2022 -- H 7821

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LC005027

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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 - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Representatives McGaw, Fellela, Cassar, and Marszalkowski

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2022

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-3-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration of

Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-5. Grounds for refusal of registration.

     (a) The division of motor vehicles shall refuse registration or any transfer of registration

upon any of the following grounds:

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

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

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

vehicle under chapters 3 -- 9 of this title;

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

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

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

the rightful owner;

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

provided in the motor vehicle laws of this state;

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

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

any and all interest, penalties, or other monetary amount that may be imposed for failure to pay the

fines by a specified date; provided, the registration shall be issued upon presentation of proof of

payment of the outstanding fines, including any and all interest, penalties, or other monetary

amount owed to the cities or towns reporting the unpaid fines. When the division of motor vehicles

denies a registration to any person pursuant to this subsection, the city or town requesting the denial

of registration shall add a five-dollar ($5.00) fee to the aggregate value of the sum of the fines and,

upon payment, shall transmit the fee to the division of motor vehicles. The provisions of this

subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a rental company, as defined in § 31-34.1-1;

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

5(18);

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

any rules and regulations promulgated under that chapter;

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

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

so under federal law; or

     (9) That the registered owner of a vehicle failed to pay the required toll amounts,

administrative fees, and fines as prescribed in § 24-12-37.

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or any law to the contrary, the division

of motor vehicles shall not refuse re-registration to the current registrant for vehicles which have

previously been registered in Rhode Island as prescribed in title 31.

     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 MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

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     This act would prohibit the division of motor vehicles from refusing to re-register any

vehicle for the current registrant, which has previously been registered in Rhode Island as

prescribed in title 31.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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