2014 -- H 7932

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LC004493

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - TAXICABS AND LIMITED

PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Representatives Morin, Shekarchi, Casey, Guthrie, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2014

     Referred To: House Corporations

     (RIPTA)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 39-14-14.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-14 entitled

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

     39-14-14.1. Taximeter requirement. – (a) Every motor vehicle used in the

transportation of passengers for compensation in a taxicab service over the publicly used

highways of this state shall be equipped with a taximeter. Any motor carrier or operator who shall

knowingly and willfully cause a motor vehicle to be operated as a taxicab which that is not

equipped with a taximeter, or when so equipped the taximeter is not in a recording position for

the purpose of registering charges at the time the service is rendered, shall be guilty of a

misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not to exceed twenty-five dollars

($25.00) for the first offense; and, upon conviction for a second offense, shall be fined not to

exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) and shall have his or her certificate suspended for a period not to

exceed thirty (30) days; and, upon conviction for a third offense, shall be fined not to exceed one

hundred dollars ($100) and shall have his or her certificate suspended for a period not to exceed

one hundred eighty (180) days.

     (b) A certificate holder authorized to provide taxicab services is not required to utilize the

vehicle's taximeter for registering charges when the transportation services are being coordinated

by, and paid for by, a state department, authority, or agency on behalf of clients of said state

department, authority, or agency, provided, the alternative method for registering or calculating

charges is approved by the division.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - TAXICABS AND LIMITED

PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

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     This act would permit certified taxicab drivers to register charges for transportation

services provided to state departments without the use of a taximeter provided the alternate

method is approved by the division.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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