2013 -- S 0766

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LC01479

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - MOTOR PASSENGER CARRIERS

     Introduced By: Senator William A. Walaska

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 39-13-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-13 entitled "Motor

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Passenger Carriers" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     39-13-15. Penalty for violations. – Any person or the officers of any association or

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corporation, who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or any order, rule, or

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regulation adopted or established by the division under the provisions of this chapter, shall be

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fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisoned not more than sixty (60) days, or

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both. Firm or corporation, subject to the provisions of this chapter and/or any rules and

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regulations promulgated under it, who shall knowingly or willfully cause to be done any act

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prohibited by this chapter, or who shall be guilty of any violation of this chapter or the rules and

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regulations shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be subject to a

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fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one

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year, or both for each offense.

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     The administrator may in his or her discretion, in lieu of seeking criminal sanctions,

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and/or in lieu of revoking or suspending the carrier's operating authority as set forth in this

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chapter, impose upon its regulated common carriers an administrative civil penalty (fine). This

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fine shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per each violation of the sections contained in

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this chapter or the division's rules and regulations promulgated under it.

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     SECTION 2. Section 39-14-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-14 entitled "Taxicabs

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and Limited Public Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     39-14-11. Penalties for violations. -- (a) Any person or the officers of any association or

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corporation who shall violate any provision of sections 39-14-1 -- 39-14-17, 39-14-20(b), 39-14-

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25 and 39-14-26, or any order, rule, or regulation adopted or established under any provision,

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shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisoned not more than sixty (60)

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days or both, and his or her certificate may be revoked, and the violation shall be a separate and

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distinct offense for each day during which it shall continue., firm or corporation subject to the

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provisions of this chapter and/or rules and regulations promulgated under it, who shall knowingly

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or willfully cause to be done any act prohibited by this chapter, or who shall be guilty of any

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violation of this chapter or the rules and regulations shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,

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and shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or

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imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both for each offense.

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      (b) The administrator may in his or her discretion, in addition to seeking criminal

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sanctions, impose upon its regulated taxicabs and limited public motor vehicles an administrative

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civil penalty (fine) in addition to revoking or suspending the taxicab's and limited public motor

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vehicle's operating authority as conferred under this chapter. The fine shall not exceed one

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thousand dollars ($1,000) per each violation of the sections contained in this chapter or the

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division's orders, rules and regulations issued and promulgated thereunder.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01479

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - MOTOR PASSENGER CARRIERS

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     This act would, with regard to motor passenger carriers and taxicabs, provide that if the

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rules and regulations of this chapter are violated then the party would be subject to a

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misdemeanor and fine, but the administrator has the discretion to pursue civil penalty only.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01479

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