2025 -- H 5272

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- NONTRANSPARENT WINDSHIELDS

AND WINDOWS

     Introduced By: Representatives Slater, DeSimone, and O'Brien

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-23.3-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-23.3 entitled

"Nontransparent Windshields and Windows" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-23.3-5. Penalties.

     (a) Any person, firm, corporation, or other business entity that installs any sunscreening

material which is not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall be fined not more than

two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each offense.

     (b) Any person who owns a motor vehicle which has installed on it any sunscreening device

or material in violation of this chapter shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

     (c) The owner of a rented or leased motor vehicle shall be entitled to establish non-liability

for violations under this section by providing to the traffic tribunal or any municipality which has

jurisdiction over the citation, a copy of a written rental or lease agreement which shall be prima

facie evidence that the lessee was the operator of the vehicle.

     (d) The issuing authority shall provide the owner of a rented or leased vehicle a notice, in

writing, of each violation under this section in which a motor vehicle owned by the rental or leasing

company is involved, including the license number of the vehicle and the date and time of the

violation. Upon receipt of this notice, the owner of a rented or leased vehicle shall inform the

issuing authority, within twenty (20) days, to the extent available, the operator's name, home

address, employer, employer's address, and local address, if any.

     (e) The renter or lessee shall not be considered an agent of the owner if the owner is

engaged in the business of renting or leasing vehicles.

     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 -- NONTRANSPARENT WINDSHIELDS

AND WINDOWS

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     This act would allow the owner of a rented or leased motor vehicle to provide a copy of a

written rental or lease agreement to establish non-liability for traffic violations. It would also

require the ticketing authority to provide the owner of a rental or lease vehicle to provide a notice,

in writing of each violation, which includes the license number of the vehicle and the date and time

of the violation.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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