2016 -- S 2789

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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 PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - TAXICABS AND LIMITED

PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

     

     Introduced By: Senator Louis P. DiPalma

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 39-14-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-14 entitled "Taxicabs

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and Limited Public Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     39-14-11. Penalties for violations. -- (a) Any person or the officers of any association or

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corporation who shall violate any provision of §§ 39-14-1 -- 39-14-17, 39-14-20(b), 39-14-25 and

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39-14-26, or any order, rule, or regulation adopted or established under any provision, shall be

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fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisoned not more than sixty (60) days or

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both, and his or her certificate may be revoked, and the violation shall be a separate and distinct

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offense for each day during which it shall continue.

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      (b) The administrator may in his or her discretion, in addition to seeking criminal

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sanctions, impose upon its regulated taxicabs and limited public motor vehicles an administrative

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civil penalty (fine) in addition to revoking or suspending the taxicab's and limited public motor

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vehicle's operating authority as conferred under this chapter. The fine shall not exceed one

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thousand dollars ($1,000) per each violation of the sections contained in this chapter or the

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division's orders, rules and regulations issued and promulgated thereunder.

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     (c) Nothing herein shall preclude an authorized certificate holder under chapter 14 of title

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39 from pursuing a private cause of action for damages at law and in equity, against any person,

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firm, corporation, or the officers of any association or corporation who shall violate any

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provisions of §§39-14-1 through 39-14-17, 39-14-20(b), 39-14-25 and 39-14-26, or any order,

 

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rule, or regulation adopted or established under any provision, by the division of public utilities

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and carriers and the administrator.

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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 - TAXICABS AND LIMITED

PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

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     This act would expressly permit for a private cause of action by an existing certificate

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holder under chapter 14 of title 39 against any party operating in violation of and/or the division

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rules governing the transportation of passengers via taxicabs and limited public motor vehicles.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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