ARTICLE 13

RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

SECTION 1. Section 31-3-40 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled “Registration

of Vehicles” is hereby amended to read as follows:

31-3-40. Special use identification tags. -- (a) A new car dealer or used car dealer may

apply to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles for special use identification tags for

use on vehicles sold by him or her pending the registration of the vehicles, and provided that all

vehicles upon which special use identification tags are to be used conform to the standards for

general safety. Special use identification tags shall be of a size and type determined by the

administrator of the division of motor vehicles, and shall be sold to dealers in packs of ten (10)

plates per pack upon payment of two hundred dollars ($200) per pack at a cost to be determined

by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25) per

plate.

      (b) Special use certificates and special use identification tags may be used on a vehicle

sold by the dealer to a resident or nonresident. The special use certificate and special use

identification tags shall be valid for no more than twenty (20) days including the date of delivery

of the certificate and tags by the dealer, and no dealer or any other person shall extend the

expiration date thereof, nor shall any person other than the administrator of the division of motor

vehicles issue another similar certificate or tag. The special certificate shall be carried in the

vehicle bearing the special use identification tags whenever the vehicle is being operated on a

public highway. Special use identification tags shall be displayed in the same manner as required

in this chapter for the display of registration plates. Upon the removal of special use identification

tags from a vehicle, they shall be destroyed immediately by the person to whom issued or his or

her agent.

      (c) Upon the issuance of a special use certificate and special use identification tags, the

dealer shall prepare the special use certificate in triplicate and shall print or type all of the

information required on the certificate. The dealer shall imprint legibly with a rubber date stamp,

in black ink, upon the special use identification tag, the date of expiration of the tag in letters and

numerals not less than one inch (1") in height, nor less than one-fourth of an inch (1/4") in width.

The special use identification tag shall also contain the vehicle identification number of the car on

which it is displayed and the dealer's identification number. The original copy of the special use

certificate shall be given to the person named in the certificate. The duplicate copy shall become

the notice required by subsection (d) of this section. The third copy shall be held in the dealer's

files and shall be exhibited upon demand of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles or

of any peace officer.

     (d) Notice of delivery of the special use certificate and special use identification tags shall

be mailed to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles not later than the next business

day after delivery.

      (e) In the event that a dealer goes out of business, or transfers his or her business to any

other person, firm, or corporation, the dealer shall return to the administrator of the division of

motor vehicles within five (5) days all special use certificates and special use identification tags

held by him or her.

      (f) No dealer shall make any use of special use certificates or special use identification

tags except in accordance with the provisions of this section.

      (g) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

SECTION 2. Section 31-3-33 of the Rhode Island General Laws entitled “Registration of

Vehicles” is hereby amended to read as follows:

31-3-33. Renewal of registration. -- (a) Application for renewal of a vehicle registration

shall be made by the owner on a proper application form and by payment of the registration fee

for the vehicle as provided by law.

     (b) The division of motor vehicles may receive applications for renewal of registration,

and may grant the renewal and issue new registration cards and plates at any time prior to

expiration of registration.

     (c) Upon renewal, owners will be issued a renewal sticker for each registration plate

which shall be placed at the bottom right hand corner of the plate. Owners shall be issued a new

fully reflective plate beginning September 1, 2011 2013 and reissuance will be conducted no less

than every (10) years.

SECTION 3. This Article shall take effect July 1, 2011.