2022 -- H 8084

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LC005657

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS

     Introduced By: Representatives Hawkins, Costantino, Cardillo, Phillips, Noret, O'Brien,
C Lima, Amore, and Biah

     Date Introduced: April 01, 2022

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-25-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size,

Weight, and Load Limits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-25-16. Authorized weight shown in registration -- Exceeding limit.

     (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall insert in the registration card

issued for a vehicle the gross weight for which it is registered. If it is a truck tractor to be used for

propelling semi-trailers, he or she shall separately insert the total permissible gross weight of the

truck tractor and semi-trailers to be propelled by it. It shall be unlawful for any carrier to operate

or permit to be operated any vehicle or combination of vehicles of a gross weight in excess of that

registered or permitted by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, or in excess of the

limitations set forth in this chapter.

     (b) For the purposes of this section, "carrier" means and includes any company or person

who furthers their commercial or private enterprise by use of the vehicle.

     (c)(1) Penalties for violations of this section will be calculated on the registered or

permitted weight in comparison to the actual weight and shall be heard and adjudicated at the traffic

tribunal.

     (2) The overweight penalties for vehicles with ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) gross

vehicle weight or less shall be eighty-five dollars ($85.00) per thousand pounds overweight or

portion of it.

     (3) The overweight penalties for vehicles exceeding ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.)

gross vehicle weight shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) per thousand pounds

overweight or portion of it.

     (4) The overweight penalties for vehicles exceeding twenty five thousand pounds (25,000

lbs) gross vehicle weight shall be one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per thousand pounds overweight

or portion of it.

     (5)(4) The overweight penalty for vehicles being operated in excess of one hundred four

thousand, eight hundred pounds (104,800 lbs.) gross vehicle weight shall be one thousand twenty-

five dollars ($1,025) in addition to the penalties enumerated in subsection (b)(2) subsections (c)(2)

through (c)(4) of this section.

     (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 8-18-6, if the civil penalties are the result of

enforcement action on a municipal roadway by an enforcement officer employed by the

municipality, the civil penalty shall be paid to the municipality, except for one hundred twenty

dollars ($120) per violation to be paid to the general fund and a court administrative fee of five

dollars ($5.00) per violation to the traffic tribunal.

     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 -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS

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     This act would establish penalties for vehicles exceeding twenty five thousand pounds

(25,000 lbs) gross vehicle weight. It would also require certain civil penalties to be paid to the

enforcing municipality if the enforcement action occurs on a municipal roadway by an enforcement

officer employed by the municipality.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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