2014 -- S 2240

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LC003955

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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 MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - FOREIGN REGISTERED VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senators Picard, and Cote

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-7-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-7 entitled "Foreign

Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-7-1. Right to operate on foreign registration. -- (a) A nonresident owner, except as

otherwise provided in sections §§31-7-2 and 31-7-3, owning any foreign vehicle of a type

otherwise subject to registration pursuant to this title, may operate or permit the operation of that

vehicle within this state without registering the vehicle in, or paying any fees to, this state subject

to the condition that the vehicle at all times, when operated in this state, is duly registered in, and

displays upon it, a valid registration card and registration plate or plates issued for that vehicle in

the place of residence of that owner.

      (b) Any foreign vehicle(s) parked or garaged overnight in this state for more than thirty

(30) days in the aggregate in any one year which that is owned and/or operated by a resident of

this state as defined in section §31-1-18 shall register the vehicle(s) and pay the same fee that is

required with reference to like vehicle(s) owned by residents of this state. The state police and

local police departments, upon observation of a foreign registered vehicle present within the state

for thirty (30) days or more shall identify the owner of the vehicle and, if a Rhode Island resident,

provide a notice containing a copy of this section to the owner and to the tax assessor in the city

or town in which the vehicle is located.

      (c) Any domiciled resident of this state who owns a vehicle which that is registered in

another state shall file an annual report with the administrator of the division of motor vehicles of

this state and with the tax assessor of the city or town in which the domiciled resident resides,

stating the make, model, year, and validation of the vehicle and the reason for registering the

vehicle in the foreign state. Failure to comply with the terms of this subsection shall be subject to

a civil fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for every foreign vehicle. This provision

shall not apply to military personnel assigned to duty outside of the state of Rhode Island and for

a period of thirty (30) days after discharge.

     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 MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - FOREIGN REGISTERED VEHICLES

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     This act would require law enforcement to report the presence of foreign owned vehicles

owned by Rhode Island residents to the tax assessor of the city or town in which the vehicle is

located and to provide notice to the registered owner of the requirements of this section.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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