=======

art.008/2/008/1

=======

     ARTICLE 8 AS AMENDED

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES

     SECTION 1. Section 31-3-33 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled “Registration

of Vehicles” is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-33. Renewal of registration.

      (a) Application for renewal of a vehicle registration shall be made by the owner on a proper

application form and by payment of the registration fee for the vehicle as provided by law.

     (b) The division of motor vehicles may receive applications for renewal of registration, and

may grant the renewal and issue new registration cards and plates at any time prior to expiration of

registration.

     (c) Upon renewal, owners will be issued a renewal sticker for each registration plate that

shall be placed at the bottom, right-hand corner of the plate. Owners shall be issued a new, fully

reflective plate beginning January 1, 20192020, at the time of initial registration or at the renewal

of an existing registration and reissuance will be conducted no less than every ten (10) years.

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

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

     31-10-31. Fees.

     The following fees shall be paid to the division of motor vehicles:

     (1) For every operator's first license to operate a motor vehicle, twenty-five dollars

($25.00);

     (2) For every chauffeur's first license, twenty-five dollars ($25.00); provided, that when a

Rhode Island licensed operator transfers to a chauffeur's license, the fee for the transfer shall be

two dollars ($2.00);

     (3) For every learner's permit to operate a motorcycle, twenty-five dollars ($25.00);

     (4) For every operator's first license to operate a motorcycle, twenty-five dollars ($25.00);

     (5) For every renewal of an operator's or chauffeur's license, thirty dollars ($30.00); with

the exception of any person seventy-five (75) years of age or older for whom the renewal fee will

be eight dollars ($8.00);

     (6) For every duplicate operator's or chauffeur's license, and every routine information

update, i.e., name change or address change, twenty-five dollars ($25.00);

     (7) For every certified copy of any license, permit, or application issued under this chapter,

ten dollars ($10.00);

     (8) For every duplicate instruction permit, ten dollars ($10.00);

     (9) For every first license examination, five dollars ($5.00);

     (10) For every routine information update, i.e., name change or address change, five dollars

($5.00);

     (11) (10) For surrender of an out-of-state license, in addition to the above fees, five dollars

($5.00).

     SECTION 3. Section 39-18.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-18.1 entitled

"Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     39-18.1-4. Rhode Island highway maintenance account created.

     (a) There is hereby created a special account in the intermodal surface transportation fund

as established in § 31-36-20 that is to be known as the Rhode Island highway maintenance account.

     (b) The fund shall consist of all those moneys that the state may from time to time direct

to the fund, including, but not necessarily limited to, moneys derived from the following sources:

     (1) There is imposed a surcharge of thirty dollars ($30.00) per vehicle or truck, other than

those with specific registrations set forth below in subsection (b)(1)(i). Such surcharge shall be paid

by each vehicle or truck owner in order to register that owner's vehicle or truck and upon each

subsequent biennial registration. This surcharge shall be phased in at the rate of ten dollars ($10.00)

each year. The total surcharge will be ten dollars ($10.00) from July 1, 2013, through June 30,

2014, twenty dollars ($20.00) from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015, and thirty dollars ($30.00)

from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, and each year thereafter.

     (i) For owners of vehicles or trucks with the following plate types, the surcharge shall be

as set forth below and shall be paid in full in order to register the vehicle or truck and upon each

subsequent renewal:

     Plate Type Surcharge

     Antique $5.00

     Farm $10.00

     Motorcycle $13.00

     (ii) For owners of trailers, the surcharge shall be one-half (1/2) of the biennial registration

amount and shall be paid in full in order to register the trailer and upon each subsequent renewal.

     (2) There is imposed a surcharge of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per vehicle or truck, other than

those with specific registrations set forth in subsection (b)(2)(i) below, for those vehicles or trucks

subject to annual registration, to be paid annually by each vehicle or truck owner in order to register

that owner's vehicle, trailer or truck and upon each subsequent annual registration. This surcharge

will be phased in at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) each year. The total surcharge will be five dollars

($5.00) from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014, ten dollars ($10.00) from July 1, 2014, through

June 30, 2015, and fifteen dollars ($15.00) from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, and each year

thereafter.

     (i) For registrations of the following plate types, the surcharge shall be as set forth below

and shall be paid in full in order to register the plate, and upon each subsequent renewal:

Plate Type Surcharge

Boat Dealer $6.25

Cycle Dealer $6.25

In-transit $5.00

Manufacturer $5.00

New Car Dealer $5.00

Used Car Dealer $5.00

Racer Tow $5.00

Transporter $5.00

Bailee $5.00

     (ii) For owners of trailers, the surcharge shall be one-half (1/2) of the annual registration

amount and shall be paid in full in order to register the trailer and upon each subsequent renewal.

     (iii) For owners of school buses, the surcharge will be phased in at the rate of six dollars

and twenty-five cents ($6.25) each year. The total surcharge will be six dollars and twenty-five

cents ($6.25) from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014, and twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50)

from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015, and each year thereafter.

     (3) There is imposed a surcharge of thirty dollars ($30.00) per license to operate a motor

vehicle to be paid every five (5) years by each licensed operator of a motor vehicle. This surcharge

will be phased in at the rate of ten dollars ($10.00) each year. The total surcharge will be ten dollars

($10.00) from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014, twenty dollars ($20.00) from July 1, 2014,

through June 30, 2015, and thirty dollars ($30.00) from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, and

each year thereafter. In the event that a license is issued or renewed for a period of less than five

(5) years, the surcharge will be prorated according to the period of time the license will be valid.

     (c) All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Rhode Island

highway maintenance account and shall be used only for the purposes set forth in this chapter.

     (d) Unexpended balances and any earnings thereon shall not revert to the general fund but

shall remain in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account. There shall be no requirement that

monies received into the Rhode Island highway maintenance account during any given calendar

year or fiscal year be expended during the same calendar year or fiscal year.

     (e) The Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be administered by the director,

who shall allocate and spend monies from the fund only in accordance with the purposes and

procedures set forth in this chapter.

     (4) All fees assessed pursuant to § 31-47.1-11, and chapters 3, 6, 10, and 10.1 of title 31,

except for fees assessed pursuant to §§ 31-10-31(6) and (31)(8), shall be deposited into the Rhode

Island highway maintenance account, provided that for fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018 these fees

be transferred as follows:

     (i) From July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, twenty-five percent (25%) will be deposited;

     (ii) From July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, fifty percent (50%) will be deposited; and

     (iii) From July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018 eighty percent (80%) sixty percent (60%)

will be deposited;

     (iv) From July 1, 2018, and each year thereafter, one hundred percent (100%) will be

deposited;

     (5) All remaining funds from previous general obligation bond issues that have not

otherwise been allocated.

     SECTION 4. Section 31-8-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-8 entitled "Motor and other

Vehicles", is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-8-4. Suspension or revocation of registration or certificate of title.

     (a) The division of motor vehicles is authorized to suspend or revoke the registration of a

vehicle or a certificate of title, registration card, or registration plate, or any nonresident or other

permit, in any of the following events:

     (1) When the division of motor vehicles is satisfied that the registration or that the

certificate, card, plate, or permit was fraudulently or erroneously issued;

     (2) When the division of motor vehicles determines that a registered vehicle is

mechanically unfit or unsafe to be operated or moved upon the highways;

     (3) When a registered vehicle has been dismantled or wrecked;

     (4) When the division of motor vehicles determines that the required fee has not been paid

and the fee is not paid upon reasonable notice and demand;

     (5) When a registration plate or permit is knowingly displayed upon a vehicle other than

the one for which issued;

     (6) When the division of motor vehicles determines that the owner has committed any

offense under chapters 3 -- 9 of this title involving the registration or the certificate, card, plate, or

permit to be suspended or revoked; or

     (7) When the division of motor vehicles is so authorized under any other provision of law.

     (8) Upon receipt or notice the carrier and/or operator of a commercial motor vehicle has

violated or is not in compliance with 49 CFR 386.72 or 49 CFR 390.5 et seq. of the motor carrier

safety regulation or chapter 23 of this title.

     (b) Upon removal of cause for which the registration or certificate of title was revoked,

denied or suspended, the division of motor vehicles shall require the registrant or applicant to pay

a restoration fee of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00), provided that no restoration fee shall

be required if the revocation, denial or suspension was issued pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this

section, §§ 31-38-2, 31-38-3, 31-38-4 or 31-47.1-3.".

     SECTION 5. This article shall take effect upon passage.