Introduced By: Representatives Benoit, Watson, Garvey, Kelley and Rabideau
Date Introduced : January 27, 1999
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 31-1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-1 entitled "Definitions and General Code Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:
31-1-3. Types of vehicles. -- (a) Vehicle. - Every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon, a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(b) Motor vehicle. - Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved exclusively by human power and motorized wheelchairs.
(c) Automobile. - (for registration purposes) Every motor vehicle carrying passengers other than for hire.
(d) Motorcycle. - Only those motor vehicles having not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground and a saddle on which the driver sits astride, except bicycles with helper motors as defined in subsection (s).
(e) Motor driven cycle. - Every motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a motor which produces not to exceed five (5) horsepower, except bicycles with helper motors as defined in subsection (s).
(f) Antique motor car. - (1) Antique motor car shall mean any motor vehicle which is more than twenty-five (25) years old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, the vehicle shall be maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest and may not be used primarily for the transportation of passengers or goods over any public highway.
(2) Any such vehicle which is fully inspected and meets the inspection requirements of this state may be issued a registration plate upon payment of the standard fee therefor and be operated on the highways of this state and other states and may in addition to the registration plate retain the designation "antique" and display an "antique plate" as well.
(g) Motor vehicle for hire. - Every motor vehicle other than jitneys, public busses, hearses, and motor vehicles used chiefly in connection with and the conduct of funerals, used for transporting persons for which compensation in any form is received, or motor vehicles rented for transporting persons either with or without furnishing an operator.
(h) Jitney or bus. - (1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, tractor trailer, or tractor trailer combination, used for the transportation of passengers for hire, and operated wholly or in part upon any street or highway in such manner as to afford a means of transportation similar to that afforded by a street railway company, by indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers; or running on a regular route or over any portion thereof; or between fixed termini is hereby defined as a public bus.
(2) Every motor vehicle other than a public bus or passenger van, designed for carrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the transportation of persons; and every motor vehicle other than a taxicab designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation is hereby defined as a private bus.
(i) School bus. - Every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency, and while being operated for the transportation of children to or from school or privately owned, and while being operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school.
(j) Trackless trolley coach. - Every motor vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated on rails.
(k) Authorized emergency vehicle. - Vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol), police vehicles, vehicles used by Rhode Island state marshals in the department of corrections {ADD , vehicles used by the state bomb squad within the division of state fire marshal ADD} and such ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal departments or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by the registrar {ADD and privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer firefighters or privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer ambulance drivers or attendants as authorized by the department chief or commander and permitted by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs and Rhode Island Association of Police Chiefs joint committee for volunteer warning light permits ADD}.
(l) Bicycle. - Every vehicle propelled exclusively by human power upon which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels except scooters and similar devices.
(m) Hearse. - Every motor vehicle used for transporting dead human bodies, and a hearse shall be considered as an automobile for registration purposes.
(n) Suburban vehicle. - Every motor vehicle with a convertible or interchangeable body or with removable seats, usable for both passenger and delivery purposes, and including motor vehicles commonly known as station or depot wagons or any vehicle into which access can be gained through the rear by means of a hatch or trunk and where the rear seats can be folded down to permit the carrying of articles as well as passengers.
(o) Travel trailer. - A vehicular, portable structure built on a chassis, designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel, camping, recreational, and vacation uses, and when equipped for the road has a body width not exceeding eight feet (8') and which is eligible to be registered for highway use.
(p) Pick-up coach or pick-up camper. - A structure designed primarily to be mounted on a pick-up or truck chassis and with sufficient equipment to render it suitable for use as a temporary dwelling for travel, camping, recreational, and vacation uses, and which is eligible to be registered for highway use.
(q) Motorized camper. - A portable dwelling designed and constructed as an integral part of a self-propelled vehicle used as a temporary dwelling for travel, camping, recreational, and vacation use and which is eligible to be registered for highway use.
(r) Tent trailer. - A canvas, folding structure, mounted on wheels, used as a temporary dwelling for travel, camping, recreational, and vacation uses, and which is eligible to be registered for highway use.
(s) Motorized bicycles. - Two-wheel vehicles which may be propelled by human power and/or helper power, or by both, with a motor rated not more than 1.5 brake horsepower or 2 (S.A.E.) horsepower which is capable of a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour.
(t) Motorized tricycles. - Tricycles which may be propelled by human power or helper motor, or by both, with a motor rated no more than 1.5 brake horsepower which is capable of a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour.
(u) Motorized wheelchair. - Any self-propelled vehicle designed for, and used by, a handicapped person that is incapable of speed in excess of eight (8) miles per hour.
(v) Passenger van. - Every motor vehicle capable of carrying ten (10) to fourteen (14) passengers plus an operator and used for personal use or not a not-for-hire basis. Passenger vans may also be used as a vanpool transporting passengers to and from work locations; provided that the operator receives no remuneration other than free use of the vehicle.
(w) Antique motorcycle. - (1) Antique motorcycle shall mean any motorcycle which is more than twenty-five (25) years old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, the vehicle shall be maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest and may not be used primarily for the transportation of passengers or goods over any public highway.
(2) Any such vehicle which is fully inspected and meets the inspection requirements of this state may be issued a registration plate upon payment of the standard fee therefor and be operated on the highways of this state and other states and may in addition to the registration plate retain the designation "antique" and display an "antique plate" as well.
SECTION 2. Section 31-23-11.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-23 entitled "Equipment and Accessories Generally" is hereby amended to read as follows:
{DEL 31-23-11.1. Flashing light device on private vehicles DEL} {ADD
31-23-11.1. Warning lights on private vehicles. -- ADD} (a)
{DEL (1) The chief, deputy chief and all personnel having the
rank of captain or above who serve as an emergency volunteer may
utilize a flashing red light device on his or her own vehicle
while traveling to a station where a rescue vehicle is housed. DEL}
{DEL (2) The chief of the fire department shall be responsible
for the guidelines concerning utilizing flashing devices on vehicles. DEL}
{DEL (b) Any commander or vice commander of a private rescue
corps may utilize a flashing red light device on his or her own
private passenger vehicle while responding to an emergency call
or while transporting any person who may be in need of emergency
medical treatment. DEL}
{ADDA joint committee for volunteer permits, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the president of the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the president of the Rhode Island Association of Police Chiefs, shall take responsibility for the following actions regarding warning lights on privately owned vehicles: ADD}
{ADD (1) develop procedures for the design, issuance, transfer and revocation of permit stickers; ADD}
{ADD (2) develop rules and regulations for the use of warning lights; ADD}
{ADD (3) develop minimum training standards for drivers; ADD}
{ADD (4) develop procedures to govern the board's activities. ADD}
{ADD (b) The fire chief or commander of a municipal or non-profit fire, rescue, or ambulance department shall take responsibility for the following actions regarding warning lights on privately owned vehicles; ADD}
{ADD (1) make application for permits to joint committee on volunteer permits; ADD}
{ADD (2) maintain a listing of vehicle registrations and vehicle identification numbers for which warning lights are issued; ADD}
{ADD (3) ensure that permits are removed from vehicles upon transfer of ownership; ADD}
{ADD (4) Post in a conspicuous place at all times, standard operating guidelines for the proper use of warning lights; ADD}
{ADD (c) The chief or commander of any fire, rescue, or ambulance department shall limit the use of warning lights to chief officers, deputy chiefs, assistant chiefs, captains, or other members deemed necessary and appropriate by written justification to the joint committee on volunteer permits. ADD}
{ADD (d) The fire, rescue, or ambulance department must own any warning lights issued by the fire chief or commander of said department. ADD}
{ADD (e) Each authorized volunteer member of a fire, rescue, or ambulance department must affix a permit sticker on any vehicle utilizing warning lights in accordance with rules and regulations developed by the joint committee on volunteer permits. Authorized members shall only utilize said warning lights within their department jurisdiction as the members respond to an emergency or to provide protection while parked at the scene of an emergency. ADD}
SECTION 3. Section 31-24-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-24 entitled "Lighting Equipment and Reflectors" is hereby amended to read as follows:
31-24-31. Flashing lights -- Forward viewing or rotary beam lights. -- (a) Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, snow removal equipment, or on any vehicle as a means for indicating a right or left turn, provided, however, that the requirements of section 31-24-33 shall be deemed to be satisfied if the vehicle is equipped with lamps at the front mounted at the same level, displaying simultaneously flashing white or amber lights, and at the rear mounted at the same level, and displaying simultaneously flashing red lights, all of which lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500').
(b) Forward viewing or rotating beam lights may be installed on and shall be restricted to the following categories of emergency vehicles; said lights shall be of color designated:
(1) {DEL Fire apparatus, ambulances, DEL} {ADD Emergency
response vehicles of any fire, rescue, or ambulance department, ADD}
fire chiefs and assistant fire chiefs, {ADD deputy chiefs, captains
and any privately owned vehicle of any authorized volunteer member
of a fire, rescue or ambulance department ADD} {DEL civil defense DEL}
{ADD emergency management agency ADD}directors {ADD and assistant
directors ADD}, {DEL assistant civil defense directors, DEL}
assistant medical examiners and/or forensic pathologists of the
office of state medical examiners, rescue vehicles, emergency
response vehicles of the department of environmental management
{ADD and the division of state fire marshal ADD}, school buses and
two (2) American Red Cross disaster vehicles: red {ADD , white and/or
alternating flashing white ADD};
(2) Wrecker trucks, service station trucks, state and town safety and maintenance vehicles, snowplows and tractors, light company trucks, telephone company trucks, water company trucks, oil company trucks, and other utilities' trucks; vehicles of television, radio and press photographers, rural mail carriers, and all motor-propelled vehicles owned by the Northern Rhode Island react (radio emergency associated citizens team), and all motor-propelled vehicles owned by or under contract to the Rhode Island department of transportation when on official state business: amber;
(3) Police units, state and local: center rotating beam lights: blue or red; outboard mounted lights: blue or red.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.
