AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Car rental company not subject to registration penalties resulting from out-of-state toll violations from operators using their rental vehicles but are responsible for any outstanding toll amounts due.)

S3166

2026 -- S 3166
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LC004857
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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 -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

Introduced By:
Senators Ciccone, Britto, Burke, Thompson, Felag, and DiPalma

Date Introduced:
March 27, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 31-3-6.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration
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of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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31-3-6.3. Unpaid out-of-state toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines — Denial of
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registration — Denial of transfer of registration — Denial of renewal of registration and
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licenses.
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(a) Upon receipt of a request from another state or other entity with similar tolling authority
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with which the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority has entered into an agreement providing
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for the reciprocal treatment of out-of-state toll violators to take action against a toll violator, the
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Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall conduct an independent review of each toll
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violation that forms the basis for such request, which shall include a review of photographic, video,
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or other visual evidence, to determine that the requesting state or other entity with similar tolling
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authority imposed any toll amounts, administrative fees, and/or fines against the actual registered
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owner of the motor vehicle.
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(b) As part of its independent review, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall
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provide written notice to the registered owner of the motor vehicle in question. The registered
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owner shall have ten (10) days from the date on the written notice to contact the Rhode Island
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turnpike and bridge authority and to provide information, documentation, and any other evidence
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contesting the requested action against the out-of-state toll violator. Thereafter, the Rhode Island
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turnpike and bridge authority shall consider all of the information, documentation, and any other

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evidence provided as part of its independent review.
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(c) If after its independent review the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority is
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satisfied that any toll amounts, administrative fees, and/or fines are properly imposed against the
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actual registered owner of the motor vehicle and the registered owner could be subject to reporting
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to the division of motor vehicles pursuant to § 24-12-37 if such toll violations had occurred on
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tolled projects in this state, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority may report the registered
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owner to the division of motor vehicles.
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(d) The division of motor vehicles shall not renew any operator’s license or registration
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upon expiration thereof; register any motor vehicle; or transfer the registration of any motor vehicle
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of any person reported to it pursuant to subsection (c) of this section until any toll amounts,
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administrative fees, and/or fines owed to the other state or other entity with similar tolling authority
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have been paid in full or the person has entered into, and is in current compliance with, a repayment
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agreement with respect to any amounts owed. The Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall
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provide a copy of any notification received from the other state or other entity with similar tolling
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authority regarding full payment of amounts owed or the existence of a repayment agreement to
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the division of motor vehicles within five (5) business days of receipt. Within five (5) business days
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of receiving such notification, the division of motor vehicles shall renew the person’s license and
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renew, transfer, or issue the person’s registration.
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply
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to any vehicle owned by a rental company as defined in § 31-34.1-1.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
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This act would not subject a car rental company to registration penalties resulting from out-
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of-state toll violations from operators using their rental vehicles but are responsible for any
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outstanding toll amounts due.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004857
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