2020 -- S 2342

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LC004754

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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 OF VEHICLES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Felag, Gallo, McKenney, and Lawson

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 31-3-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration

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of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-3-17.1. Courtesy plates.

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     (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall design and issue under

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regulations that he or she deems appropriate, special courtesy automobile, veterans', motorcycle,

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and commercial registration plates to be used on passenger motor vehicles, motorcycles, and all

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commercial vehicles whose gross weight is not more than nine thousand pounds (9,000 lbs.) in lieu

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of other number plates, except for special courtesy veterans' plates to be used on passenger motor

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vehicles, motorcycles, and all commercial vehicles whose gross weight is not more than twelve

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thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.), and shall be issued in compliance with the provisions of § 31-3-53.

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Special plates shall be of such design and shall bear such letters or combinations of letters and

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numbers as the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall prescribe, and shall be made

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of light-reflecting sheeting applied on a metal base, provided that no automobile set of plates shall

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contain more than six (6) letters and numbers in a combination of letters and numbers, or less than

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two (2) letters, and that no motorcycle plate shall contain more than five (5) letters or more than

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five (5) letters and numbers in a combination or less than two (2) letters, and that a commercial

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courtesy plate shall be marked "commercial," and shall contain no more than six (6) letters or more

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than six (6) letters and numbers in a combination or less than two (2) letters, and provided further,

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that there shall be no duplication of identification and the administrator of the division of motor

 

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vehicles shall, in his or her discretion, refuse to issue any letter or combination of letters and

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numbers that might carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency. A special automobile

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or commercial courtesy plate shall be issued upon application using forms furnished by the

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administrator of the division of motor vehicles, and upon payment, in addition to the regular

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prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, a service charge of sixty dollars ($60.00) for each issue

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and for each registration renewal. For motorcycles, a special courtesy plate shall be issued upon

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application using forms furnished by the division of motor vehicles, and upon payment, in addition

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to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, a service charge of thirty-four dollars

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($34.00) for each issue and for each registration renewal. The service charge shall be paid to the

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administrator of the division of motor vehicles prior to the administrator's acceptance of the

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application. The Rhode Island state lottery commission shall not be required to pay the service

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charge for any special courtesy plate issued pursuant to this section for motor vehicles owned or

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used by the lottery commission, and may utilize the special courtesy plates on all types of vehicles

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owned or operated by the lottery commission.

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     (b) For any vehicle that is registered in accordance with § 31-1-3(a), the division of motor

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vehicles may also issue or approve, subject to rules and regulations that may be promulgated by

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the administrator, a courtesy registration plate in accordance with the provisions of this section.

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     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 - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

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     This act would expand the classes of licensed vehicles eligible to obtain courtesy veterans'

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plates.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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