MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES, the official text

S3265 2026 -- S 3265 ======== LC006388 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Tikoian, Felag, LaMountain, Gallo, and DiPalma Date Introduced: May 05, 2026 Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 31-3-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled Registration 2 of Vehicles is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 31-3-18. Display of plates — Penalties. 4 (a) Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, 5 transporter vehicle, in-transit vehicle, or a bailee engaged in a business as defined in § 31-1-17(a), 6 or other than a motor vehicle owned by a duly authorized dealer in motor vehicles and which is 7 used in the dealer’s business shall be attached thereto one in the front and the other in the rear. The 8 registration plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer, bailee, or a dealer’s motor vehicle as defined in 9 this subsection shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. 10 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, any motor vehicle that, as 11 manufactured and delivered for sale, is not equipped with a manufacturer-provided front 12 registration plate bracket, mounting point, or other manufacturer-provided means or location 13 intended for the attachment and display of a front registration plate, shall not be required to display 14 a front registration plate, and shall be in compliance with this section if: 15 (i) One registration plate issued in accordance with § 31-3-10 is properly attached to the 16 rear of the vehicle; and 17 (ii) The second registration plate issued in accordance with § 31-3-10 is carried within the 18 vehicle and displayed by the driver upon demand of a duly sworn law enforcement officer. 19 (b) Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position 1 to the vehicle for which it is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging at a height of not less 2 than twelve inches (12 ) from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate; in a place and 3 position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition 4 to be clearly legible. 5 (c) Penalties. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of 6 a violation and subject to a fine as enumerated in § 31-41.1-4. 7 (d) All vehicles registered as passenger, commercial, trailer, motorcycle, suburban, farm, 8 combination, taxi, radio operator, camper, public, racer tow, jitney, and antique must have 9 displayed on them the registration plate(s) as described in § 31-3-11. This subsection does not apply 10 to those registrants in possession of an alternative design plate as described in § 31-3-60 or any 11 other specially authorized plate described in this chapter. 12 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC006388 ======== LC006388 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES *** 1 This act would exempt certain vehicles that are not manufactured with the proper front 2 plate registration bracket from the requirement that motor vehicles display a front facing 3 registration plate. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC006388 ======== LC006388 - Page 3 of 3