AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES (Provides motor vehicles under 8,500 pounds would not require a further inspection after the first inspection, until the vehicle reached twenty (20) years of age.)

H8391

2026 -- H 8391
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LC006222
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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 -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Introduced By:
Representative Deborah A. Fellela

Date Introduced:
April 01, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 31-38-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-38 entitled "Inspection
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of Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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31-38-4. Director of department of revenue to require periodic inspection.
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(a)(1) The director of revenue shall at least once each year, but not more frequently than
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twice each year, or on the schedule defined pursuant to chapter 47.1 of this title require that every
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vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer registered in this state or upon a retail seller’s premise,
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be inspected and that an official certificate of inspection and approval be obtained for the vehicle,
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provided, that the director of revenue shall require the first inspection of any new motor vehicle
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within two (2) years from the date of purchase or before the vehicle accumulates twenty-four
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thousand (24,000) miles whichever occurs first.
After this first inspection, all motor vehicles except
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motorcycles, registered with a gross weight of eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500 lbs.) or
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less, shall not require a further inspection for emission and safety items until the motor vehicles are
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at least twenty (20) years old. Motor vehicles that are more than twenty (20) years old shall be
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inspected for emissions and safety items biennially.
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(2) The inspections shall be made and the certificates obtained with respect to the
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mechanism, brakes, and equipment of the vehicle as shall be designated by the director of
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department of revenue.
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(3) The director of the department of revenue is authorized to make necessary rules and
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regulations for the administration and enforcement of this chapter including, but not limited to,

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upgraded standards of operation and standards for mechanical testing equipment, and to designate
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any period or periods of time during which sellers at retail and owners of any vehicles, subject to
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this chapter, shall display upon the vehicles certificates of inspection and approval, or shall produce
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these certificates upon demand of any proper officer or employee of the department of revenue
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designated by the director of the department of revenue. In addition, the director shall require each
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inspection facility to file a copy of their active garage keeper’s legal liability insurance policy and
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maintain a minimum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) liability coverage. Said coverage
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shall be purchased for the purpose of insuring against any damage sustained to a vehicle while
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under the control of the inspection facility.
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(b) The director of the department of revenue may authorize the acceptance in this state of
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a certificate of inspection and approval issued in another state having an inspection law similar to
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this chapter, and may extend the time within which a certificate shall be obtained.
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(c) The director of the department of revenue, or the director’s designee, may suspend the
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registration of any vehicle which he or she determines is in such unsafe condition as to constitute
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a menace to safety, or which, after notice and demand, is not equipped as required in this chapter
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or for which a required certificate of inspection and approval has not been obtained.
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(d) The director of the department of revenue shall provide for a staggered inspection
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system by regulations.
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(e) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES
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This act would provide that after the first motor vehicle inspection, all motor vehicles
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except motorcycles, registered with a gross weight of eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500
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lbs.) or less, would not require a further inspection until the motor vehicles are at least twenty (20)
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years old. Thereafter, inspections would be required biennially.
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This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
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