Rhode Island § 31-3-40 - Registration of Vehicles

§ 31-3-40. Special use identification tags.

(a) A new car dealer or used car dealer may apply to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles for special use identification tags for use on vehicles sold by him or her pending the registration of the vehicles, and provided that all vehicles upon which special use identification tags are to be used conform to the standards for general safety. Special use identification tags shall be of a size and type determined by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, and shall be sold to dealers at a cost to be determined by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per plate.

(b) Special use certificates and special use identification tags may be used on a vehicle sold by the dealer to a resident or nonresident. The special use certificate and special use identification tags shall be valid for no more than twenty (20) days including the date of delivery of the certificate and tags by the dealer, and no dealer or any other person shall extend the expiration date thereof, nor shall any person other than the administrator of the division of motor vehicles issue another similar certificate or tag. The special certificate shall be carried in the vehicle bearing the special use identification tags whenever the vehicle is being operated on a public highway. Special use identification tags shall be displayed in the same manner as required in this chapter for the display of registration plates. Upon the removal of special use identification tags from a vehicle, they shall be destroyed immediately by the person to whom issued or his or her agent.

(c) Upon the issuance of a special use certificate and special use identification tags, the dealer shall prepare the special use certificate in triplicate and shall print or type all of the information required on the certificate. The dealer shall imprint legibly with a rubber date stamp, in black ink, upon the special use identification tag, the date of expiration of the tag in letters and numerals not less than one inch (1″) in height, nor less than one-fourth of an inch (¼″) in width. The special use identification tag shall also contain the vehicle identification number of the car on which it is displayed and the dealer’s identification number. The original copy of the special use certificate shall be given to the person named in the certificate. The duplicate copy shall become the notice required by subsection (d) of this section. The third copy shall be held in the dealer’s files and shall be exhibited upon demand of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles or of any peace officer.

(d) Notice of delivery of the special use certificate and special use identification tags shall be mailed to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles not later than the next business day after delivery.

(e) In the event that a dealer goes out of business, or transfers his or her business to any other person, firm, or corporation, the dealer shall return to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles within five (5) days all special use certificates and special use identification tags held by him or her.

(f) No dealer shall make any use of special use certificates or special use identification tags except in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(g) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.