2016 -- H 7596

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LC004535

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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 - DISABLED VETERANS

     Introduced By: Representatives Lancia, Azzinaro, Naughton, Costa, and McLaughlin

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2016

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-3-104. Disabled veterans plates. -- (a) The registrar of motor vehicles shall issue for

any motor vehicle eligible for registration as an automobile, or for any motorcycle eligible for

registration as a motorcycle, or for a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of twelve

thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, plates designated as "Disabled Veteran" upon application

on proper forms furnished by the administration of the division of motor vehicles.

     (b) The special plate designated "Disabled Veteran" shall be designed as follows:

     (1) Letters and numbers shall be blue in a white background with the words "Rhode

Island" clearly visible at the top center of the plate and the words "Disabled Veteran" visible at

the bottom center of the plate.

     (2) The background will be a red, white, and blue waving American Flag.

     (3) On the top right corner will be a decal with the military branch of the service in which

the veteran served (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines).

     (4) For disabled veterans, a white decal with blue letters with the words "Disabled

Veteran" placed under the military branch decal on the right side of the plate above the validation

sticker.

     (c) The applicant shall be required to pay a service charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) and

a transfer charge of five dollars ($5.00) for each plate.

     (d) The applicant shall be entitled to a plate for each vehicle owned by the applicant upon

payment of an additional service charge and/or transfer charge for each vehicle.

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

having a gross weight of twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less who is issued disabled

veteran plates shall continue to pay the appropriate commercial registration fee for those plates.

The owner of a motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle 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 said plates stating that

the vehicle is to be used for personal use only.

     (f)(1) For the purposes of this section, a "Disabled Veteran" shall be defined as any

person who has served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, or the National

Guard and Reserves:

     (i) Called to active duty authorized by the President of the United States or the Secretary

of Defense; or

     (ii) Who has twenty (20) years of service with a letter and record of separation of service

and who has been determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be one hundred percent

(100%) disabled by a service connected disability.

     (2) Upon the death of the holder of a disabled veteran plate, the plates shall be transferred

to the surviving spouse for the spouse's lifetime or until they remarry.

     (g) A person shall be eligible for a disabled veteran plate if their deceased spouse was

eligible for a disabled veteran plate, notwithstanding the fact that the eligible, deceased spouse

died prior to the enactment of this section.

     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 - DISABLED VETERANS

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     This act would create a new category of veteran registration plate for those veterans who

are one hundred percent (100%) disabled while on active duty.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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