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:

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

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

division as provided in this chapter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

rescheduled by agreement or for good cause.

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

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

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

     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

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

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

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

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

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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