Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 815 - Division of Public Utilities and Carriers › Chapter 50 - Common Carriers › Subchapter 10 - Motor Carriers of Passengers › Part 4 - Transportation of Passengers via Public Motor Vehicles (815-RICR-50-10-4) › Section 815-RICR-50-10-4.4 - Vehicles to be Operated as PMV

Current through June 14, 2024
A. No vehicle may
				  be utilized by a certificate holder to transport passengers for hire until such
				  vehicle has been registered with the Division. Certificate holders shall inform
				  the Division of all vehicles used in its passenger-transportation fleet by
				  Make, Model, Year and Registration Plate Number, and shall include an odometer
				  reading of the vehicle. The certificate holder shall inform the Division each
				  time a vehicle is added to, replaced, or removed from its fleet. There shall be
				  no fee associated with the filing of this information.
B. The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) shall
				  have jurisdiction over the lighting, equipment, safety, and sanitary condition
				  of all public motor vehicles and shall cause an inspection of such vehicles to
				  be made before the vehicle may be registered. Vehicles owned by the certificate
				  holder must be registered to the certificate holder's business or garage
				  address (see §
										4.8   of this Part) and must be registered in the name of the
				  certificate holder. Vehicles leased by the certificate holder shall be
				  registered in accordance with Registry of Motor Vehicle rules, but still must
				  carry Public (or equivalent out-of-state registration) license plates. A copy
				  of any such lease shall be filed with the Division.
C. Every certificate holder must institute a
				  system of frequent and regular inspections in order to keep vehicles in proper
				  repair and sanitary at all times. Vehicles shall be in proper mechanical
				  operating condition prior to being dispatched to pick up passenger(s). This
				  includes safety features (brakes, tires, windshield wipers, lights. etc.),
				  appearance features (body free of dents, dings, chipped paint, cracked windows
				  and lights, etc.) and cleanliness/comfort features (unsoiled upholstery/carpet,
				  odor-free passenger compartment, air conditioning, heating, interior lights,
				  etc.).
D. Certificate holders shall
				  keep written records of such inspections as outlined in preceding rule and
				  maintain those records at its place of business in accordance with subsection
				  §
										4.8(E)   of this Part. The certificate holder shall make those records
				  available for inspection by Division personnel upon request.
E. No vehicle being operated as a public
				  motor vehicle may be equipped with a taximeter or any similar device for the
				  purpose of calculating charges for transportation services.
F. All vehicles being operated as a public
				  motor vehicle shall be UNMARKED as defined in §
										4.4(A)   of this Part,
				  provided, however, that markings required by the USDOT shall be
				  allowed.
G. No vehicle may be
				  utilized as a public motor vehicle if said vehicle has previously been
				  registered at any time as a taxicab. No exemption provision shall
				  apply.
H. With the exception of the
				  waiver provisions set forth in §
										4.4(H)(1)   of this Part, no vehicle which
				  is beyond four (4) model years old shall be allowed to be placed into service
				  for the first time as a public motor vehicle. Provided, however, that "classic"
				  and "antique" vehicles greater than 25 years old that meet all other state
				  regulations and Division requirements, may, at the Division's sole discretion,
				  be placed into service. Once into service, however, a vehicle shall not be
				  presented to the State Garage for an annual inspection with an odometer reading
				  in excess of 300,000 miles, unless the certificate holder has obtained a
				  written waiver of such rule as provided in subsection a) below. Moreover,
				  vehicles over 10,000 Gross Vehicle Weight (such as trolleys, buses, large
				  limousines, coaches .) shall not be presented to the State Garage for an annual
				  inspection with an odometer reading in excess of 500,000 miles, unless the
				  certificate holder has obtained a written waiver of such rule as provided in
				  §
										4.4(H)(1)   of this Part.
1. WAIVERS: In
				  cases involving vehicles in extraordinary condition, the certificate holder may
				  petition the Administrator (or his/her designee) for a waiver or exemption of
				  both the four-model-year requirement and the applicable mileage limitation as
				  set forth in §
											4.4(H)   of this Part. In order to be granted such a waiver,
				  the petitioner must demonstrate to the Administrator (or his/her designee) - at
				  the sole discretion of the Administrator (or designee) - that said vehicle is
				  suitable to be placed into service or remain in service (as applicable) as a
				  public motor vehicle as intended in the establishment of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter
				  39-14.1 and the promulgation of the instant rules. If such a waiver is granted,
				  the Division shall issue a written waiver form to the petitioner to be
				  presented to the State Garage as evidence that the vehicle in question may,
				  indeed, be inspected and utilized in public motor vehicle service. Absent such
				  a waiver document, the State Garage shall refuse to inspect a vehicle older
				  than four (4) model years to be placed into service for the first time or a
				  vehicle with an odometer reading beyond the applicable mileage limitation as
				  set forth in §
											4.4(H)   of this Part.