2017 -- S 0348

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LC001512

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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: Senators DaPonte, Cote, Crowley, Picard, and Lombardo

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

States Citizenship and Immigration Services and who is at least sixteen (16) years of age and who

has in his or her immediate possession a valid operator's license issued to him or her in his or her

country may operate a motor vehicle in this state only as an operator for the duration of the term

of the issued Visa. However, in addition to the methods provided for pursuant to the Geneva

Convention on Road Traffic, prior to operating a motor vehicle in this state such individuals

qualifying under this subsection must complete an application provided by the Rhode Island

division of motor vehicles.

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

Citizenship and Immigration Services and who is at least sixteen (16) years of age and who has in

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

country may operate a motor vehicle in this state only as an operator for the duration of the term

of the issued Green Card. However, in addition to the methods provided for pursuant to the

Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, prior to operating a motor vehicle in this state such

individuals qualifying under this subsection must complete an application provided by the Rhode

Island division of motor vehicles.

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

immediate possession a valid chauffeur's license issued to him or her in his or her home state or

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

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

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

class I license which must be approved before a nonresident may be employed as a chauffeur in

this state;

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

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

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

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

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

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

truck used for the transportation of materials.

     (8) Nothing herein is intended to or to be construed to adversely affect, impact or

interfere with any individual's rights to obtain a driver's license in accordance with the provisions

of the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.

     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

issued study or work Visa from the State's licensing requirements.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001512

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