2016 -- S 2790

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LC005012

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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 - 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:

     SECTION 1. Section 39-14.1-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-14.1 entitled "Public

Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     39-14.1-9. Penalty for violations. -- (a) Any person, firm or corporation, subject to the

provisions of this chapter and/or any rules and regulations promulgated under it, who shall

knowingly or willfully cause to be done any act prohibited by this chapter, or who shall be guilty

of any violation of this chapter or the rules and regulations shall be deemed guilty of a

misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars

($1,000) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both for each offense.

      (b) The administrator may in his or her discretion in lieu of seeking criminal sanctions,

and/or in lieu of revoking or suspending the carrier's operating authority as conferred under this

chapter, impose upon its regulated common carriers an administrative civil penalty (fine). This

fine shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per each violation of the sections contained in

this chapter or the division's rules and regulations promulgated under it.

     (c) Nothing herein shall preclude an authorized certificate holder under chapters 14 and

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

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

any provision of §§39-14.1-1 through 39-14.1-8, or any order, rule, or regulation adopted or

established under any provision, by the division of public utilities and carriers and the

administrator.

     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 clarify the law and allow the holders of certificates for taxicabs, limited

public motor vehicles and public motor vehicles to file private lawsuits for damages in law or in

equity against the violators of public motor vehicle laws, orders, rules or regulations.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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