| Chapter 134 |
| 2018 -- H 7230 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED Enacted 07/02/2018 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES |
| Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Craven, and O'Brien |
| Date Introduced: January 18, 2018 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 31-3-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled |
| "Registration of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 31-3-17.1. Courtesy plates. |
| (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall design and issue under |
| regulations that he or she deems appropriate, special courtesy automobile, motorcycle, and |
| commercial registration plates to be used on passenger motor vehicles, motorcycles, and all |
| commercial vehicles whose gross weight is not more than nine thousand pounds (9,000 lbs.) in |
| lieu of other number plates. Special plates shall be of such design and shall bear such letters or |
| combinations of letters and numbers as the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall |
| prescribe, and shall be made of light-reflecting sheeting applied on a metal base, provided that no |
| automobile set of plates shall contain more than six (6) letters and numbers in a combination of |
| letters and numbers, or less than two (2) letters, and that no motorcycle plate shall contain more |
| than five (5) letters or more than five (5) letters and numbers in a combination or less than two (2) |
| letters, and that a commercial courtesy plate shall be marked "commercial," and shall contain no |
| more than six (6) letters or more than six (6) letters and numbers in a combination or less than |
| two (2) letters, and provided further, that there shall be no duplication of identification and the |
| administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall, in his or her discretion, refuse to issue any |
| letter or combination of letters and numbers which that might carry connotations offensive to |
| good taste and decency. A special automobile or commercial courtesy plate shall be issued upon |
| application using forms furnished by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, and upon |
| payment, in addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, a service charge of |
| sixty dollars ($60.00) for each issue and for each registration renewal. For motorcycles, a special |
| courtesy plate shall be issued upon application using forms furnished by the division of motor |
| vehicles, and upon payment, in addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, a |
| service charge of thirty-four dollars ($34.00) for each issue and for each registration renewal. The |
| service charge shall be paid to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles prior to the |
| administrator's acceptance of the application. The Rhode Island state lottery commission shall not |
| be required to pay the service charge for any special courtesy plate issued pursuant to this section |
| for motor vehicles owned or used by the lottery commission, and may utilize the special courtesy |
| plates on all types of vehicles owned or operated by the lottery commission. |
| (b) For any vehicle that is registered in accordance with ยง 31-1-3(a), the division of motor |
| vehicles may also issue or approve, subject to rules and regulations that may be promulgated by |
| the administrator, a courtesy registration plate in accordance with the provisions of this section. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2019. |
| ======== |
| LC003796/SUB A |
| ======== |