AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS (Provides for distribution of payment of certain civil penalties for violations of overweight vehicle laws.)

H8149

2026 -- H 8149
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LC005802
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS

Introduced By:
Representatives Santucci, Chippendale, Costantino, Nardone, Newberry,
Read, Noret, Place, and J. Brien

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 31-25-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size,
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Weight, and Load Limits" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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31-25-16. Authorized weight shown in registration — Exceeding limit.
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(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall insert in the registration card
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issued for a vehicle the gross weight for which it is registered. If it is a truck tractor to be used for
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propelling semi-trailers, the administrator shall separately insert the total permissible gross weight
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of the truck tractor and semi-trailers to be propelled by it. It shall be unlawful for any carrier to
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operate or permit to be operated any vehicle or combination of vehicles of a gross weight in excess
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of that registered by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, permitted by the department
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of transportation, or in excess of the limitations set forth in this chapter.
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(b) For the purposes of this chapter, “carrier” means and includes any company or person
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who furthers their commercial or private enterprise by use of the vehicle.
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(c)(1) Penalties for violations of this section will be calculated on the legal weight in
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comparison to the actual weight and shall be heard and adjudicated at the traffic tribunal.
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(2) The overweight penalties for vehicles with ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) gross
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vehicle weight or less shall be one hundred dollars ($100) per thousand pounds overweight or
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portion of it.
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(3) The overweight penalties for vehicles exceeding ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.)
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gross vehicle weight shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) per five hundred pounds

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(500 lbs.) overweight or portion of it.
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(4) The overweight penalty for vehicles being operated in excess of one hundred four
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thousand, eight hundred pounds (104,800 lbs.) gross vehicle weight shall be one thousand twenty-
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five dollars ($1,025) in addition to the penalties enumerated in subsection (c)(3) of this section.
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(5) The overweight penalty for vehicles being operated in excess of one hundred thirty
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thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) gross vehicle weight shall be two thousand five hundred dollars
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($2,500) in addition to the penalties enumerated in subsection (c)(3) of this section.
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(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 8-18-6, if the civil penalties are the result of
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enforcement action within the jurisdiction of or on any roadway within any municipality by an
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enforcement officer employed by the municipality, the civil penalty shall be paid to the
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municipality, except for one hundred twenty dollars ($120) per violation shall be paid to the general
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fund and a court administrative fee of five dollars ($5.00) per violation shall be paid to the traffic
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tribunal.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005802
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS
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This act would provide that for certain civil penalties to be paid to an enforcing
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municipality if the enforcement action occurs within the jurisdiction of or on any roadway within
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any municipality, by an enforcement officer employed by the municipality, the civil penalty would
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be paid to the municipality, except one hundred twenty dollars ($120) per violation would be paid
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to the general fund and a court administrative fee of five dollars ($5.00) per violation would be paid
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to the traffic tribunal.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005802
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LC005802 - Page 3 of 3