ARTICLE 6

RELATING TO DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

 

     SECTION 1. Sections 31-3-33 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 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, 2013 2015 at the time of initial registration or at the

renewal of an existing registration and reissuance will be conducted no less than every ten (10)

years.

 

     SECTION 2. Section 39-18.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-18.1 entitled

"Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011" is hereby amended to read as

follows:

 

     39-18.1-4. Rhode Island highway maintenance trust fund account created Rhode

Island highway maintenance account created. -- (a) There is hereby created a special account

in the general fund intermodal surface transportation fund as established in section 31-36-20 that

is to be known as the Rhode Island Highway Maintenance Trust Fund highway maintenance

account.

     (b) The fund shall consist of all those moneys which the state may from time to time

direct to the fund, including, not necessarily limited to, moneys derived from the following

sources:

     (1) There is imposed a surcharge of thirty dollars ($30.00) per passenger car and light

truck vehicle or truck, other than those with specific registrations set forth below in subsection

(b)(1)(i). Such surcharge shall be paid by each car and light truck vehicle or truck owner in order

to register that owner's vehicle, or truck and upon each subsequent biennial registration. This

surcharge shall be phased in at the rate of ten dollars ($10.00) each year. The total surcharge will

be ten dollars ($10.00) from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, twenty dollars ($20.00) from

July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, and thirty dollars ($30.00) from July 1, 2015 through June

30, 2016 and each year thereafter.

     (i) For owners of vehicles or trucks with the following plate types, the surcharge shall be

as set forth below and shall be paid in full in order to register the vehicle or truck and upon each

subsequent renewal:

 

                        Plate Type                                                        Surcharge

                        Antique                                                             $5.00

                        Farm                                                                $10.00

                        Motorcycle                                                       $13.00

 

     (ii) For owners of trailers, the surcharge shall be one-half (1/2) of the biennial registration

amount and shall be paid in full in order to register the trailer and upon each subsequent renewal.

(2) There is imposed a surcharge of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per car and truck, vehicle or

truck, other than those with specific registrations set forth in subsection (b)(2)(i) below, for those

cars and trucks vehicles or trucks subject to annual registration, to be paid annually by each car

and truck vehicle or truck owner in order to register that owner's vehicle, trailer or truck and upon

each subsequent annual registration. This surcharge will be phased in at the rate of five dollars

($5.00) each year. The total surcharge will be five dollars ($5.00) from July 1, 2013 through June

30, 2014, ten dollars ($10.00) from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, and fifteen dollars

($15.00) from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 and each year thereafter.

     (i) For registrations of the following plate types, the surcharge shall be as set forth below

and shall be paid in full in order to register the plate, and upon each subsequent renewal:

 

                        Plate Type                                                        Surcharge

                        Boat Dealer                                                      $6.25

                        Cycle Dealer                                                     $6.25

                        In-transit                                                           $5.00

                        Manufacturer                                                    $5.00

                        New Car Dealer                                               $5.00

                        Used Car Dealer                                               $5.00

                        Racer Tow                                                       $5.00

                        Transporter                                                       $5.00

                        Bailee                                                               $5.00

 

     (ii) For owners of trailers, the surcharge shall be one-half (1/2) of the annual registration

amount and shall be paid in full in order to register the trailer and upon each subsequent renewal.

     (iii) For owners of school buses, the surcharge will be phased in at the rate of six dollars

and twenty-five cents ($6.25) each year. The total surcharge will be six dollars and twenty-five

cents ($6.25) from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 and twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50)

from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 and each year thereafter.

     (3) There is imposed a surcharge of thirty dollars ($30.00) per operator's license to

operate a motor vehicle to be paid every five (5) years by each licensed operator of a motor

vehicles. This surcharge will be phased in at the rate of ten dollars ($10.00) each year. The total

surcharge will be ten dollars ($10.00) from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, twenty dollars

($20.00) from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, and thirty dollars ($30.00) from July 1, 2015

through June 30, 2016 and each year thereafter. In the event that a license is issued or renewed for

a period of less than five (5) years, the surcharge will be prorated according to the period of time

the license will be valid.

     (c) All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Rhode Island

highway maintenance fund account and shall be used only for the purposes set forth in this

chapter.

     (d) Unexpended balances and any earnings thereon shall not revert to the general fund but

shall remain in the Rhode Island highway maintenance fund account. There shall be no

requirement that monies received into the Rhode Island highway maintenance fund account

during any given calendar year or fiscal year be expended during the same calendar year or fiscal

year.

     (e) The Rhode Island highway maintenance fund account shall be administered by the

director, who shall allocate and spend monies from the fund only in accordance with the purposes

and procedures set forth in this chapter.

 

     SECTION 3. This article shall take effect upon passage.