TITLE 31

Motor and Other vehicles

CHAPTER 31-3

Registration of Vehicles

SECTION 31-3-16



   § 31-3-16  General assembly plates. –

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is directed to make

available to each duly elected member of the senate and of the house of

representatives of the general assembly of the state of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations, so long as the member is serving during the term for

which he or she has been elected as a member of the general assembly and no

longer, two (2) special motor vehicle registration plates carrying on the first

plate as a courtesy the word "senate" in the case of the senate, and the word

"house" in the case of the house of representatives. On the second set of

plates, in addition to the wording above, the letter "a" denoting auxiliary

shall be placed on the plates. The plates are to have special identifying

numbers corresponding to the number of the senatorial or representative

district from which the member was elected.



   (b) The special motor vehicle registration plates shall carry

thereon the design and the seal of the state of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations and shall be designed, sold, and attached to the motor vehicle

without cost to the state.



   (c) Each member of any general assembly, at the expiration of

his or her term as member, unless reelected, may retain the special motor

vehicle registration plates in his or her own keeping, provided he or she does

not display the plates upon any motor vehicle or any other form of

transportation owned or operated by the member.



   (d) Any violation of the provisions of subsection (c) of this

section shall be deemed a civil violation, and any person displaying a special

motor vehicle registration plate upon any vehicle shall, upon conviction, be

fined ten dollars ($10.00) for each offense.



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

reserve for the future use of each member of the general assembly the private

registration plates which he or she turns into the division of motor vehicles

in return for legislator's plates. The administrator of the division of motor

vehicles shall annually, during the month of January, submit a written notice

to each member of the general assembly notifying him or her of the private

registration plates which are being reserved for his or her future use. The

notice shall indicate the registration plate designation and the legislator for

which it is being reserved.



   (f) In a state of emergency, any member of the general

assembly driving a vehicle bearing a special motor vehicle registration plate

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

notwithstanding any driving ban imposed by any state or municipal authority.



History of Section.

(P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 3, § 8; P.L. 1951, ch. 2826, § 7; G.L.

1956, § 31-3-16; P.L. 1967, ch. 6, § 1; P.L. 1969, ch. 13, § 1;

P.L. 1978, ch. 381, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 310, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 218,

art. 6, § 1.)