2021 -- H 5962

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LC002224

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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 -- TRANSFER OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Representatives Costantino, Corvese, Cardillo, McEntee, and Batista

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2021

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 31-4-1 and 31-4-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-4 entitled

"Transfer of Vehicles" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-4-1. Expiration of registration by transfer of interest in vehicle -- Disposition of

plates.

     Whenever the owner of a registered vehicle transfers or assigns his or her title or interest

in ownership, or whenever he or she shall request the transfer of the registration to another vehicle

owned by him or her, or shall remove the vehicle from the highways of this state to be used solely

upon his or her property, the registration of the vehicle shall expire. Provided however, any lessee

of a motor vehicle, who purchases the vehicle that is subject to the lease agreement within one year

of the inception of the lease agreement or any renewal thereof, shall not be subject to the registration

expiration provisions of this section and the registration assigned to the leased vehicle shall be

deemed transferred to the lessee/owner without any new fee or charge. The owner shall remove

the registration plates from the vehicle and forward them to the division of motor vehicles, or may

have such plates and the registration number thereon assigned to another vehicle upon payment of

the fees required by law and subject to the rules and regulations of the division of motor vehicles.

Any corporation or limited liability company in the business of providing vehicle leasing or vehicle

rental may cancel a registration by submitting a sworn, notarized affidavit to the division of motor

vehicles stating that the registration plates are unavailable due to loss, theft, or other reasons.

     31-4-4. Registration by transferee.

     The transferee before operating or permitting the operation of an acquired vehicle upon a

highway shall apply for and obtain the registration for it, as upon an original registration, except as

otherwise permitted in §§ 31-4-5 -- 31-4-7. Provided however, any lessee of a motor vehicle, who

purchases the vehicle subject to the lease agreement within one year of the inception of the lease

agreement or any renewal thereof, shall not be subject to the registration provisions of this section

and the registration assigned to the leased vehicle shall be deemed transferred to the lessee/owner

without any new fee or charge.

     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 -- TRANSFER OF VEHICLES

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     This act would provide that a lessee of a motor vehicle who purchases the vehicle within

one year of the lease inception or any renewal thereof shall be exempt from certain registration

transfer provisions.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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