2015 -- S 0694

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LC001968

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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 PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

     

     Introduced By: Senator Louis P. DiPalma

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 39-14.1 of the General Laws entitled "Public Motor Vehicles" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     39-14.1-11. Registration and identification of public motor vehicles. -- (a) Every

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public motor vehicle engaged in the transportation of passengers for compensation over the

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highways of this state, subject to the provisions of this chapter, shall apply to the administrator for

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the issuance of a vehicle identification device for the registration and identification of each

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vehicle being utilized in the transportation of passengers. The application shall be accompanied

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by a filing fee in the amount of twenty dollars ($20.00) for each vehicle for which an application

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is made. Said fee shall be in addition to the application fees required by this chapter. Transfers of

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devices from one vehicle to another are hereby prohibited unless authorized by the administrator.

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     (b) Each identification device shall be accompanied by a registration card issued by the

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administrator which shall be in the possession of the driver when operating the vehicle.

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     (c) The identification device shall be provided by the administrator upon the division

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granting a certificate following an initial application or upon renewal of a certificate by the

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division as provided in this chapter.

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     (d) It shall be unlawful for any public motor vehicle to be engaged in transporting

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passengers for compensation without the owner thereof having applied for and received the

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required device, unless the vehicle is exempted from the provisions of this chapter. Violations of

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this chapter may be punished by a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars ($500) for a first

 

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offense and up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each subsequent offense.

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     (e) In the event there are complaints filed and pending against the holder of an

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identification device, the administrator may refuse to reissue the device and registration if there is

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probable cause to find that the holder of the device is violating or has violated the rules and

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regulations relative to this chapter or is a danger to the general public. Upon refusing to reissue

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the identification device, the division shall notify the holder of the device by certified mail and

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shall afford him/her a hearing within ten (10) days of said notice. Any such hearing may be

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rescheduled by agreement or for good cause.

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     (f) The administrator shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations governing the

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registration and identification of motor vehicles authorized for operation under this chapter.

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     (g) All revenues received under this section shall be deposited as general revenues.

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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 PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

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     This act would require all persons operating public motor vehicles to apply for a vehicle

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identification device for each vehicle so registered. All such devices would have to be carried by

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the driver of the vehicle which he or she is operating and would provide penalties for failure to do

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so. This act would further permit the administrator to refuse to reissue the identification device in

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the event complaints are filed which evidence probable cause of failure to abide by regulations or

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probable cause that the operator is a danger to the general public.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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