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:

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

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

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

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     (a) Definition of terms:

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

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

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vehicle manufactured before 1949; and

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

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from nonoriginal materials.

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

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

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vehicle resembles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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vehicles.

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

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

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made:

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

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tours, and similar uses; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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consultation with the street rod community in this state.

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

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

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

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this section.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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from nonoriginal materials.

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

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

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body of such vehicle resembles.

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

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

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

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

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

 

LC000389 - Page 2 of 4

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

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motor vehicles.

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

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

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application is made:

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

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tours, and similar uses; and

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

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

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

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

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

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state.

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

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

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consultation with the custom vehicle community of this state.

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

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

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

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this section.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors.

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

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

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adding a reference to its registration certificate.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000389

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