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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- QUADRICYCLE PASSENGER

VEHICLES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, and Azzinaro

     Date Introduced: January 06, 2022

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 31-1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-1 entitled "Definitions and

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General Code Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-1-3. Types of vehicles.

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     (a)(1) "Antique motor car" means any motor vehicle that is more than twenty-five (25)

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years old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, the vehicle may be

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maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public

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interest. The vehicle may also be used for limited enjoyment and purposes other than the previously

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mentioned activities, but may not be used primarily for the transportation of passengers or goods

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over any public highway.

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     (2) After the vehicle has met the requirements of state inspection, a registration plate may

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be issued to it on payment of the standard fee. The vehicle may be operated on the highways of this

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and other states, and may, in addition to the registration plate, retain the designation "antique" and

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display an "antique plate."

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     (3) For any vehicle that is more than twenty-five (25) years old, the division of motor

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vehicles may also issue or approve, subject to rules and regulations that may be promulgated by

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the administrator, a "year of manufacture plate" for the vehicle that is an exact replica plate

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designating the exact year of manufacture of the vehicle. The year of manufacture plate, as

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authorized by this subsection, need only be attached to the rear of the vehicle.

 

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     (b)(1) "Antique motorcycle" means any motorcycle that is more than twenty-five (25) years

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old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, the vehicle shall be maintained

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solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public interest. The

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vehicle may also be used for limited enjoyment and purposes other than the previously mentioned

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activities, but may not be used primarily for the transportation of passengers or goods over any

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public highway; and

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     (2) After the vehicle has met the requirements of state inspection, a registration plate may

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be issued to it, on payment of the standard fee, and the vehicle may be operated on the highways

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of this and other states, and may, in addition to the registration plate, retain the designation

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"antique" and display an "antique plate."

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     (c) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol);

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police vehicles; vehicles of the department of corrections while in the performance of official

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duties; vehicles used by the state bomb squad within the office of state fire marshal; vehicles of

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municipal departments or public service corporations designated or authorized by the administrator

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as ambulances and emergency vehicles; and privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer

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firefighters or privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer ambulance drivers or attendants, as

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authorized by the department chief or commander and permitted by the Rhode Island Association

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of Fire Chiefs and Rhode Island Association of Police Chiefs Joint Committee for Volunteer

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Warning Light Permits.

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     (d) "Automobile" means, for registration purposes, every motor vehicle carrying

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passengers other than for hire.

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     (e) "Bicycle" means every vehicle having two (2) tandem wheels, except scooters and

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similar devices, propelled exclusively by human power, and upon which a person may ride.

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     (f) "Camping recreational vehicle" means a vehicular type camping unit, certified by the

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manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.2 Standards, designed primarily as temporary living

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quarters for recreation that has either its own motor power or is mounted on, or towed by, another

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vehicle. The basic units are tent trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, motorized campers, travel trailers, and

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pick-up campers.

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     (g) "Electric motorized bicycle" means a motorized bicycle that may be propelled by

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human power or electric motor power, or by both, with an electric motor rated not more than two

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(2) (S.A.E.) horsepower, that is capable of a maximum speed of not more than twenty-five (25)

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miles per hour.

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     (h) "Electric personal assistive mobility device" ("EPAMD") is a self-balancing, non-

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tandem two-wheeled (2) device, designed to transport only one person, with an electric propulsion

 

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system that limits the maximum speed of the device to fifteen (15) miles per hour.

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     (i) "Fifth-wheel trailer": A towable recreational vehicle, not exceeding four hundred (400)

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square feet in area, designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle that contains a towing mechanism

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that is mounted above or forward of the tow vehicle's rear axle and that is eligible to be registered

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for highway use.

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     (j) "Hearse" means every motor vehicle used for transporting human corpses. A hearse

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shall be considered an automobile for registration purposes.

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     (k) "Jitney or bus" means: (1) A "public bus" that includes every motor vehicle, trailer,

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semi-trailer, tractor trailer, or tractor trailer combination, used for the transportation of passengers

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for hire, and operated wholly or in part upon any street or highway as a means of transportation

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similar to that afforded by a street railway company, by indiscriminately receiving or discharging

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passengers, or running on a regular route or over any portion of one, or between fixed termini; or

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(2) A "private bus" that includes every motor vehicle other than a public bus or passenger van

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designed for carrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the transportation of persons, and

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every motor vehicle other than a taxicab designed and used for the transportation of persons for

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compensation.

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     (l) "Motorcycle" means only those motor vehicles having not more than three (3) wheels

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in contact with the ground and a saddle on which the driver sits astride, except bicycles with helper

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motors as defined in subsection (n) of this section.

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     (m) "Motor-driven cycle" means every motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a

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motor of no greater than five (5) horsepower, except bicycles with helper motors as defined in

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subsection (n) of this section.

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     (n) "Motorized bicycles" means two-wheel (2) vehicles that may be propelled by human

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power or helper power, or by both, with a motor rated not more than four and nine-tenths (4.9)

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horsepower and not greater than fifty (50) cubic centimeters, that are capable of a maximum speed

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of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour.

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     (o) "Motorized camper": A camping recreational vehicle, built on, or permanently attached

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to, a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis cab or van that is an integral part of the completed vehicle.

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     (p) "Motorized tricycles" means tricycles that may be propelled by human power or helper

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motor, or by both, with a motor rated no more than 1.5 brake horsepower that is capable of a

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maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour.

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     (q) "Motorized wheelchair" means any self-propelled vehicle, designed for, and used by, a

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person with a disability that is incapable of speed in excess of eight (8) miles per hour.

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     (r) "Motor scooter" means a motor-driven cycle with a motor rated not more than four and

 

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nine-tenths (4.9) horsepower and not greater than fifty (50) cubic centimeters that is capable of a

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maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour.

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     (s) "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle that is self-propelled or propelled by electric

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power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved

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exclusively by human power, an EPAMD and electric motorized bicycles as defined in subsection

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(g) of this section, and motorized wheelchairs.

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     (t) "Motor vehicle for hire" means every motor vehicle other than jitneys, public buses,

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hearses, and motor vehicles used chiefly in connection with the conduct of funerals, to transport

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persons for compensation in any form, or motor vehicles rented for transporting persons either with

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or without furnishing an operator.

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     (u) "Natural gas vehicle" means a vehicle operated by an engine fueled primarily by natural

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gas.

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     (v) "Park trailer": A camping recreational vehicle that is eligible to be registered for

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highway use and meets the following criteria: (1) Built on a single chassis mounted on wheels; and

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(2) Certified by the manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.5.

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     (w) "Passenger van" means every motor vehicle capable of carrying ten (10) to fourteen

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(14) passengers plus an operator and used for personal use or on a not-for-hire basis. Passenger

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vans may be used for vanpools, transporting passengers to and from work locations, provided that

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the operator receives no remuneration other than free use of the vehicle.

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     (x) "Pedal carriage" (also known as "quadricycles") means a nonmotorized bicycle with

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four (4) or more wheels operated by one or more persons for the purpose of, or capable of,

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transporting additional passengers in seats or on a platform made a part of or otherwise attached to

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the pedal carriage. The term shall not include a bicycle with trainer or beginner wheels affixed to

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it, nor shall it include a wheelchair or other vehicle with the purpose of operation by or for the

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transportation of a person with a disability, nor shall it include a tricycle built for a child or an adult

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with a seat for only one operator and no passenger.

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     (y) "Pick-up camper": A camping recreational vehicle consisting of a roof, floor, and sides

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designed to be loaded onto and unloaded from the back of a pick-up truck.

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     (z) "Quadricycles passenger vehicle" means a four-wheeled vehicle propelled by operator

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and passengers pedaling with support, as needed from a battery powered engine. It may not carry

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more than sixteen (16) passengers and an operator. The motor is used exclusively to propel the

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bicycle, and shall not be capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of twenty

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(20) miles per hour. Its dimensions shall not exceed one hundred and five-tenths inches (100.5") in

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height ninety-four inches (94") in width, or two hundred sixteen inches (216") in length. Cities and

 

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towns that enact resolutions to allow these vehicles may permit their use on all roads on which

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bicycle use is allowed; provided, however, that use of these vehicles shall be further subject to

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approval by the local police chief.

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     (z)(aa) "Rickshaw" (also known as "pedi cab") means a nonmotorized bicycle with three

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(3) wheels operated by one person for the purpose of, or capable of, transporting additional

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passengers in seats or on a platform made a part of, or otherwise attached to, the rickshaw. This

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definition shall not include a bicycle built for two (2) where the operators are seated one behind the

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other, nor shall it include the operation of a bicycle with trainer or beginner wheels affixed thereto,

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nor shall it include a wheelchair or other vehicle with the purpose of operation by or for the

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transportation of a person with a disability.

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     (aa)(bb) "School bus" means every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental

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agency, when operated for the transportation of children to or from school; or privately owned,

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when operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school.

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     (bb)(cc) "Suburban vehicle" means every motor vehicle with a convertible or

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interchangeable body or with removable seats, usable for both passenger and delivery purposes,

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and including motor vehicles commonly known as station or depot wagons or any vehicle into

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which access can be gained through the rear by means of a hatch or trunk and where the rear seats

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can be folded down to permit the carrying of articles as well as passengers.

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     (cc)(dd) "Tent trailer": A towable recreational vehicle that is mounted on wheels and

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constructed with collapsible partial side walls that fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold

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for use and that is eligible to be registered for highway use.

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     (dd)(ee) "Trackless trolley coach" means every motor vehicle that is propelled by electric

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power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated on rails.

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     (ee)(ff) "Travel trailer": A towable recreational vehicle, not exceeding three hundred

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twenty square feet (320 sq. ft.) in area, designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle containing a

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towing mechanism that is mounted behind the tow vehicle's bumper and that is eligible to be

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registered for highway use.

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     (ff)(gg) "Vehicle" means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or

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may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices used exclusively upon stationary rails

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or tracks.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     31-3-31.4. Quadricycle passenger vehicles permitted.

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     (a) Cities and towns may enact an ordinance that regulates quadricycles, as defined in §

 

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31-1-3, and permit their use on all roads where bicycle use is permitted, and with a posted speed

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limit of thirty (30) miles per hour or under; provided, however, that the use of these vehicles shall

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be further subject to approval by the local police chief. Cities and towns approving the use of

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quadricycles shall issue a permit which is required to be carried in the vehicle at all times, and shall

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be valid only in the city or town issuing such permit.

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     (b) All operators of quadricycles shall hold a chauffeurs' license; provided, however, that

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the operator of any quadricycles designed to transport sixteen (16) or more passengers, including

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the driver, shall hold a commercial driver's license with a passenger endorsement.

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     (c) All owners and operators of quadricycles shall carry a minimum liability insurance

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policy of one million dollars ($1,000,000) on those vehicles.

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     (d) No operator, owner, nor vendor shall sell or permit the sale or use of alcohol on or from

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their quadricycle.

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     (e) Quadricycles, as defined in § 31-1-3, shall not be required to be registered by the

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division of motor vehicles under this chapter.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- QUADRICYCLE PASSENGER

VEHICLES

***

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     This act would authorize municipalities to regulate the use of quadricycle passenger

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vehicles within their borders, provided there is approval by the local police chief. Cities and towns

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allowing the use of quadricycles would issue a permit which would be required to be carried in the

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vehicle at all times.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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