2023 -- S 0434 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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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 -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Felag, and Ruggerio

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 31-38-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-38 entitled "Inspection

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of Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-38-6. Appointment of official inspection stations.

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     (a) For the purpose of making inspections and issuing official certificates of inspection and

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approval as provided in this chapter, the director of the department of revenue, or the director’s

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designee, shall issue permits for and furnish instructions and all necessary forms to official

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inspection stations for the inspection of vehicles as required in this chapter and the issuance of

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official certificates of inspection and approval. There shall be a separate permit required to inspect

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all trailers or semi-trailers used to transport horses or other livestock, irrespective of the registered

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gross weight of the trailers and semi-trailers.

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     (b) Application for the permit set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall be made upon

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an official form and shall be granted only when the director of the department of revenue or the

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director’s designee, is satisfied that the station is properly equipped and has competent personnel

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to make the inspections and adjustments, and will be properly conducted. Only facilities located

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within the State of Rhode Island shall receive renewal permits or new permits. The director of the

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department of revenue, or the director’s designee, before issuing a permit may require the applicant

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to file a bond conditioned that it will make compensation for any damage to a vehicle during an

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inspection or adjustment due to negligence on the part of the applicant or its employees.

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     (c) The director of the department of revenue, or the director’s designee, shall properly

 

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supervise and cause inspections to be made of the stations and shall suspend or revoke and require

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the surrender of the permit issued to a station which he or she finds is not properly equipped or has

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violated any of the conditions of his or her permit of inspection. The director of the department of

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revenue, or the director’s designee, shall maintain and post at the department of revenue lists of all

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stations holding permits and of those whose permits have been suspended or revoked.

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     (d) The permits shall be issued for a period of one year and upon payment to the director

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of the department of revenue of a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) annually, and the monies

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received shall be turned over to the general treasurer to be deposited in the general funds of the

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state.

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     (e) The director of the department of revenue, or the director’s designee, shall issue a

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duplicate permit upon the payment of a fee of one dollar ($1.00) if one is requested by the owner

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of the official station who states in writing that the original was lost, destroyed, or stolen.

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     (f) Any person who has been issued a permit under this section and conducts inspections

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of vehicles subject to an emission inspection pursuant to chapter 47.1 of this title must also have

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been authorized to conduct motor vehicle emissions inspections and must conduct both inspections

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simultaneously.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage on January 1, 2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

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     This act would provide that only facilities located within the State of Rhode Island be

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eligible for renewal permits or new permits to operate as official inspection stations for the

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inspection of vehicles, and the issuance of official certificates of inspection and approval.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2024.

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