(a)  The administrator of the division of motor vehicles, upon the surrender of the registration and number plates for a motor vehicle for which a financial security bond or deposit was accepted by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, shall permit the cancellation of any bond or shall direct that any deposit be returned by the general treasurer. The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall not release the bond or deposit in the event any action for damages upon a liability referred to in this chapter is then pending, or any judgment upon any liability then outstanding and unsatisfied, or in the event the administrator of the division of motor vehicles has received notice that the person has within the period of three (3) months immediately preceding been involved as a driver in any motor vehicle accident. An affidavit of the applicant of nonexistence of those facts shall be sufficient evidence of it in the absence of evidence to the contrary in the records of the division of motor vehicles.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 31-47-6

  • Administrator: means the administrator of the division of motor vehicles in the department of revenue. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-47-2
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Driver: means every person who drives, or is in actual physical control of, a motor vehicle. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-47-2
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Financial security bond: means for each motor vehicle a bond executed by the owner and by a surety company duly authorized to transact business in this state. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-47-2
  • Motor vehicle: means every vehicle required to display registration plates for operation upon public highways of this state. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-47-2
  • motor vehicle accident: means any accident involving a motor vehicle that results in bodily injury to, or death of, any person, or damage to the property of any person in excess of five hundred dollars ($500). See Rhode Island General Laws 31-47-2
  • Person: includes every natural person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-47-2
  • Registration: means registration certificates and registration plates issued under the laws of this state pertaining to the registration of motor vehicles. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-47-2

(b)  The administrator of the division of motor vehicles, subject to any reasonable regulations that he or she may establish, shall permit the form of financial security acceptable under this chapter to be substituted for another form of financial security which may already have been accepted by the assistant director as complies with the provisions of this chapter.

History of Section.
P.L. 1991, ch. 167, § 1.