TITLE 31

Motor and Other vehicles

CHAPTER 31-3

Registration of Vehicles

SECTION 31-3-17.4



   § 31-3-17.4  Firefighter plates. –

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered and

authorized to make available to all active firefighters and retired

firefighters a special motor vehicle registration plate for any motor vehicle

eligible for registration as an automobile or commercial vehicle having a gross

weight of ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) or less.



   (b) The special motor vehicle registration plate shall carry

on it the designation "Firefighter" and a Maltese cross with the design

provided by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs.



   (c) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall

issue the plate upon payment of a service charge of twenty-five dollars

($25.00) and a transfer charge of five dollars ($5.00) for the plate, of which

fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be deposited to the division of motor vehicles

manufacturing account.



   (d) For the purpose of this section an active or retired

member of any fire department shall be defined as any person certified by the

chief of the fire department as currently a member of said department with at

least one year active service or retired under honorable condition as a

firefighter.



   (e) In a state of emergency, any active member of a fire

department driving a vehicle bearing the special motor vehicle registration

plate shall be authorized and empowered to travel upon the highways of the

state notwithstanding any driving ban imposed by the state or municipal

authority in accordance with their official duties.



History of Section.

(P.L. 2004, ch. 605, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 188, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch.

220, § 1.)