicle for inspection provided,
				 however, that any vehicle which has been transporting passengers in violation
				 of such suspension, then such registration shall be immediately suspended by
				 the Division of Motor Vehicles.
17.
				 No inspection permit shall be assigned, transferred or used at any location
				 other than therein designated. No more than one permit shall be assigned to a
				 location.
18. Stations may provide
				 a reduced inspection fee providing that the reduction is not incorporated with
				 any other sale condition or promotion.