2020 -- H 7301

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION PLATES, LICENSE

AND CHANGE OF ADDRESS

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Vella-Wilkinson, Marszalkowski, Kennedy,
and Barros

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2020

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-2 of the General Laws entitled "Division of Motor Vehicles" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-2-29. Undeliverable mail.

     The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall, as soon as possible, deliver to

the secretary of state's office, all division mail it had sent to its regulated motorists, pursuant to

title 31 of the general laws, that is returned to it as undeliverable, by the United States Postal

Service.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-3-10.1. Online issuance of motor vehicle's registration.

     All motor vehicle dealers, who sell new, as well as used vehicles are authorized to file

online registration requests for the motor vehicles they have sold, so that no visit to the division

shall be necessary. Upon the online submission of the division-required registration paperwork by

the dealers, proof of the registration and the actual new license plates, if necessary, shall be

mailed directly to the motor vehicle purchaser. No later than January 1, 2021, the division of

motor vehicles shall promulgate rules and regulations it deems necessary to implement the motor

vehicle dealership online process authorized herein. The division shall have the authority to

determine which, if any, of the exclusively used motor vehicle dealers should be authorized to

participate in the online registration program. The rules and regulations shall expressly replace

the need for temporary dealer plates and expressly authorize the dealer to affix on the rear

window of its sold vehicle, a division-approved notice, which may temporarily operate as a

registration for the motor vehicles.

     SECTION 3. Section 31-3-28 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration

of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-28. Rules and regulations as to plates.

     (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is authorized and empowered to

make, alter, or amend, such rules and regulations that he or she may deem necessary, pertaining

to the use, size, design, color scheme, and the material to be used in the manufacture of the

number plates to be displayed on automobiles, motor trucks, trailers, semi-trailers, or other motor

vehicles, except that at the next general issuance and each subsequent issuance. To promote

safety and to facilitate the identification of registration plate letters and numerals at night, the

department of revenue shall require that all registration plates shall be treated with special

materials so as to make the background fully reflective and the letters and numerals on them

readable at night for a minimum distance of one hundred feet (100') with other illumination. An

additional fee of one dollar ($1.00) shall be payable upon the initial issuance of the above

described illuminated plates.

     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general laws to the contrary, the division

of motor vehicles shall adopt rules and regulations which create a new process, which authorizes

persons to return, whenever necessary, their license plates through the mail, without the need to

personally visit the registry, or any branch thereof. Persons shall have at least forty-five (45) days

to return their license plates. The new license plate return process shall be fully operational no

later than July 1, 2021.

     (b)(c) All rules and regulations made under the provisions of this section shall, after

being approved by the governor and published at least once in each county of the state, have the

effect of law.

     SECTION 4. Sections 31-10-30 and 31-10-32 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10

entitled "Operators' and Chauffeurs' Licenses" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-10-30. Expiration and renewal of licenses.

     Every operator's and chauffeur's first license to operate a motor vehicle shall be by the

issuance of a temporary license for the period beginning at the date of issuance and expiring on

the birthday of the licensee in the second year following the issuance of the temporary license.

Every operator's and chauffeur's license issued after expiration of the temporary license shall

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expire on the birthday of the licensee in the fifth tenth year following the issuance of the license,

with the exception of any person seventy-five (75) years of age or older whose license shall

expire on the birthday of the licensee in the second third year following the issuance of the

license, and shall be renewable on or before expiration upon application and payment of the fee

required by this chapter. The administrator of the division of motor vehicles, having good cause

to believe the applicant for renewal is incompetent or otherwise not qualified, may require an

examination of the applicant as upon an original application; provided, however, if the renewal

applicant is applying for a commercial driver's license and is in possession of a valid medical

examination certificate issued pursuant to federal motor carrier safety regulations 49 CFR 391.41-

391.49 that applicant shall be deemed to be competent and qualified under this chapter. The

administrator of the division of motor vehicles is authorized to adopt any regulations necessary to

carry out the purposes of this section. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in

§ 31-41.1-4.

     31-10-32. Notice of change of address or name.

     Whenever any person after applying for or receiving an operator's or chauffeur's license

shall move from the address named in his or her application or in the license issued to him or her,

or when the name of a licensee is changed by marriage or otherwise, that person shall within ten

(10) days thereafter notify the division of motor vehicles in writing of his or her old and new

addresses or of his or her former and new names and of the number of any license then held by

him or her. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4. Upon receipt

by the holder of an operator's chauffeur's license, written notice of their change of name and/or

address and the required five dollar ($5.00) fee, the division of motor vehicles shall mail to the

operator, a new license containing the updated information.

     SECTION 5. Chapter 31-15 of the General Laws entitled "Passing, Use of Lanes, and

Rules of the Road" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-15-4.1. Left lane travel restrictions.

     Only passenger motor vehicles and authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in § 31-1-

3(c), are allowed to travel in the left lane of all non-local roads, except when making a left hand

turn.

     SECTION 6. 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 -- REGISTRATION PLATES, LICENSE

AND CHANGE OF ADDRESS

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     This act would authorize online registration of vehicles sold by a dealership and would

extend the term of an operator's license from five (5) to ten (10) years. It would also require the

division of motor vehicles when mail it sends out to motorists is returned as undeliverable to

forward such mail to the secretary of state's office. It would also allow licenses plates to be

returned through the mail.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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