§ 31-3.2-2 - Registration.
SECTION 31-3.2-2
§ 31-3.2-2 Registration. – (a) General requirements. Except as provided in this chapter, no personshall operate any snowmobile or recreational vehicle within the state unlessthe snowmobile or recreational vehicle has been registered in accordance withthis chapter. Any operator of any snowmobile or recreational vehicle notregistered in accordance with this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a civilviolation and be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for eachoffense. All recreational vehicles sold by a dealer shall be registered at timeof sale of such vehicle. Any recreational vehicle purchased for use exclusivelyoutside of the state of Rhode Island shall not require registration at the timeof purchase; provided that the purchaser of such recreational vehicle shallsign a declaration, provided by the director via the dealer, stating that thepurchaser understands the conditions under which a recreational vehicle must beregistered and the penalty for violation of such registration requirements.Each signed declaration shall be forwarded by the dealer to the director.
(1) Recreational vehicle safety course and safetycertificate. The director shall establish a curriculum or curricula for arecreational vehicle safety training course or courses. Any such curriculum mayinclude, but not be limited to, on-vehicle training and safe riding practices.The director may establish different courses and curricula for different typesof recreational vehicles. The director may permit any such safety trainingcourse to be given by any private person, club, association or municipalitythat meets standards established by the director. The director may establish areasonable fee that any such person or entity may charge for such course orcourses.
(2) The safety course shall be required for all first timerecreational vehicle buyers, as well as all operators under the age of sixteen(16). Proof of completion of safety course shall be carried while operating anyrecreational vehicle off private property.
(b) Application – Issuance – Reports.Application for registration shall be made to the director in such form as thedirector shall prescribe, and shall state the name and address of every ownerof the snowmobile or recreational vehicle and be signed by at least one owner.Upon receipt of the application and the appropriate fee, the snowmobile orrecreational vehicle shall be registered and a reflectorized identificationnumber assigned which shall be affixed to the snowmobile or recreationalvehicle in such manner as the director shall prescribe.
(1) The fee for registration of each snowmobile orrecreational vehicle, other than those registered by a dealer or manufacturerpursuant to subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) shall be as follows: twenty-fivedollars ($25.00) for one year and one dollar ($1.00) for a duplicate ortransfer.
(2) The total registration fee for all snowmobiles orrecreational vehicles owned by a dealer and operated for demonstration ortesting purposes shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per year.
(3) The total registration fee for all snowmobiles orrecreational vehicles owned by a manufacturer and operated for research,testing, experimentation, or demonstration purposes shall be one hundreddollars ($100) per year. Dealer and manufacturer registrations are nottransferable.
(4) In addition to the registration fees enumerated insubdivisions (1) – (3) of this subsection, an annual registration fee often dollars ($10.00) for residents and twenty dollars ($20.00) for nonresidentson all off-road facilities established by the department of environmentalmanagement for such purposes. No person shall operate any recreational vehicleson off-road facilities which has not been registered as required by thissubdivision.
(d) Renewal. Every owner of a snowmobile orrecreational vehicle shall renew his or her registration in such manner as thedirector shall prescribe, upon payment of the same registration fees providedin subsection (c).
(e) Snowmobiles or recreational vehicles owned by state orpolitical subdivision. A registration number shall be issued without thepayment of a fee for snowmobiles or recreational vehicles owned by the state ofRhode Island or a political subdivision of the state upon application for it.
(f) Exemptions. No registration under this sectionshall be required for the following described snowmobiles or recreationalvehicles:
(1) Snowmobiles or recreational vehicles owned and used bythe United States, another state, or a political subdivision of the UnitedStates or another state.
(g) Special Permits. The director of environmentalmanagement may issue special permits to out of state snowmobiles orrecreational vehicles from a state or country where registration is notrequired to operate in Rhode Island for limited periods of time not to exceedthirty (30) days in connection with organized group outings, trail rides,races, rallies, and other promotional events.
(h) Non-resident recreational vehicle registration.The registration provisions of this section shall not apply to non-residentowners who have registered their recreational vehicles in compliance with theregistration and licensing laws of the state, province, district or country ofresidence in which they reside, provided that the recreational vehicle isappropriately identified in accordance with the laws of the state of residence.The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a resident of anotherstate, province, district or country that does not have a recreational vehicleregistration and identification law.