Chapter 293
2023 -- S 0434 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
Enacted 06/22/2023

A N   A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Felag, and Ruggerio

Date Introduced: February 16, 2023

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 31-38-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-38 entitled "Inspection
of Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     31-38-6. Appointment of official inspection stations.
     (a) For the purpose of making inspections and issuing official certificates of inspection and
approval as provided in this chapter, the director of the department of revenue, or the director’s
designee, shall issue permits for and furnish instructions and all necessary forms to official
inspection stations for the inspection of vehicles as required in this chapter and the issuance of
official certificates of inspection and approval. There shall be a separate permit required to inspect
all trailers or semi-trailers used to transport horses or other livestock, irrespective of the registered
gross weight of the trailers and semi-trailers.
     (b) Application for the permit set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall be made upon
an official form and shall be granted only when the director of the department of revenue or the
director’s designee, is satisfied that the station is properly equipped and has competent personnel
to make the inspections and adjustments, and will be properly conducted. Only facilities located
within the State of Rhode Island shall receive renewal permits or new permits. The director of the
department of revenue, or the director’s designee, before issuing a permit may require the applicant
to file a bond conditioned that it will make compensation for any damage to a vehicle during an
inspection or adjustment due to negligence on the part of the applicant or its employees.
     (c) The director of the department of revenue, or the director’s designee, shall properly
supervise and cause inspections to be made of the stations and shall suspend or revoke and require
the surrender of the permit issued to a station which he or she that the director or the director’s
designee finds is not properly equipped or has violated any of the conditions of his or her the
station’s permit of inspection. The director of the department of revenue, or the director’s designee,
shall maintain and post at the department of revenue lists of all stations holding permits and of
those whose permits have been suspended or revoked.
     (d) The permits shall be issued for a period of one year and upon payment to the director
of the department of revenue of a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) annually, and the monies
received shall be turned over to the general treasurer to be deposited in the general funds of the
state.
     (e) The director of the department of revenue, or the director’s designee, shall issue a
duplicate permit upon the payment of a fee of one dollar ($1.00) if one is requested by the owner
of the official station who states in writing that the original was lost, destroyed, or stolen.
     (f) Any person who has been issued a permit under this section and conducts inspections
of vehicles subject to an emission inspection pursuant to chapter 47.1 of this title must also have
been authorized to conduct motor vehicle emissions inspections and must conduct both inspections
simultaneously.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage on January 1, 2024.
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LC001451/SUB A
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