2015 -- S 0071 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     

     Introduced By: Senator V. Susan Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: January 13, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 31-3-48 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration

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of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-3-48. Plates for recipients of Purple Heart. -- (a) The administrator of the division

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of motor vehicles is empowered to make available to recipients of the Purple Heart Medal a

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special motor vehicle registration plate indicating the owner as a recipient of the Purple Heart.

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      (b) The plate shall contain the words "combat wounded" across the top of the plate and

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shall have an insignia for the Purple Heart and be followed by the letters "P H", followed by a

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numeral or numerals. The Purple Heart insignia may be reproduced on the plate in the color

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purple.

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      (c) Upon the death of the holder of any purple heart plates, the plates shall be transferred

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to his or her surviving spouse for the spouse's lifetime until he or she remarries.

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      (d) The applicant is not required to pay a registration fee or service charge for the plates.

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     (e) Upon the death of the holder of any purple heart plates, if there is no surviving

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spouse, a family member of the recipient may retain the special motor vehicle registration plates

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in his or her own keeping, provided he or she does not display the plates upon any motor vehicle

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or any other form of transportation owned or operated by the family member.

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     (f) Any violation of the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, shall be deemed a

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civil violation, and any person displaying a special motor vehicle registration plate upon any

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vehicle shall, upon conviction, be fined five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense. Each day in

 

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which the special motor vehicle registration plate is displayed upon any vehicle shall be a

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separate offense punishable by the same penalty.

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     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 -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

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     This act would entitle a surviving relative to retain a purple heart plate upon the death of

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the widowed holder as a keepsake only. Any display of the plate upon any other motor vehicle

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shall be a civil violation punishable by a fine of five hundred dollar ($500) per day.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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