2023 -- H 5815

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LC001586

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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 Costantino, Phillips, Serpa, Kennedy, Azzinaro, Noret,
and Casey

     Date Introduced: February 22, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     31-3-33.1. Renewal of registration of leased vehicles.

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     Any leased vehicle leased for a period of thirty-six (36) months which is registered in two

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(2) year cycles may be renewed for one additional year to coincide with the expiration of said lease

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and the fees of renewal of registration shall be adjusted accordingly.

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     SECTION 2. Section 31-6-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-6 entitled "Registration

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Fees" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-6-1. Amount of registration and miscellaneous fees.

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     (a) The following registration fees shall be paid to the division of motor vehicles for the

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registration of motor vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers, and school buses subject to registration for

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each year of registration:

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     (1) For the registration of every automobile, when equipped with pneumatic tires, the gross

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weight of which is not more than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.): thirty dollars ($30.00).

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     (2) For the registration of every motor truck or tractor when equipped with pneumatic tires,

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the gross weight of which is not more than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.): thirty-four dollars

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($34.00).

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     (3) For the registration of every automobile, motor truck or tractor, when equipped with

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pneumatic tires, the gross weight of which is:

 

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     (i) More than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.), but not more than five thousand pounds

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(5,000 lbs.): forty dollars ($40.00);

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     (ii) More than five thousand pounds (5,000 lbs.), but not more than six thousand pounds

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(6,000 lbs.): forty-eight dollars ($48.00);

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     (iii) More than six thousand pounds (6,000 lbs.), but not more than seven thousand pounds

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(7,000 lbs.): fifty-six dollars ($56.00);

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     (iv) More than seven thousand pounds (7,000 lbs.), but not more than eight thousand

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pounds (8,000 lbs.): sixty-four dollars ($64.00);

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     (v) More than eight thousand pounds (8,000 lbs.), but not more than nine thousand pounds

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(9,000 lbs.): seventy dollars ($70.00);

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     (vi) More than nine thousand pounds (9,000 lbs.), but not more than ten thousand pounds

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(10,000 lbs.): seventy-eight dollars ($78.00);

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     (vii) More than ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.), but not more than twelve thousand

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pounds (12,000 lbs.): one hundred six dollars ($106);

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     (viii) More than twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.), but not more than fourteen thousand

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pounds (14,000 lbs.): one hundred twenty-four dollars ($124);

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     (ix) More than fourteen thousand pounds (14,000 lbs.), but not more than sixteen thousand

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pounds (16,000 lbs.): one hundred forty dollars ($140);

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     (x) More than sixteen thousand pounds (16,000 lbs.), but not more than eighteen thousand

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pounds (18,000 lbs.): one hundred fifty-eight dollars ($158);

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     (xi) More than eighteen thousand pounds (18,000 lbs.), but not more than twenty thousand

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pounds (20,000 lbs.): one hundred seventy-six dollars ($176);

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     (xii) More than twenty thousand pounds (20,000 lbs.), but not more than twenty-two

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thousand pounds (22,000 lbs.): one hundred ninety-four dollars ($194);

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     (xiii) More than twenty-two thousand pounds (22,000 lbs.), but not more than twenty-four

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thousand pounds (24,000 lbs.): two hundred ten dollars ($210);

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     (xiv) More than twenty-four thousand pounds (24,000 lbs.), but not more than twenty-six

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thousand pounds (26,000 lbs.): two hundred thirty dollars ($230);

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     (xv) More than twenty-six thousand pounds (26,000 lbs.), but not more than twenty-eight

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thousand pounds (28,000 lbs.): two hundred ninety-six dollars ($296);

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     (xvi) More than twenty-eight thousand pounds (28,000 lbs.), but not more than thirty

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thousand pounds (30,000 lbs.): three hundred sixteen dollars ($316);

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     (xvii) More than thirty thousand pounds (30,000 lbs.), but not more than thirty-two

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thousand pounds (32,000 lbs.): four hundred and twenty-two dollars ($422);

 

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     (xviii) More than thirty-two thousand pounds (32,000 lbs.), but not more than thirty-four

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thousand pounds (34,000 lbs.): four hundred and forty-eight dollars ($448);

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     (xix) More than thirty-four thousand pounds (34,000 lbs.), but not more than thirty-six

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thousand pounds (36,000 lbs.): four hundred and seventy-six dollars ($476);

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     (xx) More than thirty-six thousand pounds (36,000 lbs.), but not more than thirty-eight

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thousand pounds (38,000 lbs.): five hundred and two dollars ($502);

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     (xxi) More than thirty-eight thousand pounds (38,000 lbs.), but not more than forty

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thousand pounds (40,000 lbs.): five hundred and twenty-eight dollars ($528);

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     (xxii) More than forty thousand pounds (40,000 lbs.), but not more than forty-two thousand

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pounds (42,000 lbs.): five hundred and fifty-four dollars ($554);

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     (xxiii) More than forty-two thousand pounds (42,000 lbs.), but not more than forty-six

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thousand pounds (46,000 lbs.): six hundred and eight dollars ($608);

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     (xxiv) More than forty-six thousand pounds (46,000 lbs.), but not more than fifty thousand

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pounds (50,000 lbs.): six hundred and sixty dollars ($660);

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     (xxv) More than fifty thousand pounds (50,000 lbs.), but not more than fifty-four thousand

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pounds (54,000 lbs.): seven hundred and twelve dollars ($712);

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     (xxvi) More than fifty-four thousand pounds (54,000 lbs.), but not more than fifty-eight

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thousand pounds (58,000 lbs.): seven hundred and sixty-eight dollars ($768);

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     (xxvii) More than fifty-eight thousand pounds (58,000 lbs.), but not more than sixty-two

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thousand pounds (62,000 lbs.): eight hundred and sixteen dollars ($816);

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     (xxviii) More than sixty-two thousand pounds (62,000 lbs.), but not more than sixty-six

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thousand pounds (66,000 lbs.): eight hundred and seventy-six dollars ($876);

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     (xxix) More than sixty-six thousand pounds (66,000 lbs.), but not more than seventy

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thousand pounds (70,000 lbs.): nine hundred and twenty-four dollars ($924);

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     (xxx) More than seventy thousand pounds (70,000 lbs.), but not more than seventy-four

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thousand pounds (74,000 lbs.): nine hundred and seventy-two dollars ($972);

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     (xxxi) Over seventy-four thousand pounds (74,000 lbs.): nine hundred and seventy-two

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dollars ($972), plus twenty-four dollars ($24.00) per two thousand pounds (2,000 lbs.) gross

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weight.

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     (4) For the registration of every semi-trailer to be used with a truck-tractor, as defined in §

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31-1-4(f), shall be as follows: an annual fee of twelve dollars ($12.00) for a one-year registration;

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for multi-year registrations the fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for a five-year (5) registration; and

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eighty dollars ($80.00) for an eight-year (8) registration. However, when in use, the weight of the

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resulting semi-trailer unit and its maximum carrying capacity shall not exceed the gross weight of

 

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the original semi-trailer unit from which the gross weight of the tractor was determined. A

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registration certificate and registration plate shall be issued for each semi-trailer so registered.

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There shall be no refund of payment of such fee, except that when a plate is returned prior to ninety

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(90) days before the effective date of that year’s registration, the pro rate amount, based on the

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unused portion of the multi-year registration plate period at time of surrender, shall be refunded. A

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multi-year semi-trailer registration may be transferred to another semi-trailer subject to the

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provisions and fee set forth in § 31-6-11. Thirty percent (30%) of the semi-trailer registration fee

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shall be retained by the division of motor vehicles to defray the costs of implementation of the

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international registration plan (IRP) and fleet registration section.

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     (5) For the registration of every automobile, motor truck, or tractor, when equipped with

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other than pneumatic tires, there shall be added to the above gross weight fees a charge of ten cents

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(10¢) for each one hundred pounds (100 lbs.) of gross weight.

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     (6) For the registration of every public bus, the rates provided for motor vehicles for hire

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plus two dollars ($2.00) for each passenger that bus is rated to carry, the rating to be determined by

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the administrator of the division of motor vehicles.

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     (7) For the registration of every motorcycle, or motor-driven cycle, thirteen dollars

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($13.00). Three dollars ($3.00) from that sum shall be turned over to the department of education

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to assist in the payment of the cost of the motorcycle driver’s education program as enumerated in

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§ 31-10.1-1.1.

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     (8) For the registration of every trailer, not including semi-trailers used with a truck-tractor

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as defined in § 31-1-4(d), with a gross weight of three thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.) or less, five

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dollars ($5.00). Trailers with a gross weight of more than three thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.) shall

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be assessed a registration fee of one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per thousand pounds (1,000 lbs.).

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     (9) The annual registration fee for a motor vehicle, commonly described as a boxcar and/or

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locomotive, and used only by La Societe Des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux for civic demonstration,

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parades, convention purposes, or social welfare work, shall be two dollars ($2.00).

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     (10) For the registration of every motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer owned by any

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department or agency of any city or town or district, provided the name of the city or town or

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district or state department or agency owning the same shall be plainly printed on two (2) sides of

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the vehicle, two dollars ($2.00).

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     (11) For the registration of motor vehicles used for racing, fifteen dollars ($15.00).

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     (12) For every duplicate registration certificate, seventeen dollars ($17.00).

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     (13) For every certified copy of a registration certificate or application, ten dollars ($10.00).

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     (14) For every certificate assigning a special identification number or mark as provided in

 

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§ 31-3-37, one dollar ($1.00).

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     (15) For every replacement of number plates or additional pair of number plates, without

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changing the number, thirty dollars ($30.00).

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     (16) For the registration of every farm vehicle, used in farming as provided in § 31-3-31:

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ten dollars ($10.00).

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     (17) For the registration of antique motor vehicles, five dollars ($5.00).

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     (18) For the registration of a suburban vehicle, when used as a pleasure vehicle and the

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gross weight of which is not more than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.), the same rates as charged

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in subsection (1) of this section shall be applicable and when used as a commercial vehicle and the

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gross weight of which is not more than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.), the same rates as

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provided in subsection (2) of this section shall be applicable. The rates in subsection (3) of this

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section shall be applicable when the suburban vehicle has a gross weight of more than four thousand

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pounds (4,000 lbs.), regardless of the use of the vehicle.

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     (19) For the registration of every motor bus that is used exclusively under contract with a

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political subdivision or school district of the state for the transportation of school children, twenty-

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five dollars ($25); provided that the motor bus may also be used for the transportation of persons

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to and from church and Sunday school services, and for the transportation of children to and from

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educational or recreational projects sponsored by a city or town or by any association or

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organization supported wholly or in part by public or private donations for charitable purposes,

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without the payment of additional registration fee.

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     (20) For the registration of every motorized bicycle, ten dollars ($10.00).

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     (21) For the registration of every motorized tricycle, ten dollars ($10.00).

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     (22) For the replacement of number plates with a number change, twenty dollars ($20.00).

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     (23) For the initial issuance and each reissuance of fully reflective plates, as required by §§

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31-3-10, 31-3-32, and 31-3-33, an additional eight dollars ($8.00); provided, however, for the initial

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issuance of new license plates as required by § 31-3-33(c) that feature the 2022 approved design,

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the fee shall be waived when the plate is issued for a vehicle with an existing registration.

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     (24) For the issuance of a trip permit under the International Registration Plan, twenty-five

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dollars ($25.00) per vehicle. The division of motor vehicles is authorized to issue seventy-two-hour

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(72) trip permits for vehicles required to be registered in the International Registration Plan that

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have not been apportioned with the state of Rhode Island.

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     (25) For the issuance of a hunter’s permit under the International Registration Plan, twenty-

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five dollars ($25.00) per vehicle. The division of motor vehicles is authorized to issue hunter’s

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permits for motor vehicles based in the state of Rhode Island and otherwise required to be registered

 

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in the International Registration Plan. These permits are valid for thirty (30) days.

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     (26) For the registration of a specially adapted motor vehicle necessary to transport a family

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member with a disability for personal, noncommercial use, a fee of thirty dollars ($30.00) assessed.

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     (b) In the event that the registrant of a vehicle, that is the subject of an agreement for

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conditional sale or lease, with right of purchase upon performance of stated conditions and

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immediate right of possession vested in the vendee or lessee, voluntarily cancels his or her

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registration within the period of registration, the division of motor vehicles shall refund only that

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portion of the fee paid that represents six (6) month segments of the registration fee paid.

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     SECTION 3. 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 authorize the division of motor vehicles to issue one year renewal

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registrations for vehicles leased for thirty-six (36) months when the vehicle is registered in two (2)

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year cycles and enables the division of motor vehicles to refund, to a registrant of a leased vehicle,

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who voluntarily cancels the registration within the period of registration, only that portion of the

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registration fee paid that represents six (6) month segments of the fee.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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