2018 -- H 7778

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LC004879

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

REGISTRATION TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Representatives Ucci, and Winfield

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2018

     Referred To: House Corporations

     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. [Effective July 1, 2018.].

     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. When the

division of motor vehicles denies a registration to any person pursuant to this subsection, the city

or town requesting the denial of registration shall add a five dollar ($5.00) fee to the aggregate

value of the sum of the fines and, upon payment, shall transmit said fee to the division of motor

vehicles;. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a rental

company, as defined in § 31-34.1-1;

     (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.

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

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

REGISTRATION TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

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     This act would exempt vehicles owner by a rental company, as defined in § 31-34.1-1,

from provisions permitting the DMV to refine registration for failure to pay a fine including

interest, penalties, or other monetary amount that may be imposed for failure to pay fine by a

specific date.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2018.

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LC004879

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