2023 -- S 0829 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Pearson, Lombardo, DiPalma, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-3. Application for registration.

     (a) Every owner of a vehicle subject to registration under this chapter shall apply to the

division of motor vehicles for the registration of it using the appropriate form or forms furnished

by the division of motor vehicles. Every application shall bear the signature of the owner written

with pen and ink and the signature shall be acknowledged by the owner before a person authorized

to administer oaths or as authorized in accordance with subsection (b) of this section and the

application shall contain:

     (1)(a) The name, city or town of bona fide residence, actual residence address and mail

address of the owner as appearing on the owner’s motor vehicle operator’s license or state

identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of chapter 8 of title 3, or business address of

the owner if a firm, association, or if a corporation, the name of the city or town in which the vehicle

is physically and primarily housed. For purposes of this section “physically and primarily housed”

is defined as that city or town in which the vehicle is housed for a period or periods of time greater

than in any other city or town in the state of Rhode Island. The division of motor vehicles may

substitute other indicators of residence when necessary.

     (2)(b) A description of the vehicle, including, insofar as this specified data may exist with

respect to a given vehicle, the make, model, type of body, the number of cylinders, the serial number

of the vehicle, and the engine or other number of the vehicle. In the event a vehicle is designed,

constructed, converted, or rebuilt for the transportation of property, the application shall include a

statement of its capacity in terms of maximum gross vehicle weight rating as authorized by the

manufacturer of the chassis or the complete vehicle.

     (3)(c) A statement whether liability insurance is carried on the vehicle, and, if there is

liability insurance, the name of the carrier, policy number, and effective dates of the policy.

     (4)(d) Any further information as may reasonably be required by the division of motor

vehicles to enable it to determine whether the vehicle is lawfully entitled to registration.

     (5)(e) The exact mileage reading from the motor vehicle on the date of application.

     (b) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall prescribe and/or approve a

limited power-of-attorney form, which may be used in connection with applications for vehicle

registrations in satisfaction of the provision of subsection (a) of this section.

     (c) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall promulgate rules and

regulations in order to effectuate the purpose and requirements of using a limited power of attorney

form to register a vehicle. The rules and regulations shall require that the limited power of attorney

form includes an attestation of the owner of the vehicle granting another identified person

permission to register the vehicle on behalf of the owner. The limited power of attorney shall be

witnessed and executed before a notary public an identify the information described in subsections

(a)(1) through (a)(5) of this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2024.

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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 require the administrator of the division of motor vehicles to prescribe or

approve power-of-attorney forms to be used in connection with vehicle registrations.

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2024.

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