2018 -- H 7031

========

LC003092

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES-MOTOR VEHICLES REPARATION

ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Lombardi, Coughlin, and Hull

     Date Introduced: January 03, 2018

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. Section 31-47-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-47 entitled "Motor

2

Vehicle Reparations Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

3

     31-47-9. Penalties.

4

     (a) Any owner of a motor vehicle which is required to be registered in this state who shall

5

knowingly operate the motor vehicle or knowingly permit it to be operated in this state without

6

having in full force and effect the financial security required by the provisions of this chapter, and

7

any other person who shall operate in this state any motor vehicle which is required to be

8

registered in this state with the knowledge that the owner of it who knew or should have known

9

that the motor vehicle does not have in full force and effect financial security, except a person

10

who, at the time of operation of the motor vehicle, had in effect an operator's policy of liability

11

insurance, as defined in this chapter, with respect to his or her operation of the vehicle, may be

12

subject to a mandatory suspension of license and registration. Every owner or other person, while

13

operating a motor vehicle which is required to be registered in this state, shall have in their

14

possession evidence of financial security as required by the provisions of this chapter and shall

15

display such evidence upon demand by any peace officer or inspector of the division of motor

16

vehicles. Violation of this section may result in penalties as follows:

17

     (1) For a first offense, a suspension of up to three (3) months and may be fined one

18

hundred dollars ($100) up to five hundred dollars ($500);

 

1

     (2) For a second offense, a suspension of six (6) months; and may be fined five hundred

2

dollars ($500); and

3

     (3) For a third and subsequent offense, a suspension of up to one year. Additionally, any

4

person violating this section a third or subsequent time shall be punished as a civil violation and

5

may be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000).

6

     (b) An order of suspension and impoundment of a license or registration, or both, shall

7

state that date on or before which the person is required to surrender the person's license or

8

certificate of registration and registration plates. The person is deemed to have surrendered the

9

license or certificate of registration and registration plates, in compliance with the order, if the

10

person does either of the following:

11

     (1) On or before the date specified in the order, personally delivers the license or

12

certificate of registration and registration plates, or causes the delivery of those items, to the

13

administrator of the division of motor vehicles or court, whichever issued the order;

14

     (2) Mails the license or certificate of registration and registration plates to the

15

administrator of the division of motor vehicles, in an envelope or container bearing a postmark

16

showing a date no later than the date specified in the order.

17

     (c) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall not restore any operating

18

privileges or registration rights suspended under this section or return any license, certificate of

19

registration, or registration plates impounded under this section unless the rights are not subject to

20

suspension or revocation under any other law and unless the person, in addition to complying

21

with all other conditions required by law for reinstatement of operating privileges or registration

22

rights, complies with all of the following:

23

     (1) Pays a reinstatement fee of thirty dollars ($30.00). The reinstatement fee may be

24

increased, upon approval of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, up to an amount

25

not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00).

26

     (2) Files and maintains proof of financial security. To facilitate the administration of this

27

chapter the clerk of the courts shall notify the administrator of the division of motor vehicles of

28

all persons against whom judgments have been entered arising out of a motor vehicle collision.

29

     SECTION 2. Section 31-3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration

30

of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

31

     31-3-1. Operation of unregistered vehicle.

32

     It is a civil violation for any person to operate, or for an owner knowingly to permit to be

33

operated, upon any highway any vehicle of a type required to be registered under this chapter in

34

this state which is not registered and for which the appropriate fee has not been paid or not

 

LC003092 - Page 2 of 4

1

registered as required in any other state.

2

     SECTION 3. Section 31-8-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-8 entitled "Offenses

3

Against Registration and Certificate of Title Laws" is hereby amended to read as follows:

4

     31-8-1. Operation of vehicles without evidences of registration.

5

     No person shall operate, nor shall an owner knowingly permit to be operated, upon any

6

highway or bicycle trail or path, any vehicle required to be registered pursuant to this title unless

7

there has been issued for it a valid registration card and unless there is attached to it and displayed

8

on it, when and as required by chapters 3 -- 9 of this title, a valid registration plate or plates issued

9

for it by the division of motor vehicles for the current registration year except as otherwise

10

expressly permitted in those chapters. Any violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine

11

of eighty-five dollars ($85.00).

12

     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC003092

========

 

LC003092 - Page 3 of 4

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES-MOTOR VEHICLES REPARATION

ACT

***

1

     This act would penalize driving any motor vehicle that is required to be registered in this

2

or any other state without insurance and without proof of insurance. It would abolish the

3

requirement that the operator knew that the vehicle was uninsured, and would make it a strict

4

liability offense. This act would also abolish the knowledge element for operating an unregistered

5

vehicle and would delete the penalty provision for operating a vehicle without a registration.

6

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC003092

========

 

LC003092 - Page 4 of 4