Title 31, Title 31 and Other Vehicles

Notwithstanding any other provision of law: (1) No violation for which a civil penalty is imposed under this chapter shall be considered a moving violation; nor shall it be included on the driving record of the person on whom the liability is imposed; nor shall it be used for ins…

(a) The recorded images produced by an automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system shall not be deemed “public records” subject to disclosure pursuant to § 38-2-2. (b) All recorded images that do not identify a violation shall be destroyed within ninety (90) days of the date t…

(a) The agency or municipality authorizing the installation of automated school-zone-speed-enforcement systems shall prepare an annual report containing data on: (1) The number of citations issued at each particular school zone; (2) The number of those violations paid by mail; (3…

(a) Every person found to have violated the provisions of this chapter shall be fined fifty dollars ($50.00) for each offense; provided, however that for a period of thirty (30) days following the installation of any new automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system, a violation…

It is hereby found and declared that ever-increasing violations of the state’s school-zone speed laws and regulations place both motorists and students using the state’s streets and roadways within school zones in danger. The legislature hereby declares that the use of technology…

(a) The state department of transportation and the municipalities of this state are hereby authorized to operate “automated school-zone-speed-enforcement systems.” (b) For the purposes of this chapter: (1) An “automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system” is an automated traffi…

No automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system shall be used in the state of Rhode Island unless the system has been approved and certified for use in the state by the director of the department of transportation. The director of the department of transportation, in cooperatio…

In the event a fixed or mobile automated traffic-speed-enforcement system is to be installed or used by any person other than the state department of transportation or state police personnel on a state maintained street, roadway or highway, the director of transportation shall ap…

The state department of transportation, and/or the municipalities, may enter into an agreement with a private corporation or other entity to provide automated school-zone-speed-enforcement systems equipment services and to maintain the systems. A contract between a government age…

In the event a law enforcement officer stops and issues a citation to the driver of a vehicle for a speeding violation, which violation is also captured by an automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system, the citation issued to the driver by the law enforcement officer shall ha…

(a) Except as expressly provided in this chapter, all prosecutions based on evidence produced by an automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system shall follow the procedures established in chapter 41.1 of this title, chapter 18 of title 8, and the rules promulgated by the chief …

Evidence from an automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system shall be considered substantive evidence in the prosecution of all civil traffic violations. Evidence from an automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system approved by the director of the department of transportatio…

The general assembly finds and declares that the provision of affordable housing is of vital concern to the citizens of the state, that mobile and manufactured homes are an important source for affordable housing, that lot rent increases for these homes are a continuing concern f…

(a) Any person who owns, operates, or maintains a mobile and manufactured home park pursuant to the provisions of chapter 44 of this title shall give the mobile home owners of the park sixty (60) days written notice prior to any lot rent increase going into effect. The written no…

If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subsection, section or part of this chapter is adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the judgment will not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of it but will be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, …

The general assembly finds that abandoned mobile and manufactured homes are a nuisance because they cause blight and depress property values. This act is intended to provide local governments and landowners with the authority to remove abandoned mobile and manufactured homes whil…

If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or application of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the p…

As used in this chapter: (1) “Department” means the department of business regulation. (2) “Mobile and manufactured home” means a detached residential unit designed: (i) For a long-term occupancy and containing sleeping accommodations, a flush toilet, and a tub or shower bath, an…

The district court of this state shall exercise jurisdiction in both law and equity over removal of abandoned mobile or manufactured homes with respect to any conduct in this state governed by this chapter or with respect to any claim arising from a transaction subject to this ch…

(a)(1) In actions pursuant to this chapter, the summons for an action for removal of an abandoned mobile or manufactured home shall be in the form provided in this chapter. At the time of filing of the complaint, the clerk shall mark the date of hearing upon the summons, which sh…

(a) An action for the removal of an abandoned mobile or manufactured home may be commenced by a landowner/licensee/municipality if a mobile or manufactured home has been abandoned and the following conditions have been met: (1) The mobile or manufactured home is not entitled to b…

Appeals of actions brought under this chapter shall be pursuant to § 9-12-10.1.

If no appeal is claimed, and if the judgment has not been satisfied, execution shall be issued on the sixth (6th) day following judgment. Executions shall be issued to the division of sheriffs or licensed constables. Every execution issued by any district court pursuant to this c…

(a) A notice in substantially the following language shall suffice for the purpose of giving an owner notice of removal of an abandoned mobile or manufactured home pursuant to chapter 44.2 of title 31: THIRTY-DAY NOTICE FOR REMOVAL OF MOBILE OR MANUFACTURED HOME Date of Notice: _…

(a) If an order for removal of an abandoned mobile or manufactured home has been issued in accordance with § 31-44.2-5, the mobile or manufactured home may be sold at public auction. The purchaser of the mobile or manufactured home shall take title of the home free and clear of a…

The general assembly finds and declares that: (1) Air quality in Rhode Island does not meet the national and state ambient air quality standard for ozone; (2) Poor air quality has an adverse effect on the health of all Rhode Island residents, particularly the elderly, the very yo…

(a) The traffic tribunal shall have jurisdiction to enforce the criminal penalty provisions of this chapter. (b) The traffic tribunal shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of any rule or regulation issued by the department pursuant to this chapter. The division of enf…

(a) Beginning in fiscal year 2015, a fee of fifty-five dollars ($55.00) is to be charged for each motor vehicle inspected. The amount of fees collected shall provide for the cost of the inspection, the costs of administering the motor vehicle emissions inspection program and othe…

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) “Authorized inspection and repair stations (AIRS)” means a facility which has been authorized by the department to conduct motor vehicle emissions inspections and…

(a) Each motor vehicle subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a motor vehicle emissions inspection, conducted no more frequently than annually. Different classes of motor vehicles or model years may be subject to different inspection frequencies. (b) Motor …

Any law enforcement officer or designee of the director of the department of revenue whose duty it is to enforce laws related to motor vehicles, may demand and inspect any certificate issued under this chapter.

The following motor vehicles shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter: (1) A motor vehicle twenty-five (25) years or older. (2) Any class of motor vehicles that is exempted by regulation of the department because the vehicle presents prohibitive inspection problems o…

(a) The department and the department of environmental management shall establish programs for the purpose of inspecting motor vehicles. It shall be the responsibility of the department to provide for the supervision of the operational aspects of emission inspection stations. It …

(a) A motor vehicle which, after inspection or re-inspection, fails to comply with the standards and criteria for motor vehicle emissions inspections shall be eligible for a waiver certificate, provided that: (1) The cost of emission related repairs performed exceeds the repair c…

(a) No person may issue a compliance certificate or a waiver certificate for a motor vehicle that has not been inspected in accordance with or is not in compliance with the standards and criteria for motor vehicle emissions inspections. (b) No person may alter, falsify or counter…

The general assembly finds and declares that: (1) Exhaust emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines used in trucks and buses traveling within Rhode Island contribute significantly to air pollution within the state; (2) Heavy-duty diesel engines in a poor state of repair emit highe…

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall, at the direction of the director of the department of revenue and in coordination with the department of environmental management, establish rules and regulations and develop testing techniques and emission standards …

Beginning no later than January 1, 2001, motor vehicles subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a roadside emissions inspection conducted by the state police or such other police officer defined in § 31-1-21 upon a specific designation by the state police, a…

(a) Beginning no later than January 1, 2003, all vehicles subject to the provisions of this chapter and registered in Rhode Island shall be inspected for emissions on a periodic basis. (b) Vehicles subject to the provisions of this chapter which are operated in fleets of ten (10)…

A fee, established in accordance with the rules and regulations of the department of revenue, is to be charged for each motor vehicle inspected. The amount of the fee collected shall provide for the cost of inspection, the cost of administering the motor vehicle inspection progra…

(a) After July 1, 2001, any person who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated under this chapter shall be subject to a civil violation and penalty of: (1) One hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) for a first offense; (2) Five hundr…

The administrator may contract the services of an independent contractor in order to carry out his or her duties under this chapter.

(a) Diesel emissions, due in large part to their high concentrations of particulate matter, are associated with severe and multiple health risks to the citizens of Rhode Island, including increased risks of cancer, decreased lung function, aggravated asthma, heart attacks and pre…

This act shall be known and may be cited as “An Act Concerning Government Responsibility To Protect Public Health From Diesel Pollution.” The general purposes of this act are to: (1) Minimize human exposure to and health risks from diesel pollution; (2) Reduce health costs, misse…

When used in this chapter: (1) “Best available retrofit technology” means technology, verified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or California Air Resources Board (CARB) for achieving reductions in particulate matter emissions at the highest classification leve…

(a) Purpose. To reduce health risks from diesel particulate matter (DPM) to Rhode Island school children by significantly reducing tailpipe emissions from school buses, and preventing engine emissions from entering the passenger cabin of the buses. (b) Requirements for Rhode Isla…