| Chapter 289 |
| 2026 -- S 3265 Enacted 06/26/2026 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES |
Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Tikoian, Felag, LaMountain, Gallo, and DiPalma |
| Date Introduced: May 05, 2026 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 31-3-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration |
| of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 31-3-18. Display of plates — Penalties. |
| (a) Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, |
| transporter vehicle, in-transit vehicle, or a bailee engaged in a business as defined in § 31-1-17(a), |
| or other than a motor vehicle owned by a duly authorized dealer in motor vehicles and which is |
| used in the dealer’s business shall be attached thereto one in the front and the other in the rear. The |
| registration plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer, bailee, or a dealer’s motor vehicle as defined in |
| this subsection shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. |
| (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, any motor vehicle that, as |
| manufactured and delivered for sale, is not equipped with a manufacturer-provided front |
| registration plate bracket, mounting point, or other manufacturer-provided means or location |
| intended for the attachment and display of a front registration plate, shall not be required to display |
| a front registration plate, and shall be in compliance with this section if: |
| (i) One registration plate issued in accordance with § 31-3-10 is properly attached to the |
| rear of the vehicle; and |
| (ii) The second registration plate issued in accordance with § 31-3-10 is carried within the |
| vehicle and displayed by the driver upon demand of a duly sworn law enforcement officer. |
| (b) Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position |
| to the vehicle for which it is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging at a height of not less |
| than twelve inches (12") from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate; in a place and |
| position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition |
| to be clearly legible. |
| (c) Penalties. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of |
| a violation and subject to a fine as enumerated in § 31-41.1-4. |
| (d) All vehicles registered as passenger, commercial, trailer, motorcycle, suburban, farm, |
| combination, taxi, radio operator, camper, public, racer tow, jitney, and antique must have |
| displayed on them the registration plate(s) as described in § 31-3-11. This subsection does not apply |
| to those registrants in possession of an alternative design plate as described in § 31-3-60 or any |
| other specially authorized plate described in this chapter. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC006388 |
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