Chapter 036
2018 -- H 7982 SUBSTITUTE B
Enacted 06/18/2018

A N   A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS' LICENSES

Introduced By: Representatives Maldonado, Corvese, Diaz, Filippi, and McNamara
Date Introduced: March 22, 2018

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 31-10-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10 entitled "Operators'
and Chauffeurs' Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     31-10-26. Issuance of license.
     (a) The division of motor vehicles shall, upon payment of the required fee, issue to every
qualifying applicant an operator's or chauffeur's license. The license shall be approximately two
and one-half inches (2 1/2") wide and three and one-half inches (3 1/2") long and shall bear on it
a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee,; the full name,; date of birth,; residence
address,; brief description of the licensee,; a photograph of the licensee,; whether the licensee has
indicated a desire to donate tissue or organs pursuant to the provisions of chapter 18.6 of title 23,;
and either a space upon which the licensee shall write his or her usual signature with pen and ink
or a facsimile of the signature of the licensee. No license shall be valid until it has been so signed
by the licensee designated on it. A negative file of all photographs of licensees shall be
maintained by the division of motor vehicles for a period of five (5) years.
     (b) The division of motor vehicles shall issue an operator's or chauffeur's license pursuant
to this chapter to every qualifying applicant, including, but not limited to, any current or past
recipient of a grant of deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
program, provided any applicant subject to the DACA program shall provide evidence of having
received said the grant from the United States Citizen Citizenship and Immigration Services.
     (b)(c) The division of motor vehicles shall issue special licenses to those licensees who
have indicated that they desire to donate tissue or organs, which conform to the provisions of the
Rhode Island Anatomical Gift Act, chapter 18.6 of title 23 Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift
Act, chapter 18.6.1 of title 23..
     (c)(d) Any person who is a law enforcement officer, meaning any permanently employed
member of the state, city, or town police departments, sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, members of
the marshal's unit, capitol police, and the state fire marshal and deputy fire marshals of the
division of fire safety building design and fire professionals or a member of the department of
attorney general, any permanently employed federal law enforcement officer assigned in Rhode
Island, or any member of the United States Attorney's Office in Rhode Island or any employee of
the R.I. department of corrections, as recommended by the director of the department of
corrections, upon request of the applicant, shall be issued a license which that contains the
applicant's official business address in lieu of a residence address as required under the general
provisions of this section.
     (d)(e) The license issued to a person applying for the first time shall be designated as a
"first license". A first license shall be issued for a one-year period after which time a permanent
driver's license shall be issued according to this section.
     (e)(f) If an applicant has been adjudicated for committing one moving motor vehicle
violation, has been involved in one reportable motor vehicle accident, or both, he or she shall be
summoned for a hearing before a judge of the traffic tribunal at which time the driving record will
be reviewed. The traffic tribunal judge shall determine if the person should be granted an
operator's license, be reissued a first license, or be denied a license to operate a motor vehicle in
the state of Rhode Island.
     (f)(g) Any person who is under the age of twenty-one (21) years shall, upon payment of
the required fee and upon meeting the qualifications for the receipt of an operator's or chauffeur's
license, be issued a license which that shall be readily distinguishable in color from those
licenses issued to persons who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older. When a person under
the age of twenty-one (21) years to whom a license has been issued and whose license is in full
force and effect, attains his or her twenty-first birthday, he or she shall be entitled to receive a
new license of the type issued to persons who are older than the age of twenty-one (21) years
from the administrator of the division of motor vehicles upon demand at no expense. Every
person shall supply to the division of motor vehicles satisfactory proof of his or her date of birth.
     (g)(h) The division of motor vehicles shall issue special licenses upon the request of a
licensee which that conform to the provisions of the Rhode Island Anatomical Gift Act, chapter
18.6 of title 23 Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, chapter 18.6.1 of title 23.
     (h)(i) The division of motor vehicles shall note in an appropriate manner a restriction on
any person's license who is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an
ignition interlock system as provided in chapter 27 of this title.
     (i)(j) Any personal digitized information contained within an operator's or chauffeur's
license shall be limited to: (a) the licensee's name, age, date of birth, address, gender, physical
description such as weight, height, hair color and eye color, signature and organ donor status; and
(b) the license number, commercial endorsements, expiration date, issue date, restriction, and
class.
     (j)(k) Except to the extent an entity is authorized to renew drivers' licenses, or except for
financial institutions engaged in the verification of information for financial transactions,
nongovernmental entities shall not have access to any digitized information contained in an
operator operator’s or chauffeur's license other than the licensee's name, age, date of birth,
signature, and photographic image, and the license's expiration date; nor shall they store, record,
or retain any such information obtained through a digital reading device. Access to digitized
information by such these entities shall be solely for the purpose of determining the age of an
individual for a transaction, right, or privilege available by law only to persons of a certain age.
     (k)(l) To the extent that nongovernmental entities shall have access to the digitized
information stored on an operator's or chauffeur's license, the entity shall be civilly liable for the
unauthorized access to, or retention or use of, such the information by its agents or persons acting
in the name of the entity.
     (l)(m) The division of motor vehicles shall collect from applicants and licensees their
social security numbers and tax identification numbers only to the extent required by federal law.
Such The numbers shall not be included, either digitally or visually, on the operator's or
chauffeur's license.
     (n) Issuance of a Rhode Island operator's license under this chapter to a current or past
recipient of a grant of deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, (DACA)
program shall not confer the right to vote in the state of Rhode Island.
     SECTION 2. Sections 3-8-6 and 3-8-6.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-8 entitled
"Regulation of Sales" are hereby amended to read as follows:
     3-8-6. Unlawful drinking and misrepresentation by underage persons --
Identification cards for persons twenty-one and older.
     (a) It is unlawful for:
     (1) A person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday to enter any
premises licensed for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for the purpose of purchasing or
having served or delivered to him or her alcoholic beverages; or
     (2) A person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday to consume any
alcoholic beverage on premises licensed for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages or to purchase,
attempt to purchase, or have another purchase for him or her any alcoholic beverage; or
     (3) A person to misrepresent or misstate his or her age, or the age of any other persons, or
to misrepresent his or her age through the presentation of any of the following documents:
     (i) An armed service identification card, valid passport, the identification card license, or
any other documentation used for identification purposes that may belong to any other person
who is twenty-one (21) years or older;
     (ii) A motor vehicle operator's license which that bears the date of birth of the licensee,
and which that is issued by this state or any other state;
     (iii) A Rhode Island identification card, as defined in subsection (b), for the purpose of
inducing any licensee, or any employee of any licensee, to sell, serve, or deliver any alcoholic
beverage to a minor.
     (b) (1) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue to any person who
has reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday a Rhode Island identification card upon
payment of a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25), and, upon presentation of a certified birth or
baptismal certificate, or U.S. or foreign passport, or U.S. naturalization certificate or a valid
immigrant or refugee document issued by the United States immigration and naturalization
service United States Citizenship and Immigration Services including, but not limited to, any
one of the following: Form I-551, Form I-94, Form I-688A, and Form I-688, and a form
evidencing that the applicant is a current or past recipient of a grant of deferred action under the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, together with a document bearing the
applicant's signature.
     (2) A person who has reached his or her fifty-ninth (59th) birthday is not required to pay
the fee.
     (3) Each registration card shall be subject to renewal every five (5) years upon payment
of a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25).
     (4) No person who holds an operator's license issued by this state or any other state shall
be issued a Rhode Island identification card.
     (5) The identification card shall be signed by the administrator of the division of motor
vehicles and by the applicant and his or her picture shall appear on the card along with the
required information and the card shall be encased in laminated plastic. The card shall be two
inches (2") in height and four inches (4") in length and shall be printed in the following form:
RHODE ISLAND IDENTIFICATION CARD
Date Issued No.
First Name Middle Name Last Name
Address
BIRTH RECORD
Month Day Year
Secure Photo by Pasting here Color of hair Color of eyes Sex Ht. Wt.
………… ………… …… …… ……
Issued by
Administrator of the Division of Motor Vehicles
Administrator
     (6) The identification cards shall be produced at the adult correctional institutions if they
have facilities to do so; if the adult correctional institutions have no facilities to do so, then all
cards shall be manufactured by the lowest responsible bidder following advertisement for the
solicitation of bids.
     (7) The identification cards shall be clearly distinguishable from those issued pursuant to
§ 3-8-6.1 and operators' and chauffeurs' licenses issued pursuant to title 31.
     (8) Any person who has been designated as permanently and totally disabled by the social
security administration or who upon certification by an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or physician
that a holder of a valid and current motor vehicle operator's license is no longer able to operate a
motor vehicle, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue to such person, upon
request, a Rhode Island identification card for the unexpired term of such the person's motor
vehicle operator's license at no additional cost. Thereafter, a renewal of such card shall be subject
to the standard renewal charge of twenty-five dollars ($25) until such the person shall reach his or
her fifty-ninth (59th) birthday.
     (9) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall, upon presentation of a
United States Department of Defense (DD) FORM 214 or other acceptable documentation of
military service and verification of an honorable discharge, issue an identification card to the
presenter which that is clearly marked "veteran", at no additional cost.
     (c) (1) Every retail Class A, B, C, and D licensee shall cause to be kept a book or
photographic reproduction equipment which that provides the same information as required by
the book. That licensee and/or the licensee's employee shall require any person who has shown a
document as set forth in this section substantiating his or her age to sign that book or to permit the
taking of his or her photograph and indicate what document was presented. Use of the
photographic reproduction equipment is voluntary for every Class A, B, C and D licensee.
     (2) The sign-in-as-minor book and photographic reproduction equipment shall be
prescribed, published, and approved at the direction and control of the division. The book shall
contain at least four hundred (400) pages,; shall be uniform throughout the state,; and shall be
distributed at a cost not to exceed seven dollars ($7.00).
     (3) If a person whose age is in question signs the sign-in-as-minor book or has a
photograph taken before he or she is sold any alcoholic beverage and it is later determined that
the person had not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday at the time of sale, it is
considered prima facie evidence that the licensee and/or the licensee's agent or servant acted in
good faith in selling any alcoholic beverage to the person producing the document as set forth in
this section misrepresenting his or her age.
     (4) Proof of good-faith reliance on any misrepresentation is a defense to the prosecution
of the licensee and/or the licensee's agent or servant for an alleged violation of this section.
     (d) (1) Any person who violates this section shall be punished for the first offense by a
mandatory fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars
($500) and shall be further punished by thirty (30) hours of community service and shall be
further punished by a suspension of his or her motor vehicle operator's license or driving
privileges for a period of thirty (30) days; for the second offense by a mandatory fine of not less
than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) and shall be
further punished by forty (40) hours of community service and will be further punished by a
suspension of his or her motor vehicle operator's license or driving privileges for a period of three
(3) months; and for the third and subsequent offenses by a mandatory fine for each offense of not
less than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall
be further punished by fifty (50) hours of community service and will be further punished by a
suspension of his or her motor vehicle operator's license or driving privileges for a period of one
year.
     (2) Any suspension of an operator's license or driving privilege pursuant to this section
shall not operate to affect the insurance rating of the offender and any operator's license or
driving privilege suspended pursuant to this section shall be reinstated without further expense
upon application.
     (e) Within thirty (30) days after this incident the police chief of the city or town where
the incident took place is directed to inform, in writing, the department of business regulation
whether or not charges in accordance with this section have been preferred against a person who
has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday and has violated this section. If no charge is
brought against any person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday and has
violated the provisions of this section, then the police chief of the city or town where the incident
took place will state the reason for his or her failure to charge the person who has not reached his
or her twenty-first (21st) birthday.
     (f) The Rhode Island identification card may be withdrawn at any time for just cause, at
the discretion of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. The administrator of the
division of motor vehicles shall keep a record of the cards issued and each card shall contain an
identification number specifically assigned to the person to whom the card was issued.
     (g) Issuance of a Rhode Island identification card under this section to a current or past
recipient of a grant of deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, (DACA)
program shall not confer the right to vote in the state of Rhode Island.
     3-8-6.1. Identification cards for persons under the age of 21.
     (a) (1) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue to any person upon
request, who is under twenty-one (21) years of age, an identification card upon payment of a fee
of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), and, upon presentation of a certified birth or baptismal certificate,
or U.S. or foreign passport, or U.S. naturalization certificate, or a valid immigrant or refugee
document issued by the United States immigration and naturalization service Citizenship and
Immigration Services including, but not limited to, any one of the following: Form I-551, Form
I-94, Form I-688A, and Form I-688, and a form evidencing that the applicant is a current or past
recipient of a grant of deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program,
together with a document bearing the applicant's signature. No person who holds an operator's
license, issued by this state or any other state, shall be issued an identification card.
     (2) The identification card shall be subject to renewal every five (5) years upon the
payment of a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
     (3) The identification card shall be signed by the administrator of the division of motor
vehicles and also by the applicant, and his or her picture shall appear on the card along with the
required information and the card shall be encased in laminated plastic. The card shall be two
inches (2") in height and four inches (4") in length and shall be printed in the following form:
IDENTIFICATION CARD
Date Issued No.
First Name Middle Name Last Name
Address
BIRTH RECORD
Month Day Year
Secure Photo by Pasting here Color of hair Color of eyes Sex Ht. Wt.
………… ………… …… …… ……
Issued by
Administrator of the Division of Motor Vehicles
Administrator
     (4) The identification cards shall be produced at the adult correctional institution if they
have facilities to do so; if the adult correctional institutions have no facilities to do so, then all
cards shall be manufactured by the lowest responsible bidder following advertisement for the
solicitation of bids.
     (5) The identification cards shall be clearly distinguishable from those issued pursuant to
§ 3-8-6 and operators' and chauffeurs' licenses issued pursuant to title 31.
     (b) The identification card may be withdrawn at any time for just cause, at the discretion
of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. The administrator of the division of motor
vehicles shall keep a record of the cards issued and each card shall contain an identification
number specifically assigned to the person to whom the card was issued.
     (c) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall, upon presentation of a
United States Department of Defense (DD) FORM 214 or other acceptable documentation of
military service and verification of an honorable discharge, issue an identification card to the
presenter which that is clearly marked "veteran", at no additional cost.
     (d) Issuance of a Rhode Island identification card under this section to a current or past
recipient of a grant of deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, (DACA)
program shall not confer the right to vote in the state of Rhode Island.
     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on December 3, 2018.
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LC005297/SUB B
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