Rhode Island § 31-3-117 - Registration of Vehicles

§ 31-3-117. Minimum prepaid special motor vehicle registration plate orders.

(a) As to any special motor vehicle registration plates that have been authorized pursuant to this chapter but that have not been issued or printed as of July 2, 2018, because the minimum number of prepaid orders for the plates has not been reached, the minimum number of plates that must be prepaid and ordered prior to the plates being made and issued shall be deemed to be six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type. If the minimum number of prepaid plates provided pursuant to any other section of this chapter is a higher number, that number shall be deemed reduced to six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type.

(b) As to any special plates that are authorized pursuant to this chapter after July 2, 2018, the minimum number of plates that must be prepaid and ordered prior to the plates being made and issued shall be six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type.

(c)(1) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the minimum number of prepaid orders for special motor vehicle registration plates that either have been authorized pursuant to this chapter, but have not been issued or printed as of July 2, 2022, because the minimum number of prepaid orders for the plates has not been reached or are authorized pursuant to this chapter after July 2, 2022, may be reduced to one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates per plate type if the applicable sponsoring nonprofit entity delivers to the division of motor vehicles:

(i) Orders for a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates per plate type; and

(ii) A nonrefundable payment to compensate for the amount of special plate orders fewer than six hundred (600). The payment shall be calculated as follows: six hundred (600) orders, less the number of orders placed, multiplied by thirty dollars ($30.00).

(2) The portion of the applicable sponsoring nonprofit entity’s issuance surcharge that is to be allocated to the general fund shall be deemed paid for the first six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type issued by the payment in an amount as determined by subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this section.

(3) The division of motor vehicles shall make available plates eligible for issuance pursuant to subsection (c)(1) of this section, no later than six (6) months after receipt of the orders and the nonrefundable payment in the amount determined by subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this section; provided, however, that if multiple orders and payments in amounts pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this section are received from different sponsoring nonprofit entities, the division of motor vehicles shall be afforded no more than six (6) months for each separate plate that becomes eligible for issuance and may complete the work necessary for the issuance of one order at a time in the order of receipt.

(4) [Deleted by P.L. 2025, ch. 450, § 1 and P.L. 2025, ch. 451, § 1.]