2015 -- H 6338

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LC002921

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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 HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

     

     Introduced By: Representative John G. Edwards

     Date Introduced: June 24, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 24-12-37 of the General Laws in Chapter 24-12 entitled "Rhode

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Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     24-12-37. Penalty for nonpayment of toll -- Toll Violators. -- Penalty for

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nonpayment of toll -- Toll violators and toll evaders. -- (a) Any person who fails or refuses to

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pay or prepay the required toll shall be required to pay the toll amount and an administrative fee

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of six dollars ($6.00) within thirty (30) days of issuance of the notice of violation.

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      (b) Any person who fails to pay the due toll amount and the administrative fee within

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thirty (30) days of the issuance of the notice of the violation shall be punished by a fine of eighty-

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five dollars ($85.00) and may have his or her drivers license suspended pursuant to § 31-41.1-6

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for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days for the violation. Toll violators, who fail to pay the due

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toll amount and the administrative fee within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the notice of the

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violation shall receive a traffic violation summons which shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the

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Traffic Tribunal. The toll amount, and administrative fee due under this subsection shall be

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remitted to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority.

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      (c) "Toll Violator" means, for the purposes of this section, any person who uses any

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project and fails to pay the required toll and accepts an Unpaid Toll Invoice from the Authority.

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      (1) The authority shall promulgate appropriate rules and regulations to ensure the proper

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administration of the provisions of this section.

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      (2) For the purposes of this section only, "person" means the registered owner, driver,

 

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rentee or lessee of a motor vehicle.

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      (3) It is unlawful for any person or business, other than an authorized representative of

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the authority: (i) to sell, offer for sale or attempt to sell tokens, tickets, passes or other evidences

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of payment issued for passage on any project of the authority, including but not limited to, the

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Claiborne Pell Bridge, if originally issued by the authority pursuant to any program of the

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authority providing for a reduced rate of toll based upon frequency of use of the project, volume

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of tokens, passes or other evidences of payment purchased, or method of payment for the toll; or

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(ii) to sell, offer for sale, or attempt to sell tokens, passes or other evidences of payment issued for

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passage on any project of the authority, including but not limited to, the Claiborne Pell Bridge for

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a profit. Any person or business who is found in violation of this subsection shall be punished, for

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each offense, by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).

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     (a) Legislative findings: The general assembly finds as follows:

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     (1) All users of any tolled projects should be required to timely pay for the use of such

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projects;

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     (2) Toll violators and toll evaders unfairly shift the financial burden of maintaining the

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tolled projects to other project users; and

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     (3) Rhode Island has a strong interest in ensuring that its transportation infrastructure is

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adequately funded in a fair and equitable manner.

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     (b) In each instance when a person fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll on a

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tolled project, and is issued a violation for the same, the toll violator shall pay the toll amount

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within fourteen (14) days of issuance of the violation.

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     (c) Any toll violator who fails to pay the toll amount due within the fourteen (14) day

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period in subsection (a) of this section shall immediately incur a forty dollar ($40.00)

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administrative fee in addition to the unpaid toll amount.

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     (d) Any toll violator who fails to pay the forty dollar ($40.00) administrative fee and

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unpaid toll as required by subsection (b) of this section within forty-five (45) days of the issuance

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of the original violation shall incur a thirty-five dollar ($35.00) administrative fee in addition to

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the forty dollar ($40.00) administrative fee and the unpaid toll amount. The toll amount and

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administrative fees shall be paid to the authority.

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     (e) Toll evaders shall be responsible for any tolls and administrative fees applicable to

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toll violators. Further, any toll evader shall also receive a traffic violation summons which shall

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be subject to the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island traffic tribunal, which may suspend the toll

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evader's driver's license for up to six (6) months for the violation and assess a fine up to five

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hundred dollars ($500), or both. All tolls, administrative fees, and fines shall be payable to the

 

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authority.

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     (f) If the unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines (if applicable) are not paid

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within ninety (90) days of the issuance of the original violation, then the authority may report the

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person to the Rhode Island department of motor vehicles, who then shall not permit that person to

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renew his or her driver's license and vehicle registration until the unpaid toll amounts,

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administrative fees, and fines (if applicable) are paid to the authority. Upon the authority's receipt

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of such payment or a written repayment agreement between the person and the authority, the

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authority shall promptly issue a verbal, written or electronic confirmation showing the amounts

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paid and a certification that the person does not owe any amounts to the authority or has

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otherwise made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the authority. In such a case, the

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Rhode Island department of motor vehicles shall forthwith release any hold placed for this

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purpose on the person's license renewal and vehicle registration renewal. If a person who made

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satisfactory repayment arrangements with the authority subsequently fails to honor such

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arrangements with the authority according to their terms, then the authority may re-report the

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person to the Rhode Island department of motor vehicles which shall then not permit that person

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to renew his or her driver's license and vehicle registration until the originally unpaid toll

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amounts, administrative fees, and fines (if applicable) are paid to the authority.

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      (g) "Toll evader" means, for purposes of this section, any person who uses a project, fails

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or refuses to pay the required toll, and deliberately circumvents or proceeds around or through a

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gate or other barrier on a project.

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     (h) "Toll violator" means, for the purposes of this section, any person who uses any

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project and fails to pay or prepay the required toll.

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      (i) The authority may promulgate appropriate rules and regulations to ensure the proper

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administration of the provisions of this section. Any person aggrieved by the authority's

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assessment of any administrative fees may request review of such assessment through the process

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established by the authority, which shall not be subject to chapter 35 of title 42 ("administrative

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procedures act").

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     (j) For the purposes of this section only, "person" means the registered owner, EZPass

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account holder, driver, rentee, or lessee of a motor vehicle.

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     (k) It is unlawful for any person or business, other than an authorized representative of

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the authority or any other duly authorized and existing toll or transportation agency to sell, lease,

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rent, or offer for sale, lease, or rent any tokens, tickets, passes, transponders or other evidences of

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payment issued for passage on any project. Any person or business who is found in violation of

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this subsection shall be punished, for each offense, by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars

 

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($500).

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     SECTION 2. Section 24-12-37.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 24-12 entitled "Rhode

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Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority" is hereby repealed.

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     24-12-37.1. Additional penalties -- Toll evaders. -- (a) Any toll evader who fails or

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refuses to pay or prepay the required toll, and such violation may be evidenced by video or

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photograph, shall be required to pay a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) and shall

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pay the toll amount due and an administrative fee of six dollars ($6.00) or may have his or her

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driver's license suspended for up to six (6) months for the violation, or both. A toll evader under

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this subsection shall receive a traffic violation summons which shall be subject to the jurisdiction

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of the Traffic Tribunal. The administrative fee and toll amount due under this subsection shall be

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remitted to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority.

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      (b) "Toll Evader" means, for the purposes of this section, any person who: (1) Uses any

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project and fails or refuses to pay the required toll; (2) Does not accept an unpaid toll invoice

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from the authority upon entering the toll plaza area or uses the project without obtaining an

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unpaid toll invoice prior to using the project; and (3) Whose actions can be reasonably construed

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as a deliberate attempt to avoid paying the toll.

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     SECTION 3. Section 31-3-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration

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of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-3-5. Grounds for refusal of registration. -- The division of motor vehicles shall

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refuse registration or any transfer of registration upon any of the following grounds:

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      (1) That the application contains any false or fraudulent statement, or that the applicant

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has failed to furnish required information, or reasonable additional information requested by the

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division of motor vehicles, or that the applicant is not entitled to the issuance of registration of the

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vehicle under chapters 3 -- 9 of this title;

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      (2) That the vehicle is mechanically unfit or unsafe to be operated upon the highways;

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      (3) That the division of motor vehicles has reasonable ground to believe that the vehicle

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is a stolen or embezzled vehicle, or that the granting of registration would constitute a fraud

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against the rightful owner;

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      (4) That the registration of the vehicle stands suspended or revoked for any reason as

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provided in the motor vehicle laws of this state;

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      (5) That the vehicle has been reported by any city or town to the division of motor

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vehicles as having unpaid fines in the aggregate amount of two hundred dollars ($200) or more;

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provided, the registration shall be issued upon presentation of proof of payment of the

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outstanding fines owed to the cities or towns reporting the unpaid fines. The sum of two hundred

 

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dollars ($200) shall represent the aggregate value of the sum of the fines on the face of the

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ticket(s) and shall not include interest, penalties, or any other monetary amount which may be

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imposed for failure to pay the ticket(s) or summons(es) by a specified date. Before the division of

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motor vehicles denies a registration to any person pursuant to this subsection, it shall have first

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received a five dollar ($5.00) fee for each request from the city or town requesting the denial of

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registration, which fee may be added to the aggregate value of the sum of the fines;

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      (6) That the vehicle does not comply with regulations promulgated pursuant to § 23-23-

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5(18), entitled "Air Pollution";

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      (7) That the vehicle does not comply with the provisions of chapter 47.1 of this title and

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any rules and regulations promulgated under that chapter;

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      (8) That a commercial motor vehicle is being operated by a commercial motor carrier

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that has been prohibited from operating in interstate commerce by a federal agency with authority

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to do so under federal law; or

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      (9) That the registered owner of a vehicle failed to pay the required fine and toll toll

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amounts, administrative fees, and/or fines as prescribed in subdivision § 24-12-37(a)(3) of the

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general laws.

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     SECTION 4. Section 42-35-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-35 entitled

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"Administrative Procedures" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-35-18. Effective date of chapter -- Scope of application and exemptions. -- (a) This

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chapter shall take effect upon January 1, 1964, and thereupon all acts and parts of acts

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inconsistent herewith shall stand repealed; provided, however, that except as to proceedings

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pending on June 30, 1963, this chapter shall apply to all agencies and agency proceedings not

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expressly exempted.

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      (b) None of the provisions of this chapter shall apply to the following sections and

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chapters:

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      (1) Section 16-32-10 (University of Rhode Island);

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      (2) Chapter 41 of title 16 (New England Higher Education Compact);

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      (3) Section 16-33-6 (Rhode Island College);

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      (4) Chapter 16 of title 23 (Health Facilities Construction Act);

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      (5) Chapter 8 of title 20 (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact);

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      (6) Chapter 38 of title 28 (Dr. John E. Donley Rehabilitation Center);

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      (7) Chapter 7 of title 17 (State Board of Elections);

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      (8) Chapter 16 of title 8 (Judicial Tenure and Discipline);

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      (9) Chapter 61 of title 42 (State Lottery);

 

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      (10) Chapter 24.4 of title 45 (Special Development Districts);

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      (11) Chapter 12 of title 35 (The University of Rhode Island Research Corporation).

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      (c) The provisions of §§ 42-35-9, 42-35-10, 42-35-11, 42-35-12 and 42-35-13 shall not

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apply to:

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      (1) Any and all acts, decisions, findings, or determinations by the board of review of the

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department of labor and training or the director of the department of labor and training or his, her,

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its or their duly authorized agents and to any and all procedures or hearings before and by the

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director or board of review of the department of labor and training or his or her agents under the

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provisions of chapters 39 -- 44 of title 28.

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      (2) Section 28-5-17 (Conciliation of charges of unlawful practices).

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      (3) Chapter 8 of title 13 (Parole).

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      (4) Any and all acts, decisions, findings or determinations by the administrator of the

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division of motor vehicles or his or her duly authorized agent and to any and all procedures or

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hearings before and by said administrator or his or her said agent under the provisions of chapters

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10, 11, 31 to 33, inclusive, of title 31.

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      (5) Procedures of the board of examiners of hoisting engineers under chapter 26 of title

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28.

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      (6) Any and all acts, decisions, findings, or determinations made under authority from

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the provisions of chapters 29 -- 38 of title 28, concerning workers' compensation administration,

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procedure and benefits.

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     (7) Any and all acts, decisions, findings, or determinations made by the Rhode Island

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turnpike and bridge authority and to any and all procedures or hearings before said agency under

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the provisions of chapter 12 of title 24 concerning review of the assessment of administrative

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fees.

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     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect on October 1, 2015, and shall apply retroactively

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to all toll violators and toll evaders who, prior to said date have failed or refused to pay or prepay

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the required toll on a tolled project at least one hundred (100) or more times; received at least

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three (3) written notices from the authority (or its agent) regarding the non-payment of tolls; and

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who are not party to a written repayment plan with the authority.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

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     This act would modify the fines, administrative fees and penalties for motorists who are

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toll violators and evaders, and who fail to timely pay their fines and fees, including preventing

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nonpayers from renewing their motor vehicle licenses and registrations. It would also exempt

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reviews of the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority's imposition of administrative fees

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from the "Administrative Procedures Act".

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     This act would take effect on October 1, 2015 and would apply retroactively to all toll

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violators and toll evaders who, prior to said date have failed or refused to pay or prepay the

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required toll on a tolled project at least one hundred (100) or more times; received at least three

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(3) written notices from the authority (or its agent) regarding the non-payment of tolls; and who

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are not party to a written repayment plan with the authority.

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