2016 -- S 2129

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LC004020

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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 VEHICLES - FIREFIGHTER REGISTRATION PLATES

     Introduced By: Senator Walter S. Felag

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     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.) or

less, or vehicle eligible for a combination registration plate, pursuant to §31-3-64.

      (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) 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) 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 VEHICLES - FIREFIGHTER REGISTRATION PLATES

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     This act would make firefighters plates available to active and retired firefighters who are

otherwise eligible for combination registration plates.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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