2013 -- S 0562

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LC01317

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - PREVIOUSLY UNINSURED

MOTORIST REGISTRY

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Lombardi, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 31 of the General Laws entitled "MOTOR AND OTHER

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VEHICLES" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 32.1

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PREVIOUSLY UNINSURED MOTORIST REGISTRY

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     31-32.1-1. Short title. -- This act shall be known and may be cited as "The Previously

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Uninsured Motorist Registry Act."

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     31-32.1-2. Definitions. -- As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall

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have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

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     (1) "Conviction" means a conviction for operating a motor vehicle without financial

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responsibility in violation of this chapter.

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     (2) "Division" means the division of motor vehicles.

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     (3) "Previously uninsured motorist" means a person:

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     (i) Against whom a judgment is entered for;

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     (ii) Who is convicted of; or

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     (iii) Against whom the division has taken administrative action for operating a motor

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vehicle without financial responsibility in violation of this chapter.

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     (4) "Registry" means the electronic registry of previously uninsured motorists established

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under section 32-32.1-3 of this chapter.

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     31-32.1-3. Establishment of registry. -- The division shall, not later than January 1,

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2014, establish an electronic registry of previously uninsured motorists to facilitate the random

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and periodic verification of this chapter.

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     31-32.1-4. Adoption of rules. -- The division shall adopt rules to implement this chapter.

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Rules adopted under this section must do the following:

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     (1) Establish the method of random selection of names of previously uninsured motorists

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from the registry.

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     (2) Establish the methods by which the division may request evidence of financial

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responsibility from a previously uninsured motorist whose name was randomly selected from the

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registry.

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     (3) Establish the methods by which a previously uninsured motorist may respond to the

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division's request for evidence of financial responsibility.

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     (4) Establish a schedule for the entry, updating, and timely removal of names on or from

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the registry.

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     31-32.1-5. Failure to respond is prima facie evidence. -- The failure by a previously

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uninsured motorist to respond to the division's request for verification of financial responsibility

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under this chapter constitutes prima facie evidence of operating a motor vehicle without financial

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responsibility in violation of this chapter.

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     31-32.1-6. Removal of names from registry. – (a) The division shall remove the name

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of a previously uninsured motorist from the registry not more than five (5) years after the date on

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which the:

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     (1) Judgment;

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     (2) Conviction; or

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     (3) Administrative action by the division; for which the motorist's name is maintained on

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the registry was entered against the motorist.

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     (b) If a previously uninsured motorist is convicted of a second or subsequent offense

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under this chapter or is subject to a second or subsequent administrative action by the division

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under this chapter, the division shall remove the motorist's name from the registry not more than

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five (5) years after the date on which the second or subsequent conviction or the second or

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subsequent administrative action by the division is entered.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01317

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - PREVIOUSLY UNINSURED

MOTORIST REGISTRY

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     This act would establish an electronic registry of previously convicted uninsured

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motorists.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01317

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