Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5145 Compare Versions

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55 2025 -- H 5145
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99 S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
1010 IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1111 JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
1212 ____________
1313
1414 A N A C T
1515 RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL CODE
1616 PROVISIONS
1717 Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Bennett, Solomon, Marszalkowski, Potter,
1818 Kennedy, Ackerman, Diaz, Chippendale, and Craven
1919 Date Introduced: January 22, 2025
2020 Referred To: House Finance
2121
2222
2323 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
2424 SECTION 1. Sections 31-1-3 and 31-1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-1 entitled 1
2525 "Definitions and General Code Provisions" are hereby amended to read as follows: 2
2626 31-1-3. Types of vehicles. 3
2727 (a)(1) “Antique motor car” means any motor vehicle that is more than twenty-five (25) 4
2828 years old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, the vehicle may be 5
2929 maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public 6
3030 interest. The vehicle may also be used for limited enjoyment and purposes other than the previously 7
3131 mentioned activities, but may not be used primarily for the transportation of passengers or goods 8
3232 over any public highway. 9
3333 (2) After the vehicle has met the requirements of state inspection, a registration plate may 10
3434 be issued to it on payment of the standard fee. The vehicle may be operated on the highways of this 11
3535 and other states, and may, in addition to the registration plate, retain the designation “antique” and 12
3636 display an “antique plate.” 13
3737 (3) For any vehicle that is more than twenty-five (25) years old, the division of motor 14
3838 vehicles may also issue or approve, subject to rules and regulations that may be promulgated by 15
3939 the administrator, a “year of manufacture plate” for the vehicle that is an exact replica plate 16
4040 designating the exact year of manufacture of the vehicle. The year of manufacture plate, as 17
4141 authorized by this subsection, need only be attached to the rear of the vehicle. 18
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4545 (b)(1) “Antique motorcycle” means any motorcycle that is more than twenty-five (25) 1
4646 years old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, the vehicle shall be 2
4747 maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public 3
4848 interest. The vehicle may also be used for limited enjoyment and purposes other than the previously 4
4949 mentioned activities, but may not be used primarily for the transportation of passengers or goods 5
5050 over any public highway; and 6
5151 (2) After the vehicle has met the requirements of state inspection, a registration plate may 7
5252 be issued to it, on payment of the standard fee, and the vehicle may be operated on the highways 8
5353 of this and other states, and may, in addition to the registration plate, retain the designation 9
5454 “antique” and display an “antique plate.” 10
5555 (c) “Authorized emergency vehicle” means vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol); 11
5656 police vehicles; vehicles of the department of corrections while in the performance of official 12
5757 duties; vehicles used by the state bomb squad within the office of state fire marshal; vehicles of 13
5858 municipal departments or public service corporations designated or authorized by the administrator 14
5959 as ambulances and emergency vehicles; and privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer 15
6060 firefighters or privately owned motor vehicles of volunteer ambulance drivers or attendants, as 16
6161 authorized by the department chief or commander and permitted by the Rhode Island Association 17
6262 of Fire Chiefs and Rhode Island Association of Police Chiefs Joint Committee for Volunteer 18
6363 Warning Light Permits. 19
6464 (d) “Automobile” means, for registration purposes, every motor vehicle carrying 20
6565 passengers other than for hire., to include trucks that have a gross vehicle weight of eight thousand 21
6666 pounds (8,000 lbs.) or less. 22
6767 (e) “Bicycle” means every vehicle having two (2) tandem wheels, except scooters and 23
6868 similar devices, propelled exclusively by human power, and upon which a person may ride. 24
6969 (f) “Camping recreational vehicle” means a vehicular type camping unit, certified by the 25
7070 manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.2 Standards, designed primarily as temporary living 26
7171 quarters for recreation that has either its own motor power or is mounted on, or towed by, another 27
7272 vehicle. The basic units are tent trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, motorized campers, travel trailers, and 28
7373 pick-up campers. 29
7474 (g) “Electric motorized bicycle”, also called an “electric bicycle”, as defined in § 31-19.7-30
7575 1, means a two-wheel (2) vehicle that may be propelled by human power or electric motor power, 31
7676 or by both, with an electric motor rated not more than two (2) (S.A.E.) horsepower, that is capable 32
7777 of a maximum speed of not more than twenty-eight miles per hour (28 m.p.h.). 33
7878 (h) “Electric personal assistive mobility device” (“EPAMD”) is a self-balancing, non-34
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8282 tandem two-wheeled (2) device, designed to transport only one person, with an electric propulsion 1
8383 system that limits the maximum speed of the device to fifteen miles per hour (15 m.p.h.). 2
8484 (i) “Fifth-wheel trailer”: A towable recreational vehicle, not exceeding four hundred (400) 3
8585 square feet in area, designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle that contains a towing mechanism 4
8686 that is mounted above or forward of the tow vehicle’s rear axle and that is eligible to be registered 5
8787 for highway use. 6
8888 (j) “Hearse” means every motor vehicle used for transporting human corpses. A hearse 7
8989 shall be considered an automobile for registration purposes. 8
9090 (k) “Jitney or bus” means: (1) A “public bus” that includes every motor vehicle, trailer, 9
9191 semi-trailer, tractor trailer, or tractor trailer combination, used for the transportation of passengers 10
9292 for hire, and operated wholly or in part upon any street or highway as a means of transportation 11
9393 similar to that afforded by a street railway company, by indiscriminately receiving or discharging 12
9494 passengers, or running on a regular route or over any portion of one, or between fixed termini; or 13
9595 (2) A “private bus” that includes every motor vehicle other than a public bus or passenger van 14
9696 designed for carrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the transportation of persons, and 15
9797 every motor vehicle other than a taxicab designed and used for the transportation of persons for 16
9898 compensation. 17
9999 (l) “Kei car” or “Kei truck” means every motor vehicle of the keijidōsha class of imported 18
100100 vehicles, including, but not limited to, mini-trucks, microvans, and Kei cars imported pursuant to 19
101101 49 U.S.C. § 30112(b)(9), having four (4) wheels, an engine displacement of six hundred sixty cubic 20
102102 centimeters (660 cc) or less, an overall length of one hundred thirty inches (130″) or less, an overall 21
103103 height of seventy-eight inches (78″) or less, and an overall width of sixty inches (60″) or less. 22
104104 (m) “Low-speed motor vehicle” or “low-speed vehicle” means a motor vehicle defined in 23
105105 49 C.F.R. § 571.3 as a vehicle that is four (4) wheeled, whose speed attainable in one mile is more 24
106106 than twenty miles per hour (20 m.p.h.) and not more than twenty-five miles per hour (25 m.p.h.) 25
107107 on a paved level surface, is electric, and whose gross vehicle weight rating is less than three 26
108108 thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.). All low-speed motor vehicles shall comply with the standards 27
109109 established in 49 C.F.R. § 571.500, as amended, and pursuant thereto, shall be equipped with 28
110110 headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, an exterior mirror mounted on 29
111111 the driver’s side of the vehicle and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger’s side of the 30
112112 vehicle or an interior mirror, a parking brake, a windshield that conforms to the federal standards 31
113113 on glazing materials, a vehicle identification number that conforms to the requirements of 49 C.F.R. 32
114114 pt. 565 for such numbers, a Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly conforming to 49 C.F.R. § 571.209, 33
115115 installed at each designated seating position, and reflex reflectors; provided, that one reflector is 34
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119119 red on each side as far to the rear as practicable and one reflector is red on the rear. A low-speed 1
120120 motor vehicle that meets the requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 571.500, as amended, and is equipped as 2
121121 herein provided, may be registered in this state, subject to inspection and insurance requirements. 3
122122 (n) “Motorcycle” means only those motor vehicles having not more than three (3) wheels 4
123123 in contact with the ground and a saddle on which the driver sits astride, except bicycles with helper 5
124124 motors as defined in subsection (p) of this section. 6
125125 (o) “Motor-driven cycle” means every motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a 7
126126 motor of no greater than five (5) horsepower, except bicycles with helper motors as defined in 8
127127 subsection (p) of this section. 9
128128 (p) “Motorized bicycles” means two-wheel (2) vehicles that may be propelled by human 10
129129 power or helper power, or by both, with a motor rated not more than four and nine-tenths (4.9) 11
130130 horsepower and not greater than fifty cubic centimeters (50 cc), that are capable of a maximum 12
131131 speed of not more than thirty miles per hour (30 m.p.h.). 13
132132 (q) “Motorized camper”: A camping recreational vehicle, built on, or permanently attached 14
133133 to, a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis cab or van that is an integral part of the completed vehicle. 15
134134 (r) “Motorized tricycles” means tricycles that may be propelled by human power or helper 16
135135 motor, or by both, with a motor rated no more than 1.5 brake horsepower that is capable of a 17
136136 maximum speed of not more than thirty miles per hour (30 m.p.h.). 18
137137 (s) “Motorized wheelchair” means any self-propelled vehicle, designed for, and used by, a 19
138138 person with a disability that is incapable of speed in excess of eight miles per hour (8 m.p.h.). 20
139139 (t) “Motor scooter” means a motor-driven cycle with a motor rated not more than four and 21
140140 nine-tenths (4.9) horsepower and not greater than fifty cubic centimeters (50 cc) that is capable of 22
141141 a maximum speed of not more than thirty miles per hour (30 m.p.h.). 23
142142 (u) “Motor vehicle” means every vehicle that is self-propelled or propelled by electric 24
143143 power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved 25
144144 exclusively by human power, an EPAMD and electric motorized bicycles as defined in subsection 26
145145 (g) of this section, and motorized wheelchairs. 27
146146 (v) “Motor vehicle for hire” means every motor vehicle other than jitneys, public buses, 28
147147 hearses, and motor vehicles used chiefly in connection with the conduct of funerals, to transport 29
148148 persons for compensation in any form, or motor vehicles rented for transporting persons either with 30
149149 or without furnishing an operator. 31
150150 (w) “Natural gas vehicle” means a vehicle operated by an engine fueled primarily by 32
151151 natural gas. 33
152152 (x) “Park trailer”: A camping recreational vehicle that is eligible to be registered for 34
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156156 highway use and meets the following criteria: (1) Built on a single chassis mounted on wheels; and 1
157157 (2) Certified by the manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.5. 2
158158 (y) “Passenger van” means every motor vehicle capable of carrying ten (10) to fourteen 3
159159 (14) passengers plus an operator and used for personal use or on a not-for-hire basis. Passenger 4
160160 vans may be used for vanpools, transporting passengers to and from work locations, provided that 5
161161 the operator receives no remuneration other than free use of the vehicle. 6
162162 (z) “Pedal carriage” (also known as “quadricycles”) means a nonmotorized bicycle with 7
163163 four (4) or more wheels operated by one or more persons for the purpose of, or capable of, 8
164164 transporting additional passengers in seats or on a platform made a part of or otherwise attached to 9
165165 the pedal carriage. The term shall not include a bicycle with trainer or beginner wheels affixed to 10
166166 it, nor shall it include a wheelchair or other vehicle with the purpose of operation by or for the 11
167167 transportation of a person with a disability, nor shall it include a tricycle built for a child or an adult 12
168168 with a seat for only one operator and no passenger. 13
169169 (aa) “Pick-up camper”: A camping recreational vehicle consisting of a roof, floor, and sides 14
170170 designed to be loaded onto and unloaded from the back of a pick-up truck. 15
171171 (bb) “Rickshaw” (also known as “pedi cab”) means a nonmotorized bicycle with three (3) 16
172172 wheels operated by one person for the purpose of, or capable of, transporting additional passengers 17
173173 in seats or on a platform made a part of, or otherwise attached to, the rickshaw. This definition shall 18
174174 not include a bicycle built for two (2) where the operators are seated one behind the other, nor shall 19
175175 it include the operation of a bicycle with trainer or beginner wheels affixed thereto, nor shall it 20
176176 include a wheelchair or other vehicle with the purpose of operation by or for the transportation of 21
177177 a person with a disability. 22
178178 (cc) “School bus” means every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency, 23
179179 when operated for the transportation of children to or from school; or privately owned, when 24
180180 operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school. 25
181181 (dd) “Suburban vehicle” means every motor vehicle with a convertible or interchangeable 26
182182 body or with removable seats, usable for both passenger and delivery purposes, and including motor 27
183183 vehicles commonly known as station or depot wagons or any vehicle into which access can be 28
184184 gained through the rear by means of a hatch or trunk and where the rear seats can be folded down 29
185185 to permit the carrying of articles as well as passengers. 30
186186 (ee) “Tent trailer”: A towable recreational vehicle that is mounted on wheels and 31
187187 constructed with collapsible partial side walls that fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold 32
188188 for use and that is eligible to be registered for highway use. 33
189189 (ff) “Trackless trolley coach” means every motor vehicle that is propelled by electric power 34
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193193 obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated on rails. 1
194194 (gg) “Travel trailer”: A towable recreational vehicle, not exceeding three hundred twenty 2
195195 square feet (320 sq. ft.) in area, designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle containing a towing 3
196196 mechanism that is mounted behind the tow vehicle’s bumper and that is eligible to be registered 4
197197 for highway use. 5
198198 (hh) “Vehicle” means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may 6
199199 be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or 7
200200 tracks. 8
201201 31-1-4. Trucks and tractors. 9
202202 (a) “Covered heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicle” means a vehicle that is transporting a 10
203203 disabled vehicle from the place where the vehicle became disabled to the nearest appropriate repair 11
204204 facility; and, provided the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight that is equal to or exceeds the gross 12
205205 vehicle weight of the disabled vehicle being transported. 13
206206 (b) “Farm tractor” means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm 14
207207 implement, for drawing plows, mowing machines, and other implements of husbandry or farm 15
208208 vehicles. 16
209209 (c) “Tow cars and tow trucks” means every motor vehicle ordinarily used for the purpose 17
210210 of towing or removing motor vehicles or assisting disabled motor vehicles. 18
211211 (d)(1) “Trailer transporter towing unit” means a power unit that is not used to carry property 19
212212 when operating in a towaway trailer transporter combination. 20
213213 (2) “Towaway trailer transporter combination” means a combination of vehicles consisting 21
214214 of a trailer transporter towing unit and two (2) trailers or semitrailers: 22
215215 (i) With a total weight that does not exceed twenty-six thousand pounds (26,000 lbs.); and 23
216216 (ii) In which the trailers or semitrailers carry no property and constitute inventory property 24
217217 of a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer of the trailers or semitrailers. 25
218218 (e) “Truck” means every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the 26
219219 transportation of property. The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall determine, in 27
220220 case of doubt, if a motor vehicle is subject to registration as a truck. Provided however, any truck 28
221221 with a gross vehicle weight of eight thousand pounds (8,000 lbs.) or less may be registered as an 29
222222 automobile and issued passenger plates. 30
223223 (f) “Truck tractor” means a non-cargo-carrying power unit that operates in combination 31
224224 with a semi-trailer or trailer, except that a truck tractor and a semi-trailer or trailer engaged in the 32
225225 transportation of automobiles may transport motor vehicles on part of the power unit. 33
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229229 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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236236 EXPLANATION
237237 BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
238238 OF
239239 A N A C T
240240 RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL CODE
241241 PROVISIONS
242242 ***
243243 This act would allow for trucks with a gross vehicle weight of eight thousand pounds (8,000 1
244244 lbs.) or less to have passenger registration license plates. 2
245245 This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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