§ 31-1-3 - Types of vehicles.
SECTION 31-1-3
§ 31-1-3 Types of vehicles. – (a) "Antique motor car" means any motor vehicle which is more than twenty-five(25) years old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, thevehicle may be maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities,parades, and other functions of public interest and may not be used primarilyfor the transportation of passengers or goods over any public highway;
(2) After the vehicle has met the requirements of stateinspection, a registration plate may be issued to it on payment of the standardfee. The vehicle may be operated on the highways of this and other states, andmay in addition to the registration plate retain the designation "antique" anddisplay an "antique plate".
(b) "Antique motorcycle" means any motorcycle which is morethan twenty-five (25) years old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspectionrequirements, the vehicle shall be maintained solely for use in exhibitions,club activities, parades, and other functions of public interest and may not beused primarily for the transportation of passengers or goods over any publichighway;
(2) After the vehicle has met the requirements of stateinspection, a registration plate may be issued to it on payment of the standardfee, and the vehicle may be operated on the highways of this and other states,and may in addition to the registration plate retain the designation "antique"and display an "antique plate".
(c) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means vehicles of the firedepartment (fire patrol), police vehicles, vehicles used by Rhode Island statemarshals in the department of corrections, vehicles used by the state bombsquad within the division of state fire marshal, vehicles of municipaldepartments or public service corporations designated or authorized by theadministrator as ambulances and emergency vehicles; and privately owned motorvehicles of volunteer firefighters or privately owned motor vehicles ofvolunteer ambulance drivers or attendants, as authorized by the departmentchief or commander and permitted by the Rhode Island association of fire chiefsand Rhode Island association of police chiefs joint committee for volunteerwarning light permits.
(d) "Automobile" means, for registration purposes, everymotor vehicle carrying passengers other than for hire.
(e) "Bicycle" means every vehicle having two (2) tandemwheels, except scooters and similar devices, propelled exclusively by humanpower, and upon which a person may ride.
(f) "Electric motorized bicycles" means a motorized bicyclewhich may be propelled by human power or electric motor power, or by both, withan electric motor rated not more than two (2) (S.A.E.) horsepower, which iscapable of a maximum speed of not more than twenty-five (25) miles per hour.
(g) "Electric personal assistive mobility device" ("EPAMD")is a self-balancing two (2) non-tandem wheeled device, designed to transportonly one person, with an electric propulsion system which limits the maximumspeed of the device to fifteen (15) miles per hour.
(h) "Hearse" means every motor vehicle used for transportinghuman corpses. A hearse shall be considered an automobile for registrationpurposes.
(i) "Jitney or bus" means: (1) a "public bus" which includesevery motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, tractor trailer, or tractor trailercombination, used for the transportation of passengers for hire, and operatedwholly or in part upon any street or highway as a means of transportationsimilar to that afforded by a street railway company, by indiscriminatelyreceiving or discharging passengers, or running on a regular route or over anyportion of one, or between fixed termini; or (2) a "private bus" which includesevery motor vehicle other than a public bus or passenger van designed forcarrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the transportation ofpersons, and every motor vehicle other than a taxicab designed and used for thetransportation of persons for compensation.
(j) "Motorcycle" means only those motor vehicles having notmore than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground and a saddle on which thedriver sits astride, except bicycles with helper motors as defined insubsection ( l ) of this section.
(k) "Motor-driven cycle" means every motorcycle, includingevery motor scooter, with a motor of no greater than five (5) horsepower,except bicycles with helper motors as defined in subsection ( l ) of thissection.
(l) "Motorized bicycles" means two (2) wheel vehicles whichmay be propelled by human power or helper power, or by both, with a motor ratednot more than four and nine-tenths (4.9) horsepower and not greater than fifty(50) cubic centimeters, which are capable of a maximum speed of not more thanthirty (30) miles per hour.
(m) "Motorized tricycles" means tricycles which may bepropelled by human power or helper motor, or by both, with a motor rated nomore than 1.5 brake horsepower which is capable of a maximum speed of not morethan thirty (30) miles per hour.
(n) "Motorized wheelchair" means any self-propelled vehicle,designed for and used by a person with a disability, that is incapable of speedin excess of eight (8) miles per hour.
(o) "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which isself-propelled or propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolleywires, but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved exclusively by humanpower, an EPAMD and electric motorized bicycles as defined in subsection (f) ofthis section, and motorized wheelchairs.
(p) "Motor vehicle for hire" means every motor vehicle otherthan jitneys, public buses, hearses, and motor vehicles used chiefly inconnection with the conduct of funerals, to transport persons for compensationin any form, or motor vehicles rented for transporting persons either with orwithout furnishing an operator.
(q) "Passenger van" means every motor vehicle capable ofcarrying ten (10) to fourteen (14) passengers plus an operator and used forpersonal use or on a not-for-hire basis. Passenger vans may be used forvanpools, transporting passengers to and from work locations, provided that theoperator receives no remuneration other than free use of the vehicle.
(r) "Pedal carriages" (also known as "quadricycles") means anonmotorized bicycle with four (4) or more wheels operated by one or morepersons for the purpose of, or capable of, transporting additional passengersin seats or on a platform made a part of or otherwise attached to the pedalcarriage. The term shall not include a bicycle with trainer or beginner wheelsaffixed to it, nor shall it include a wheelchair or other vehicle with thepurpose of operation by or for the transportation of a handicapped person, norshall it include a tricycle built for a child or an adult with a seat for onlyone operator and no passenger.
(s) "Rickshaws" (also known as "pedi cabs") means anonmotorized bicycle with three (3) wheels operated by one person for thepurpose of, or capable of, transporting additional passengers in seats or on aplatform made a part of or otherwise attached to the rickshaw. This definitionshall not include a bicycle built for two (2) where the operators are seatedone behind the other, nor shall it include the operation of a bicycle withtrainer or beginner wheels affixed thereto, nor shall it include a wheelchairor other vehicle with the purpose of operation by or for the transportation ofa handicapped person.
(t) "School bus" means every motor vehicle owned by a publicor governmental agency, when operated for the transportation of children to orfrom school; or privately owned, when operated for compensation for thetransportation of children to or from school.
(u) "Suburban vehicle" means every motor vehicle with aconvertible or interchangeable body or with removable seats, usable for bothpassenger and delivery purposes, and including motor vehicles commonly known asstation or depot wagons or any vehicle into which access can be gained throughthe rear by means of a hatch or trunk and where the rear seats can be foldeddown to permit the carrying of articles as well as passengers.
(v) "Trackless trolley coach" means every motor vehicle whichis propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but notoperated on rails.
(w) "Camping recreational vehicle" means a vehicular typecamping unit, certified by the manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.2Standards designed primarily as temporary living quarters for recreation thathas either its own motive power or is mounted on or towed by another vehicle.The basic units are tent trailers, fifth wheel trailers, motorized campers,travel trailers, and pick-up campers.
(x) "Vehicle" means every device in, upon, or by which anyperson or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, exceptdevices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(y) Tent trailer: A towable recreational vehicle that ismounted on wheels and constructed with collapsible partial side walls that foldfor towing by another vehicle and unfold for use and which is eligible to beregistered for highway use.
(z) Fifth wheel trailer: A towable recreational vehicle, notexceeding four hundred (400) square feet in area, designed to be towed by amotorized vehicle that contains a towing mechanism that is mounted above orforward of the tow vehicle's rear axle and which is eligible to be registeredfor highway use.
(aa) Motorized camper: A camping recreational vehicle, builton or permanently attached to a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis cab or vanthat is an integral part of the completed vehicle.
(bb) Travel trailer: A towable recreational vehicle, notexceeding three hundred twenty (320) square feet in area, designed to be towedby a motorized vehicle containing a towing mechanism that is mounted behind thetow vehicle's bumper and which is eligible to be registered for highway use.
(cc) Pick-up camper: A camping recreational vehicleconsisting of a roof, floor, and sides designed to be loaded onto and unloadedfrom the back of a pick-up truck.
(dd) Park trailer: A camping recreational vehicle that iseligible to be registered for highway use and meets the following criteria: (i)built on a single chassis mounted on wheels; and (ii) certified by themanufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.5.
(ee) "Motor scooter" means a motor-driven cycle with a motorrated not more than four and nine-tenths (4.9) horsepower and not greater thanfifty (50) cubic centimeters, which is capable of a maximum speed of not morethan thirty (30) miles per hour.