TITLE 31
Motor and Other vehicles
CHAPTER 31-2
Division of Motor Vehicles
SECTION 31-2-11
§ 31-2-11 Records open for inspection
Admissibility of certified copies of records as evidence.
(a) All records of the division of motor vehicles, other than those declared by
law to be confidential for the use of the division of motor vehicles, shall be
open to public inspection during office hours. Any copies or photostatic copies
of any records, books, papers, documents, and rulings of the division of motor
vehicles when certified to be correct by an employee of the division of motor
vehicles who is designated for this purpose by the administrator of the
division of motor vehicles shall be acceptable as evidence in the courts of
this state with the same force and effect as the originals, in all cases where
such original records, books, papers, documents, and rulings would be admitted
in evidence.
(b) Whenever any subpoena duces tecum is issued to the
administrator of the division of motor vehicles for the production in court of
the records, books, papers, documents, or rulings of the division of motor
vehicles it shall not be necessary for the administrator of the division of
motor vehicles to whom the subpoena is issued to appear personally, and a copy
or photostat duly certified under the seal of the department by the
administrator of the division of motor vehicles of the records, books, papers,
documents, or rulings of the division of motor vehicles submitted as described
in this section shall be full compliance with the subpoena. Under the
application to the court and for good cause shown, the court may compel the
attendance of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles or the
supervisor or an assistant who is charged with the care and custody of the
official records or any investigator of the division of motor vehicles to
answer the subpoena duces tecum.
(c) For the purposes outlined in this section, the person
designated by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall be the
official "keeper of records" for the division.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 2, § 7; G.L. 1956, § 31-2-11; P.L. 1968,
ch. 155, § 1; P.L. 1969, ch. 133, § 1.)
