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:

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

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Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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any provision of ยงยง39-14.1-1 through 39-14.1-8, or any order, rule, or regulation adopted or

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

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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 - PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

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

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

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

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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