Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5728 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- H 5728
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7	7	LC001949
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- NONTRANSPARENT WINDS HIELDS
16	16	AND WINDOWS
17	17	Introduced By: Representatives Fellela, and Serpa
18	18	Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
19	19	Referred To: House State Government & Elections
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22	22	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
23	23	SECTION 1. Sections 31-23.3-3 and 31-23.3-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-23.3 1
24	24	entitled "Nontransparent Windshields and Windows" are hereby amended to read as follows: 2
25	25	31-23.3-3. Rules and regulations authorized — Administrator of the division of motor 3
26	26	vehicles Allowable levels of light transmittance. 4
27	27	(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall establish rules and regulations 5
28	28	to provide standards and tests to measure the percentage of reflective and transmittance of light. 6
29	29	Front side windows and front side wing vents of every vehicle shall have a measured light 7
30	30	transmittance of not less than thirty-two percent (32%), as measured with a light transmittance 8
31	31	meter having an accuracy of plus or minus three percent (3%) or better, when sun screening material 9
32	32	has been applied to such windows. 10
33	33	(b) The right and left side windows behind the driver, and the rearmost window, shall have 11
34	34	a measured light transmittance of not less than thirty-two percent (32%), as measured with a light 12
35	35	transmittance meter having an accuracy of plus or minus three percent (3%) or better, when sun 13
36	36	screening material has been applied to such windows. 14
37	37	(b)(c) Any person, firm, corporation, or other entity installing such a sunscreen device on 15
38	38	a motor vehicle shall provide and affix a label to the front window not to exceed one and one-half 16
39	39	(1½) square inches in size, which contains the installer’s name and the percentage of light 17
40	40	transmittance. Facing the motor vehicle from the outside, the label shall be placed in the lower left 18
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43	43	LC001949 - Page 2 of 4
44	44	corner of the front window. 1
45	45	31-23.3-4. Exemptions. 2
46	46	The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to: 3
47	47	(1) Motor vehicles manufactured with windshields and window glass areas equipped in 4
48	48	accordance with specifications of 49 CFR 571.205 as authorized by 15 U.S.C. § 1407. 5
49	49	(2) Motor vehicles owned or leased by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. 6
50	50	(3) The use of nontransparent or sunscreen material or window application on motor 7
51	51	vehicles which has a total visible light transmittance of not less than seventy percent (70%) 8
52	52	measured perpendicular to the surface of the glass on the windshield and side windows immediately 9
53	53	adjacent to the right and left of the operator’s seat, the side windows immediately to the rear of the 10
54	54	operator’s seat and the front passenger seat or on the rear window if the vehicle is equipped with 11
55	55	two (2) outside mirrors, one on each side, adjusted so that the driver has a clear view of the highway 12
56	56	behind the vehicle. The windows behind the driver on any truck, motor bus, trailer, mobile 13
57	57	manufactured home, or multipurpose passenger vehicle, as defined in Code of Federal Regulations 14
58	58	Title 49, Section 571.3, as amended, provided the vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on the 15
59	59	left and right-hand sides, which are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for 16
60	60	a distance of at least two hundred feet (200') to the rear of such vehicle; and 17
61	61	(4) The use of any transparent material limited to the uppermost six inches (6") along the 18
62	62	top of the windshield, provided the strip does not encroach upon the driver’s direct forward viewing 19
63	63	area as more particularly described and defined in applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 20
64	64	Standards. The rearmost window or windows, provided the vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors 21
65	65	on the left and right-hand sides of the vehicle, which are so located as to reflect to the driver a view 22
66	66	of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet (200') to the rear of such vehicle. 23
67	67	(5) Motor vehicles not required to be registered in this state. 24
68	68	(6) The use of sunscreen material on windows behind the driver in trucks, buses, trailers, 25
69	69	mobile homes, campers, multipurpose vehicles, charter buses, funeral service vehicles, or 26
70	70	limousines, provided that the vehicle is equipped with two (2) outside mirrors, one on each side, if 27
71	71	those mirrors meet federal standards adjusted so the driver has a clear view of the highway behind 28
72	72	the vehicle. 29
73	73	(7)(6) A motor vehicle registered in this state in the name of a person, or the person’s legal 30
74	74	guardian, who has an affidavit signed by a physician or an optometrist licensed to practice in this 31
75	75	state that states that the person has a physical condition that makes it necessary to equip the motor 32
76	76	vehicle with a sunscreening device which may exceed federal standards. The division of motor 33
77	77	vehicles, upon application of the individual, which shall include the affidavit, shall issue a sticker 34
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80	80	LC001949 - Page 3 of 4
81	81	to be applied to the driver’s side window to identify this exemption. 1
82	82	(8)(7) Any motor vehicle, registered and garaged within this state, whose sole purpose is 2
83	83	to provide executive security to persons within this state. The owner(s) of the vehicle shall first 3
84	84	seek and obtain written permission from the local police chief where the vehicle is garaged and 4
85	85	registered before the waiver is granted. 5
86	86	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 6
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93	93	EXPLANATION
94	94	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
95	95	OF
96	96	A N A C T
97	97	RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- NONTRANSPARENT WINDS HIELDS
98	98	AND WINDOWS
99	99	***
100	100	This act would adopt the provisions of Connecticut law pertaining to nontransparent 1
101	101	windshields and windows. 2
102	102	This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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