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LC001148

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL CODE

PROVISIONS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Carson, Donovan, McGaw, Edwards, and
Finkelman

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 31-1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-1 entitled "Definitions and

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General Code Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-1-3. Types of vehicles.

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     (a)(1) “Antique motor car” means any motor vehicle that is more than twenty-five (25)

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years old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, the vehicle may be

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maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public

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interest. The vehicle may also be used for limited enjoyment and purposes other than the previously

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mentioned activities, but may not be used primarily for the transportation of passengers or goods

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over any public highway.

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     (2) After the vehicle has met the requirements of state inspection, a registration plate may

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be issued to it on payment of the standard fee. The vehicle may be operated on the highways of this

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and other states, and may, in addition to the registration plate, retain the designation “antique” and

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display an “antique plate.”

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     (3) For any vehicle that is more than twenty-five (25) years old, 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 “year of manufacture plate” for the vehicle that is an exact replica plate

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designating the exact year of manufacture of the vehicle. The year of manufacture plate, as

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authorized by this subsection, need only be attached to the rear of the vehicle.

 

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     (b)(1) “Antique motorcycle” means any motorcycle that is more than twenty-five (25)

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years old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, the vehicle shall be

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maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public

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interest. The vehicle may also be used for limited enjoyment and purposes other than the previously

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mentioned activities, but may not be used primarily for the transportation of passengers or goods

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over any public highway; and

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     (2) After the vehicle has met the requirements of state inspection, a registration plate may

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be issued to it, on payment of the standard fee, and the vehicle may be operated on the highways

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of this and other states, and may, in addition to the registration plate, retain the designation

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“antique” and display an “antique plate.”

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     (c) “Authorized emergency vehicle” means vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol);

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police vehicles; vehicles of the department of corrections while in the performance of official

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duties; vehicles used by the state bomb squad within the office of state fire marshal; vehicles of

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municipal departments or public service corporations designated or authorized by the administrator

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as ambulances and emergency vehicles; and privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer

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firefighters or privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer ambulance drivers or attendants, as

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authorized by the department chief or commander and permitted by the Rhode Island Association

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of Fire Chiefs and Rhode Island Association of Police Chiefs Joint Committee for Volunteer

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Warning Light Permits.

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     (d) “Automobile” means, for registration purposes, every motor vehicle carrying

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passengers other than for hire.

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     (e) “Bicycle” means every vehicle having two (2) tandem wheels, except scooters and

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similar devices, propelled exclusively by human power, and upon which a person may ride.

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     (f) “Camping recreational vehicle” means a vehicular type camping unit, certified by the

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manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.2 Standards, designed primarily as temporary living

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quarters for recreation that has either its own motor power or is mounted on, or towed by, another

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vehicle. The basic units are tent trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, motorized campers, travel trailers, and

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pick-up campers.

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     (g) “Electric motorized bicycle” means a motorized bicycle that may be propelled by

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human power or electric motor power, or by both, with an electric motor rated not more than two

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(2) (S.A.E.) horsepower, that is capable of a maximum speed of not more than twenty-five (25)

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miles per hour.

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     (h) “Electric personal assistive mobility device” (“EPAMD”) is a self-balancing, non-

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tandem two-wheeled (2) device, designed to transport only one person, with an electric propulsion

 

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system that limits the maximum speed of the device to fifteen (15) miles per hour.

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     (i) “Fifth-wheel trailer”: A towable recreational vehicle, not exceeding four hundred (400)

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square feet in area, designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle that contains a towing mechanism

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that is mounted above or forward of the tow vehicle’s rear axle and that is eligible to be registered

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for highway use.

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     (j) “Hearse” means every motor vehicle used for transporting human corpses. A hearse

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shall be considered an automobile for registration purposes.

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     (k) “Jitney or bus” means: (1) A “public bus” that includes every motor vehicle, trailer,

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semi-trailer, tractor trailer, or tractor trailer combination, used for the transportation of passengers

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for hire, and operated wholly or in part upon any street or highway as a means of transportation

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similar to that afforded by a street railway company, by indiscriminately receiving or discharging

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passengers, or running on a regular route or over any portion of one, or between fixed termini; or

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(2) A “private bus” that includes every motor vehicle other than a public bus or passenger van

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designed for carrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the transportation of persons, and

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every motor vehicle other than a taxicab designed and used for the transportation of persons for

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compensation.

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     (l) ''Low-speed motor vehicle'' or ''low-speed vehicle'', means a motor vehicle defined in

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49 C.F.R. § 571.3 as a vehicle that is four (4) wheeled, whose speed attainable in one mile is more

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than twenty miles per hour (20 mph) and not more than twenty-five miles per hour (25 mph) on a

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paved level surface and whose gross vehicle weight rating is less than three thousand pounds (3,000

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lbs.). All low-speed motor vehicles shall comply with the standards established in 49 C.F.R. §

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571.500, as amended, and pursuant thereto, shall be equipped with headlamps, front and rear turn

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signal lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, an exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the vehicle

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and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or an interior mirror, a

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parking brake, a windshield that conforms to the federal standards on glazing materials, a vehicle

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identification number that conforms to the requirements of 49 C.F.R. pt. 565 for such numbers, a

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Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly conforming to 49 C.F.R. § 571.209, installed at each designated

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seating position and reflex reflectors; provided, that one reflector is red on each side as far to the

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rear as practicable and one reflector is red on the rear. A low-speed motor vehicle that meets the

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requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 571.500, as amended, and is equipped as herein provided, may be

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registered in this state, subject to inspection and insurance requirements.

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     (m) “Motorcycle” means only those motor vehicles having not more than three (3) wheels

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in contact with the ground and a saddle on which the driver sits astride, except bicycles with helper

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motors as defined in subsection (n) of this section.

 

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     (m)(n) “Motor-driven cycle” means every motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with

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a motor of no greater than five (5) horsepower, except bicycles with helper motors as defined in

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subsection (n) of this section.

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     (n)(o) “Motorized bicycles” means two-wheel (2) vehicles that may be propelled by human

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power or helper power, or by both, with a motor rated not more than four and nine-tenths (4.9)

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horsepower and not greater than fifty (50) cubic centimeters, that are capable of a maximum speed

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of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour.

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     (o)(p) “Motorized camper”: A camping recreational vehicle, built on, or permanently

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attached to, a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis cab or van that is an integral part of the completed

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vehicle.

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     (p)(q) “Motorized tricycles” means tricycles that may be propelled by human power or

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helper motor, or by both, with a motor rated no more than 1.5 brake horsepower that is capable of

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a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour.

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     (q)(r) “Motorized wheelchair” means any self-propelled vehicle, designed for, and used

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by, a person with a disability that is incapable of speed in excess of eight (8) miles per hour.

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     (r)(s) “Motor scooter” means a motor-driven cycle with a motor rated not more than four

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and nine-tenths (4.9) horsepower and not greater than fifty (50) cubic centimeters that is capable

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of a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour.

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     (s)(t) “Motor vehicle” means every vehicle that is self-propelled or propelled by electric

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power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved

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exclusively by human power, an EPAMD and electric motorized bicycles as defined in subsection

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(g) of this section, and motorized wheelchairs.

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     (t)(u) “Motor vehicle for hire” means every motor vehicle other than jitneys, public buses,

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hearses, and motor vehicles used chiefly in connection with the conduct of funerals, to transport

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persons for compensation in any form, or motor vehicles rented for transporting persons either with

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or without furnishing an operator.

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     (u)(v) “Natural gas vehicle” means a vehicle operated by an engine fueled primarily by

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natural gas.

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     (v)(w) “Park trailer”: A camping recreational vehicle that is eligible to be registered for

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highway use and meets the following criteria: (1) Built on a single chassis mounted on wheels; and

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(2) Certified by the manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.5.

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     (w)(x) “Passenger van” means every motor vehicle capable of carrying ten (10) to fourteen

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(14) passengers plus an operator and used for personal use or on a not-for-hire basis. Passenger

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vans may be used for vanpools, transporting passengers to and from work locations, provided that

 

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the operator receives no remuneration other than free use of the vehicle.

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     (x)(y) “Pedal carriage” (also known as “quadricycles”) means a nonmotorized bicycle with

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four (4) or more wheels operated by one or more persons for the purpose of, or capable of,

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transporting additional passengers in seats or on a platform made a part of or otherwise attached to

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the pedal carriage. The term shall not include a bicycle with trainer or beginner wheels affixed to

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it, nor shall it include a wheelchair or other vehicle with the purpose of operation by or for the

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transportation of a person with a disability, nor shall it include a tricycle built for a child or an adult

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with a seat for only one operator and no passenger.

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     (y)(z) “Pick-up camper”: A camping recreational vehicle consisting of a roof, floor, and

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sides designed to be loaded onto and unloaded from the back of a pick-up truck.

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     (z)(aa) “Rickshaw” (also known as “pedi cab”) means a nonmotorized bicycle with three

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(3) wheels operated by one person for the purpose of, or capable of, transporting additional

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passengers in seats or on a platform made a part of, or otherwise attached to, the rickshaw. This

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definition shall not include a bicycle built for two (2) where the operators are seated one behind the

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other, nor shall it include the operation of a bicycle with trainer or beginner wheels affixed thereto,

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nor shall it include a wheelchair or other vehicle with the purpose of operation by or for the

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transportation of a person with a disability.

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     (aa)(bb) “School bus” means every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental

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agency, when operated for the transportation of children to or from school; or privately owned,

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when operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school.

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     (bb)(cc) “Suburban vehicle” means every motor vehicle with a convertible or

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interchangeable body or with removable seats, usable for both passenger and delivery purposes,

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and including motor vehicles commonly known as station or depot wagons or any vehicle into

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which access can be gained through the rear by means of a hatch or trunk and where the rear seats

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can be folded down to permit the carrying of articles as well as passengers.

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     (cc)(dd) “Tent trailer”: A towable recreational vehicle that is mounted on wheels and

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constructed with collapsible partial side walls that fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold

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for use and that is eligible to be registered for highway use.

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     (dd)(ee) “Trackless trolley coach” means every motor vehicle that is propelled by electric

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power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated on rails.

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     (ee)(ff) “Travel trailer”: A towable recreational vehicle, not exceeding three hundred

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twenty square feet (320 sq. ft.) in area, designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle containing a

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towing mechanism that is mounted behind the tow vehicle’s bumper and that is eligible to be

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registered for highway use.

 

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     (ff)(gg) “Vehicle” means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or

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may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices used exclusively upon stationary rails

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or tracks.

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     SECTION 2. Section 31-3-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration of

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Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-3-2. Vehicles subject to registration.

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     Every motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, pole trailer, motorized camper, tent trailer, travel

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trailer, pick-up coach, and pick-up camper, owned by a resident of this state when operated or

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drawn upon a highway within this state for a period of thirty (30) days, shall be subject to the

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registration provisions of chapters 3 — 9 of this title except:

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     (a) Any vehicle operated upon a highway in conformance with the provisions of the

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chapters relating to manufacturers, transporters, dealers, lien holders, or nonresidents;

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     (b) Any vehicle that is operated upon a highway only for the purpose of crossing the

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highway but not along the highway from one property to another;

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     (c) Any farm vehicle, whether or not of a type otherwise subject to registration under this

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chapter, that is only incidentally operated upon a highway. For purposes of this title, the phrase

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“incidentally operated upon a highway” shall mean the operation upon a highway of a slow-moving

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motor vehicle that is designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing

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machines, and other implements of husbandry, between agricultural operations owned or managed

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by the owner of the motor vehicle. Unless the incidental operation is only for purposes of crossing

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the highway but not traveling along it, the farm vehicle engaged in the incidental operation shall

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display a “Slow Moving Vehicle” emblem in a manner that complies with requirements established

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by the division of motor vehicles;

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     (d) Any special mobile equipment as defined in § 31-1-9;

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     (e) Any vehicle that is propelled exclusively by electric power obtained from overhead

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trolley wires, though not operated upon rails;

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     (f) Any low-speed motor vehicle or low speed vehicle as defined in § 31-1-3.

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     SECTION 3. The title of Chapter 31-10.1 of the General Laws entitled "Special License

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for Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, and Other Motor Driven Cycles" is hereby amended to read as

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follows:

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CHAPTER 31-10.1

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Special License for Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, and Other Motor Driven Cycles

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CHAPTER 31-10.1

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SPECIAL LICENSES FOR MOTORCYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS, LOW-SPEED

 

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VEHICLES AND OTHER MOTOR DRIVEN CYCLES

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     SECTION 4. Section 31-10.1-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10.1 entitled "Special

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License for Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, and Other Motor Driven Cycles" is hereby amended to

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read as follows:

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     31-10.1-7. Inspection.

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     Every motorcycle, motor scooter, low-speed vehicle, or motor driven cycle shall be

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inspected in accordance with the law providing for inspection of motor vehicles and shall display

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a certificate of inspection as provided in chapter 38 of this title. Inspection standards for the motor

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vehicles shall be established by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. Inspection

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stations shall be specially licensed to inspect motorcycles, motor scooters, and motor-driven cycles.

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Certificates of inspection for these vehicles shall be clearly distinguishable from those issued to

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other motor vehicles. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

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     SECTION 5. Title 31 of the General Laws entitled "MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES"

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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 19.6

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LOW-SPEED VEHICLES

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     31-19.6-1. Low-speed vehicles.

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     (a) Except as otherwise provided in chapters 19.4 and 19.5 of title 31, a low-speed motor

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vehicle or low-speed vehicle shall not be operated upon any public way unless such vehicle is

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registered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, displays the registration number as

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provided in § 31-3-10 and displays a slow-moving vehicle emblem on the rear of the vehicle as

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required by § 31-10.1-7. Low-speed vehicles shall be subject to inspection as required by chapter

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38 of title 31. The registrar may issue registration plates displaying the “Slow Moving Vehicle”

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emblem for a low-speed vehicle upon the same terms and conditions applicable to registrants of

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other motor vehicles and may issue a special parking identification placard bearing the same

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designation upon the same terms and conditions applicable to persons seeking a placard for a motor

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vehicle. Every person lawfully operating a low-speed motor vehicle shall have the right to use the

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public highways in the state, except low-speed vehicles shall be prohibited from operation on

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limited access highways, as defined in § 31-1-23, state highways, as defined in § 31-1-23, or

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through highways as defined in § 31-1-23 or on any public highway or roadway with a speed limit

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of more than thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph).

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     (b) Low-speed vehicles shall be subject to the traffic laws and regulations of the state and

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the provisions of this section.

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     (c) Nothing in subsection (a) of this section shall be construed to prohibit a low-speed

 

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motor vehicle from crossing a public highway at an intersection where the public highway to be

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crossed has a posted speed limit between thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph) and forty-five miles

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per hour (45 mph), provided the public highway the low-speed vehicle is traveling on and the public

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highway the low-speed vehicle is crossing the intersection toward both have a speed limit no higher

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than thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph) and the intersection is controlled by traffic signals or stop

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signs.

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     (d) A municipality may, by ordinance, prohibit the operation of low-speed vehicles on a

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laned roadway or local highway or a portion of a highway within its jurisdiction and under its

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control, regardless of posted speeds, where it finds that use of the highway or a particular portion

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of the highway by low-speed motor vehicles would represent an unreasonable risk of death or

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serious injury to occupants of low-speed vehicles as a result of general traffic conditions which

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shall include, but not be limited to, excessive speeds of other vehicles, traffic volumes, use of the

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highway by heavy trucks or other large vehicles or if the established speed limit on the highway

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increases above thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph) per hour beyond the point where a low-speed

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vehicle could safely exit the highway. The municipality shall post signs where necessary to provide

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notice to the public of such prohibited access.

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     (e) A low-speed vehicle shall not be operated by a person under sixteen (16) years of age

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nor by any person not possessing a valid driver's license, except that a person who is at least sixteen

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(16) years of age who possesses a valid learner's permit may operate a low-speed vehicle on those

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highways, or portions of highways, where such operation is lawful, if accompanied by an operator

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duly licensed by the state of residence who is twenty-one (21) years of age or over, who has had at

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least one year of driving experience and who is occupying a seat beside the driver. The holder of a

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temporary operator's permit shall be subject to the same license restrictions applicable to that

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license classification in the operation of a low-speed vehicle as if the license holder were operating

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any other motor vehicle.

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     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 -- DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL CODE

PROVISIONS

***

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     This act would establish regulations for the registration and operation of low-speed

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vehicles in this state.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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