2021 -- H 5782

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LC001910

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, Phillips, Baginski, Azzinaro, and Vella-
Wilkinson

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2021

     Referred To: House Special Legislation

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-3-53 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration

of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-53. Veterans' plates.

     (a) The registrar of motor vehicles shall issue for any motor vehicle eligible for registration

as an automobile, or for any motorcycle eligible for registration as a motorcycle, or for a

commercial vehicle having a gross weight of twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, plates

designated as "Veteran," "Purple Heart," and "Ex-POW" upon application on proper forms

furnished by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles to veterans.

     (b) The special plate designated "Veteran" shall be designed as follows:

     (1) Letters and numbers shall be blue in a white background with the words "Rhode Island"

clearly visible at the top center of the plate and the word "Veteran" visible at the bottom center of

the plate.

     (2) The background will be a red, white, and blue waving American Flag.

     (3) On the top right corner will be a decal with the military branch of the service in which

the Veteran served (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines).

     (4) For war veterans, a white decal with blue letters with the words "War Veteran" placed

under the military branch decal on the right side of the plate above the validation sticker.

     (c) The applicant shall not be required to pay a service charge or a transfer charge for each

plate.

     (d) The applicant shall be entitled to a plate for each vehicle owned by the applicant.

     (e) The owner of a motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle and

having a gross weight of twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less who is issued veteran plates

shall continue to pay the appropriate commercial registration fee for those plates. The owner of a

motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of six

thousand three hundred pounds (6,300 lbs.), but not more than twelve thousand pounds (12,000

lbs.), shall sign an affidavit at the time of application for said plates stating that the vehicle is to be

used for personal use only.

     (f)(1) For the purposes of this section, a "veteran" shall be defined as any person who has

served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. The term "veteran" shall also include

members of the National Guard and Reserves: (i) Called to active duty authorized by the President

of the United States or the Secretary of Defense; or (ii) Who have twenty (20) years of service with

a letter and record of separation of service.

     (2) For the purposes of this section, "War Veteran" shall be defined as any veteran of any

conflict or undeclared war who has earned a campaign ribbon or expeditionary medal for service

in either a declared or undeclared war as noted on the war veteran's DD-214. Upon the death of the

holder of any veteran plates, the plates shall be transferred to the surviving spouse for the spouse's

lifetime until he or she remarries.

     (g) The "veteran" or "war veteran" described in subdivisions (f)(1)(i) or (ii) and (f)(2) must

have been honorably discharged from the armed forces of this nation in order to receive plates

pursuant to this section and, for purposes of this section, a medical discharge or a general discharge

shall be deemed an honorable discharge.

     (h) Veterans who have served in multiple conflicts are entitled to be issued veterans' plates

equal to the number of conflicts he or she served in; provided, the plates are limited to the number

of vehicles owned by the veteran.

     (i) A person shall be eligible for a veterans' plate if his or her deceased spouse was eligible

for a veterans' plate, notwithstanding the fact that the eligible, deceased spouse died prior to the

enactment of this section in 1988.

     (j)(1) In addition to the decals listed in subsection (b) of this section, the applicant may

request that an additional decal be affixed on the top left corner indicating that the applicant is a

recipient of the following military honor;

     (i) Congressional Medal of Honor;

     (ii) Distinguished Flying Cross;

     (iii) Navy/Army/Air Force Cross;

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     (iv) Silver Star medal; and

     (v) Bronze Star medal.

     (2) When making the request for such a decal, the applicant shall submit to the registrar a

copy of the military order awarding the medal or a DD 214 documenting issuance of the medal.

     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 issuance of veteran plates with decals affixed to the top left

corner for veterans who are recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Flying

Cross, Navy/Army/Air Force Cross, Silver Star and Bronze medal.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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