2022 -- H 7824

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LC005047

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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 McLaughlin, Hull, McNamara, Corvese, Bennett, and
Tanzi

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2022

     Referred To: House Special Legislation

     (Office of Veteran Services)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-3-48 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration

of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-48. Plates for recipients of Purple Heart.

     (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available to

recipients of the Purple Heart Medal a up to two (2) special motor vehicle registration plate plates

indicating the owner as a recipient of the Purple Heart.

     (b) The plate shall contain the words "combat wounded" across the top of the plate and

shall have an insignia for the Purple Heart and be followed by the letters "P H", followed by a

numeral or numerals. The Purple Heart insignia may be reproduced on the plate in the color purple.

     (c) Upon the death of the holder of any purple heart plates, the plates shall be transferred

to his or her surviving spouse for the spouse's lifetime until he or she remarries.

     (d) The applicant is not required to pay a registration fee or service charge for the plates.

     (e) Upon the death of the holder of any purple heart plates, if there is no surviving spouse,

a family member of the recipient may retain one of the special motor vehicle registration plates in

his or her own keeping, provided he or she does not display the plate upon any motor vehicle or

any other form of transportation owned or operated by the family member. The other purple heart

plate must be returned to the division of motor vehicles.

     (f) Any violation of the provisions of subsection (e) of this section shall be deemed a civil

violation, and any person displaying a special motor vehicle registration plate upon any vehicle

shall, upon conviction, be fined five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense. Each day in which

the special motor vehicle registration plate is displayed upon any vehicle shall be a separate offense

punishable by the same penalty.

     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 authorize the administration of the division of motor vehicles to make

available, to Purple Heart Medal recipients, up to two (2) special registration plates.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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