2017 -- S 0965

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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 -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

     Date Introduced: June 20, 2017

     Referred To: Senate 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,

including any and all interest, penalties, or other monetary amount that may be imposed for

failure to pay the fines by a specified date; provided, the registration shall be issued upon

presentation of proof of payment of the outstanding fines, including any and all interest, penalties,

or other monetary amount 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 that may be

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

division of motor vehicles denies a registration to any person pursuant to this subsection, it shall

have first received the city or town requesting the denial of registration shall add 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 and, upon payment, shall transmit

said fee to the division of motor vehicles;

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

5(18);

     (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 toll amounts,

administrative fees, and fines as prescribed in § 24-12-37 of the general laws.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2018.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

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     This act would amend the grounds on which the DMV may refuse registration for failure

to pay a fine to include interest, penalties, or other monetary amount. It would require the

municipality that requests the denial of registration to add, and upon receiving payment, forward

an additional five dollar ($5.00) fee to the DMV.

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2018.

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