2023 -- H 5607

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LC000389

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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 - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Shanley, Kennedy, Bennett, Casimiro, Casey,
and Potter

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     (Dept. of Revenue)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 31-3-31.1 and 31-3-31.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3

entitled "Registration of Vehicles" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-31.1. Registration of street rods and custom vehicles.

     (a) Definition of terms:

     (1) A “street rod” means a motor vehicle that:

     (i) Is a 1948 or older vehicle; or the vehicle was manufactured after 1948 to resemble a

vehicle manufactured before 1949; and

     (ii) Has been altered from the manufacturer’s original design; or has a body constructed

from nonoriginal materials.

     (2) The model year and the year of manufacture that are listed on the registration certificate

of title of a street rod vehicle shall be the model year and year of manufacture that the body of such

vehicle resembles.

     (b) Registration fee and application for street rods shall be as follows:

     (1) For each such street rod, there shall be a one-time pre-registration surcharge of fifty

dollars ($50.00) which said sum(s) shall be accumulated by the division of motor vehicles until

such time as said sum reaches an aggregate of twenty-three thousand dollars ($23,000) whereupon

said division is authorized to proceed with the ordering/manufacturing of plates as required by

subsection (3) herein. In addition thereto, and from hence forth, there shall be paid regular

registration fees required for standard passenger vehicles as determined by the division of motor

vehicles.

     (2)(i) In applying for registration of a street rod under this section, the owner of the street

rod shall submit with the application a certification that the vehicle for which the application is

made:

     (A) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades,

tours, and similar uses; and

     (B) Will not be used for general daily transportation.

     (ii) In addition to the certification required under paragraph (i) of this subsection, when

applying for registration of a street rod, the new owner of the street rod shall provide proof

acceptable to the administration that the street rod passed a safety inspection that has been approved

by the administration in consultation with the street rod community in this state.

     (3) On registration of a vehicle under this section, the administration shall issue a special

street rod vehicle registration plate of the size and design that the administration determines in

consultation with the street rod community in this state.

     (4) Unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a statute of this state

as a condition of sale in the year listed as the year of manufacture on the certificate of title, the

presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registered under

this section.

     (5) A vehicle registered under this section is exempt from any statute that requires periodic

vehicle inspections and from any statute that requires the use and inspection of emission controls.

     31-3-31.2. Custom vehicles — Definition — Registration and fees.

     (a) A custom vehicle means any motor vehicle that:

     (1) Is at least twenty-five (25) or more years old and of a model year after 1948; or was

manufactured to resemble a vehicle twenty-five (25) years old and of a model year after 1948; and

     (2) Has been altered from the manufacturer’s original design; or has a body constructed

from nonoriginal materials.

     (3) The model year and the year of manufacture that are listed on the certificate of title or

registration certificate of a custom vehicle shall be the model year and year of manufacture that the

body of such vehicle resembles.

     (b) For each such custom vehicle, there shall be a one-time pre-registration surcharge of

fifty dollars ($50.00) which said sum(s) shall be accumulated by the division of motor vehicles

until such time as said sum reaches an aggregate of twenty-three thousand dollars ($23,000)

whereupon said division is authorized to proceed with the ordering/manufacturing of plates as

required by subsection (d) herein. In addition thereto, and from hence forth, there shall be paid

LC000389 - Page 2 of 4

regular registration fees required for standard passenger vehicles as determined by the division of

motor vehicles.

     (c)(1) In applying for registration of a custom vehicle under this section, the owner of the

custom vehicle shall submit with the application a certification that the vehicle for which the

application is made:

     (i) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades,

tours, and similar uses; and

     (ii) Will not be used for general daily transportation.

     (2) In addition to the certification required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, when

applying for registration of a custom vehicle, the new owner of the custom vehicle shall provide

proof acceptable to the administration that the custom vehicle passed a safety inspection that has

been approved by the administration in consultation with the custom vehicle community in this

state.

     (d) On registration of a vehicle under this section, the administration shall issue a special

custom vehicle registration plate of the size and design that the administration determines in

consultation with the custom vehicle community of this state.

     (e) Unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a statute of this state

as a condition of sale in the year listed as the year of manufacture on the certificate of title, the

presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registered under

this section.

     (f) A vehicle registered under this section is exempt from any statute that requires periodic

vehicle inspections and from any statute that requires the use and inspections of emission controls.

     (g) Signal lamps and devices — Street rod vehicles and custom vehicles:

     (1) “Blue dot tail light” means a red lamp installed in the rear of a motor vehicle containing

a blue or purple insert that is not more than one inch in diameter.

     (2) A street rod or custom vehicle may use blue dot tail lights for stop lamps, rear turning

indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors.

     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 change the definition of "street rod" motor vehicle to include a reference to

its registration certificate and not its title. It would also change the meaning of "custom vehicle" by

adding a reference to its registration certificate.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000389

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