2016 -- H 7571

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LC004794

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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 - REGISTRATION SUSPENSION FOR FAILURE TO

PAY TOLLS

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Carson, Abney, and Ruggiero

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-3-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration

of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-5. Grounds for refusal of registration. -- The division of motor vehicles shall

refuse registration or any transfer of registration upon any of the following grounds:

      (1) That the application contains any false or fraudulent statement, or that the applicant

has failed to furnish required information, or reasonable additional information requested by the

division of motor vehicles, or that the applicant is not entitled to the issuance of registration of the

vehicle under chapters 3 -- 9 of this title;

      (2) That the vehicle is mechanically unfit or unsafe to be operated upon the highways;

      (3) That the division of motor vehicles has reasonable ground to believe that the vehicle

is a stolen or embezzled vehicle, or that the granting of registration would constitute a fraud

against the rightful owner;

      (4) That the registration of the vehicle stands suspended or revoked for any reason as

provided in the motor vehicle laws of this state;

      (5) That the vehicle has been reported by any city or town to the division of motor

vehicles as having unpaid fines in the aggregate amount of two hundred dollars ($200) or more;

provided, the registration shall be issued upon presentation of proof of payment of the

outstanding fines owed to the cities or towns reporting the unpaid fines. The sum of two hundred

dollars ($200) shall represent the aggregate value of the sum of the fines on the face of the

ticket(s) and shall not include interest, penalties, or any other monetary amount which may be

imposed for failure to pay the ticket(s) or summons(es) by a specified date. Before the division of

motor vehicles denies a registration to any person pursuant to this subsection, it shall have first

received a five dollar ($5.00) fee for each request from the city or town requesting the denial of

registration, which fee may be added to the aggregate value of the sum of the fines;

      (6) That the vehicle does not comply with regulations promulgated pursuant to § 23-23-

5(18), entitled "Air Pollution";

      (7) That the vehicle does not comply with the provisions of chapter 47.1 of this title and

any rules and regulations promulgated under that chapter;

      (8) That a commercial motor vehicle is being operated by a commercial motor carrier

that has been prohibited from operating in interstate commerce by a federal agency with authority

to do so under federal law; or

      (9) That the registered owner of a vehicle failed to pay the required fine toll amounts,

administrative fees, and toll fines as prescribed in subdivision §24-12-37(a)(3) of the general

laws.

     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 - REGISTRATION SUSPENSION FOR FAILURE TO

PAY TOLLS

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     This act would permit the division of motor vehicles to refuse to register or transfer the

registration of a vehicle which is subject to unpaid tolls.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004794

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