Chapter 559
2004 -- S 3196
Enacted 07/09/04
A N A C T
RELATING
TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES
Introduced
By: Senator Beatrice A. Lanzi
Date
Introduced: June 10, 2004
It
is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION
1. Section 31-3-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled
"Registration
of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:
31-3-17.1.
Courtesy plates. -- The administrator of the division of motor vehicles
shall
design
and issue under regulations that he or she deems appropriate, special courtesy
automobile,
motorcycle,
and commercial registration plates to be used on passenger motor vehicles,
motorcycles,
and all commercial vehicles whose gross weight is not more than eight nine
thousand
five hundred pounds (8,500 9,000 lbs.) in lieu of other
number plates. Special plates
shall
be of such design and shall bear such letters or combinations of letters and
numbers as the
administrator
of the division of motor vehicles shall prescribe, and shall be made of light-
reflecting
sheeting applied on a metal base, provided that no automobile set of plates
shall contain
more
than six (6) letters and numbers in a combination of letters and numbers, or
less than two
(2)
letters, and that no motorcycle plate shall contain more than five (5) letters
or more than five
(5)
letters and numbers in a combination or less than two (2) letters, and that a
commercial
courtesy
plate shall be marked "commercial," and shall contain no more than
five (5) letters or
more
than five (5) letters and numbers in a combination or less than two (2)
letters, and provided
further,
that there shall be no duplication of identification and the administrator of
the division of
motor
vehicles shall in his or her discretion refuse to issue any letter or
combination of letters and
numbers
which might carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency. A special
automobile
or commercial courtesy plate shall be issued upon application using forms
furnished
by
the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, and upon payment, in
addition to the
regular
prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, a service charge of thirty dollars
($30.00) for
each
issue and for each registration renewal. For motorcycles, a special courtesy
plate shall be
issued
upon application using forms furnished by the division of motor vehicles, and
upon
payment,
in addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, a service
charge of
seventeen
dollars ($17.00) for each issue and for each registration renewal. The service
charge
shall
be paid to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles prior to the
administrator's
acceptance
of the application. The Rhode Island state lottery commission shall not be
required to
pay
the service charge for any special courtesy plate issued pursuant to this
section for motor
vehicles
owned or used by the lottery commission, and may utilize the special courtesy
plates on
all
types of vehicles owned or operated by the lottery commission.
SECTION
2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC03652
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