Chapter 05-057

2005 -- S 0951 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

Enacted 06/23/05

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES - INSPECTIONS

Introduced By: Senator Daniel DaPonte

Date Introduced: March 10, 2005

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-38-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-38 entitled "Inspection

of Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

31-38-4. Director of department of administration to require periodic inspection. --

(a) (1) The director of administration shall at least once each year, but not more frequently than

twice each year, or on the schedule defined pursuant to chapter 47.1 of this title require that every

vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer registered in this state or upon a retail seller's premise,

be inspected and that an official certificate of inspection and approval be obtained for the vehicle,

provided, that the director of administration shall require the first inspection of any new motor

vehicle within two (2) years from the date of purchase or before the vehicle accumulates twenty-

four thousand (24,000) miles whichever occurs first.

      (2) The inspections shall be made and the certificates obtained with respect to the

mechanism, brakes, and equipment of the vehicle as shall be designated by the director of

department of administration.

      (3) The director of the department of administration is authorized to make necessary

rules and regulations for the administration and enforcement of this chapter including, but not

limited to, upgraded standards of operation and standards for mechanical testing equipment, and

to designate any period or periods of time during which sellers at retail and owners of any

vehicles, subject to this chapter, shall display upon the vehicles certificates of inspection and

approval, or shall produce these certificates upon demand of any proper officer or employee of

the department of administration designated by the director of the department of administration.

In addition, the director shall require each inspection facility to file a copy of their active garage

keeper's legal liability insurance policy and maintain a minimum of twenty-five thousand dollars

($25,000) liability coverage. Said coverage shall be purchased for the purpose of insuring against

any damage sustained to a vehicle while under the control of the inspection facility.

      (b) The director of the department of administration may authorize the acceptance in this

state of a certificate of inspection and approval issued in another state having an inspection law

similar to this chapter, and may extend the time within which a certificate shall be obtained.

      (c) The director of the department of administration, or the director's designee, may

suspend the registration of any vehicle which he or she determines is in such unsafe condition as

to constitute a menace to safety, or which, after notice and demand, is not equipped as required in

this chapter or for which a required certificate of inspection and approval has not been obtained.

      (d) The director of the department of administration shall provide for a staggered

inspection system by regulations.

      (e) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in section 31-41.1-4.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02741/SUB A

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