2016 -- H 7327

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LC004123

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Representatives Malik, Azzinaro, Hull, Bennett, and Naughton

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2016

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-3-17.4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled

"Registration of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-17.4. Firefighter plates. -- (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is

empowered and authorized to make available to all active firefighters and retired firefighters a

special motor vehicle registration plate for any motor vehicle eligible for registration as an

automobile or commercial vehicle having a gross weight of ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.)

twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less.

      (b) The special motor vehicle registration plate shall carry on it the designation

"Firefighter" and a Maltese cross with the design provided by the Rhode Island Association of

Fire Chiefs.

      (c) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue the plate upon

payment of a service charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and a transfer charge of five dollars

($5.00) for the plate, of which fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be deposited to the division of motor

vehicles manufacturing account.

     (d) The owner of a motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle and

having a gross weight of six thousand three hundred pounds (6,300 lbs.) but not more than twelve

thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) shall sign an affidavit at the time of application for the plates being

requested, stating that the vehicle is to be used for personal use only.

      (d)(e) For the purpose of this section an active or retired member of any fire department

shall be defined as any person certified by the chief of the fire department as currently a member

of said department with at least one year active service or retired under honorable condition as a

firefighter.

      (e)(f) In a state of emergency, any active member of a fire department driving a vehicle

bearing the special motor vehicle registration plate shall be authorized and empowered to travel

upon the highways of the state notwithstanding any driving ban imposed by the state or municipal

authority in accordance with their official duties.

     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 increase the automobile and commercial vehicle gross weight limitations

from ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) or less to twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less for

the purposes of the special motor vehicle registration plate available to all active and retired

firefighters and further would require the owner of a motor vehicle eligible for registration as a

commercial vehicle with a gross weight of six thousand three hundred pounds (6,300 lbs.) but not

more than twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) to sign an affidavit stating that the vehicle is to

be used for personal use only.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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