2015 -- H 5812

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LC001829

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - TAXICABS AND LIMITED

PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

     

     Introduced By: Representative Marvin L. Abney

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2015

     Referred To: House Corporations

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 39-14-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-14 entitled "Taxicabs

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and Limited Public Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     39-14-9. Vehicles to be operated by owner or employee -- Assignment or lease of

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rights. -- No taxicab or limited public motor vehicle subject to the provisions of this chapter shall

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be operated except by the owner or an employee of the owner, and it shall be unlawful for the

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owner of any taxicab or limited public motor vehicle to enter into any contract, agreement,

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arrangement, or understanding, express or implied, with an operator thereof, by the terms of

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which the operator pays to or for the account of the owner a fixed or determinable sum for the use

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of the taxicab or limited public motor vehicle unless the contract, agreement, arrangement, or

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understanding, express or implied, has been approved by the division. Every person proposing to

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enter into a contract, agreement, arrangement, or understanding, whereby the owner of a taxicab

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or limited public motor vehicle leases or otherwise lets a taxicab or limited public motor vehicle

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to an operator, shall file with the administrator, in the form to be provided by him or her, an

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application for approval of the agreement. The division shall, upon written application setting

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forth the purpose, terms, and conditions of the lease agreement, after investigation, approve or

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deny the request. The lease agreement shall be approved by the administrator if, after

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investigation, the applicant operator is found to be fit, willing, and able to perform the authorized

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service and to conform to the provisions of this chapter and the requirements, orders, rules, and

 

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regulations of the administrator thereunder; provided, however, that any lease agreement may

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only be entered into on a vehicle or vehicles, and the certificate or certificates issued pertaining to

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the vehicle or vehicles which has been operating and actively and continuously engaged in the

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conduct of business on a daily basis for twelve (12) months prior to the date of application.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - TAXICABS AND LIMITED

PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

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     This act would eliminate the requirement that taxicabs and/or limited public motor

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vehicles can be operated only by owners or employees during the first twelve (12) month period

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that the vehicle is in service, and would allow for the letting or leasing of said vehicles prior to

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the twelve (12) month period.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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