Chapter 049 |
2019 -- H 5163 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/28/2019 |
A N A C T |
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - RHODE ISLAND UNIFORM COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE ACT |
Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, Solomon, Shekarchi, Ucci, and Hawkins |
Date Introduced: January 23, 2019 |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
SECTION 1. Sections 31-10.3-19, 31-10.3-20, 31-10.3-23 and 31-10.3-30 of the General |
Laws in Chapter 31-10.3 entitled "Rhode Island Uniform Commercial Driver's License Act" are |
hereby amended to read as follows: |
31-10.3-19. Examination of applicants. |
(a) The department shall examine every applicant for a commercial license or learner's |
permit. The examination shall include: (1) a A test of the applicant's eyesight to be administered |
according to standards set by the Federal Motor Carrier Regulations; (2) his His or her ability to |
read English in understanding highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic; (3) his |
His or her knowledge of the traffic laws of this state; and (4) shall Shall include an actual |
demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor |
vehicle or combination of vehicles of the type covered by the license classification, endorsement, |
or restrictions which the applicant is seeking. Each applicant shall successfully complete the skills |
test in the following order: (1) pre Pre-trip inspection, ; (2) basic Basic vehicle control skills, ; |
and (3) on On-road skills. If an applicant fails one segment of the skills test the applicant cannot |
continue to the next segment of the test; however, scores for the passed segments of the skills test |
shall remain valid and an applicant will not be required to retake the segments previously passed |
prior to expiration of the commercial learner's permit. The examination may also include any |
further physical and mental examinations that the department deems necessary to determine the |
applicant's fitness to safely operate a motor vehicle upon the highways. |
(b) A nonresident, who establishes residence in the state of Rhode Island and makes |
application for a Rhode Island commercial license, shall not be required to demonstrate his or her |
ability to operate a motor vehicle, unless the examiner has reason to believe such a demonstration |
is needed; provided, that the nonresident surrenders a valid commercial license that was issued |
under the requirements of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (see now 49 U.S.C. |
§ 31101 et seq.); may be as amended from time to time by another state. |
(c) The department shall be permitted to promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to |
third-party testing for the skills tests required for commercial driver's licenses in accordance with |
49 CFR Part 383, as it may be revised from time to time. |
31-10.3-20. Fees. |
The fees charged for commercial licenses, endorsements, classifications, restrictions, and |
required examinations shall be as follows: |
(1) For every commercial operator's first license, thirty dollars ($30.00); |
(2) For every renewal of a commercial license, fifty dollars ($50.00); |
(3) For every duplicate commercial license, ten dollars ($10.00); |
(4) For every duplicate commercial instruction learner's permit, ten dollars ($10.00); |
(5) For any change of: |
(i) Classification(s), ten dollars ($10.00); |
(ii) Endorsement(s), ten dollars ($10.00); |
(iii) Restriction(s), ten dollars ($10.00); |
(6) For every written and/or oral examination, ten dollars ($10.00); |
(7) The Rhode Island board of education shall establish fees that are deemed necessary |
for the Community College of Rhode Island to administer the skill test, not to exceed one |
hundred dollars ($100); |
(8) For every commercial Class P (learner's permit) first license, thirty dollars ($30.00); |
and , sixty dollars ($60.00) |
(9) For every renewal of a commercial Class P (learner's permit) license, thirty dollars |
($30.00). |
31-10.3-23. Expiration of licenses. |
Every commercial license issued by the department shall expire on the licensee's birth |
date in the fifth year following the initial issuance, excluding Class P (learner's permit) licenses |
commercial learner's permits which shall expire one hundred eighty (180) days one year from the |
date of initial issuance, and excluding a first issuance which shall expire on the licensee's birth |
date in the second year following initial issuance. |
31-10.3-30. Commercial driver's license required. |
(a) Except when operating under a commercial instruction learner's permit and |
accompanied by the holder of a commercial license valid for the vehicle being operated, no |
person shall operate a commercial motor vehicle unless the person has been issued a valid |
commercial driver's license containing the endorsements, classifications, or restrictions applicable |
to the type of vehicle being operated. |
(b) No person shall be issued a commercial driver's license until he or she has passed a |
written and driving test for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle which that complies |
with the minimum federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Part 383, as revised from time to time, and has |
satisfied all other federal requirements as well as any other requirements imposed by state law |
subject to the provisions of § 31-10.3-19(a). The tests shall be prescribed and conducted by the |
department or a third party designated by the department. |
(c) A commercial license may be issued only to a person who operates, or who intends to |
operate, commercial motor vehicles and who is domiciled in this state. |
(d) A commercial license shall not be issued to a person during a period in which that |
person is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle or while that person's license is |
suspended, revoked, cancelled, or otherwise withdrawn in any state or province of Canada; nor |
shall a commercial driver's license be issued to a person who has a license issued by any other |
state unless the person first surrenders the commercial driver's license issued by the other state, |
which license shall be returned to the issuing state for cancellation. |
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2020. |
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LC000236/SUB A/2 |
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