It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 31-1-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-1 entitled "Definitions and General Code Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:
{ADD 31-1-17. Types of persons. -- ADD} (a) Person. Every individual, firm, co-partnership, corporation or association.
(b) Owner. A person who holds the legal title to a vehicle or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then such conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purposes of chapters 1 to 27, inclusive, of this title.
(c) Operator. Every person, other than a chauffeur, who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle.
(d) Chauffeur. Any person who drives a jitney, bus, school bus, motor vehicle used principally for hire with operator, or trackless trolley coach, regardless of the capacity of such vehicle, and any person who drives a truck, tractor or tractor semitrailer, if the gross weight of such vehicle is {DEL ten (10) thousand DEL} {ADD twenty-six thousand and one (26001) ADD} pounds or more; provided, however, that proper officers and drivers of fire apparatus when in the performance of their duties shall not be deemed to be chauffeurs.
(e) Driver. Any operator or chauffeur who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
(f) Bailee. A bailee is one to whom possession of personal property has been entrusted by the bailor for a specific purpose resulting from either an express or implied contract, with the understanding that such personal property shall be returned to the bailor or any person designated by the bailor when the terms and purposes of the contract have been accomplished.
(g) Pedestrian. Any person afoot.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.