2017 -- H 5684 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS'

LICENSES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Edwards, McNamara, and Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 31-10-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10 entitled "Operators'

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and Chauffeurs' Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-10-2. Persons exempt from licensing requirements.

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     The following persons are exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter:

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     (1) Any employee of the United States government while operating a motor vehicle

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owned by or leased to the United States government and being operated on official business;

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     (2) A nonresident who is at least sixteen (16) years of age and who has in his or her their

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immediate possession a valid operator's license issued to him or her them in his or her their home

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state or country may operate a motor vehicle in this state only as an operator;

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     (3) Any individual over the age of eighteen (18) years who has in their immediate

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possession a valid operator's license issued to them in their country may operate a motor vehicle

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in this state only as an operator for the term and in accordance with the methods provided for

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pursuant to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, Chapter V, art. 24, September 19, 1949

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without further examination.

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     (4) Any individual who holds an active work or study Visa validly issued by the United

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States Citizenship and Immigration Services, who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and who

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has in their immediate possession a valid operator's license issued to them in their country may

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operate a motor vehicle in this state only as provided for pursuant to the Geneva Convention on

 

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Road Traffic, Chapter V, art. 24, September 19, 1949 without further examination; provided,

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however, that upon expiration of the term set forth in the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic,

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said individual may only operate a motor vehicle in this state upon completion of an application

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provided by the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles and only for the unexpired term of the

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issued Visa.

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     (5) Any individual who holds a Green Card validly issued by the United States

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Citizenship and Immigration Services, who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and who has in

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their immediate possession a valid operator's license issued to them in their country may operate a

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motor vehicle in this state pursuant to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, Chapter V, art.

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24, September 19, 1949 without further examination; provided, however, that upon expiration of

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the term set forth in the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, said individual may only operate a

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motor vehicle in this state upon completion of an application provided by the Rhode Island

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division of motor vehicles and only for the unexpired term of the issued Green Card.

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     (3)(6) A nonresident who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and who has in his or her

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their immediate possession a valid chauffeur's license issued to him or her them in his or her their

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home state or country may operate a motor vehicle in this state either as an operator or chauffeur.

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Subject to the age limits applicable to chauffeurs in this state, that license shall be accepted as a

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chauffeur class I license. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a nonresident must submit an

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application for a chauffeur class I license which must be approved before a nonresident may be

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employed as a chauffeur in this state;

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     (4)(7) Any nonresident who is at least eighteen (18) years of age, whose home state or

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country does not require the licensing of operators, may operate a motor vehicle as an operator

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only, for a period of not more than ninety (90) days in any calendar year, if the motor vehicle so

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operated is duly registered in the home state or country of that nonresident;

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     (5)(8) Any operator of any traction engine, road roller, farm tractor, crane, power shovel,

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well-borer, and any other road and building construction machinery and equipment, other than a

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truck used for the transportation of materials.

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     (9) The department of motor vehicles is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to

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carry out the purposes of this section.

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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 MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS'

LICENSES

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     This act would exempt individuals validly licensed in their country and holding a validly

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issued study or work Visa from the State's licensing requirements in accordance with the Geneva

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Convention on Road Traffic.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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