Every interstate motor carrier engaged in the transportation of property for compensation over the highways of this state, subject to the provisions of this chapter, shall register and identify all vehicles to be operated in the state in accordance with the provisions contained in and mandated under the federal “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” (SAFETEA-LU) (Public Law 109-59, enacted August 10, 2005), the Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005 (Included within SAFETEA-LU), and the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA) (§§ 4302 — 4308 of SAFETEA-LU), and/or any related successor federal law(s). All intrastate carriers not subject to the provisions of the foregoing federal law shall apply to the administrator for the issuance of a vehicle identification device for the registration and identification of vehicles and shall be assessed twenty dollars ($20.00) for each identification device for which an application is made. All revenues received shall be deposited as general revenues. The identification device shall be furnished annually to every carrier whose duty it shall be to apply for it. It shall be unlawful for any motor vehicle to be engaged in transporting property for compensation in either intrastate or interstate commerce without the owner of it having applied for and received the required identification device, unless the vehicle is exempted from the provisions of this chapter. Each identification device shall be accompanied by a registration card issued by the administrator, which shall be in the possession of the vehicle’s driver when the vehicle is operating. Transfers of the identification device from one vehicle to another are hereby prohibited unless authorized by the administrator. The administrator, in his or her discretion, may refuse to reissue the identification device to the holder of any certificate, permit, or permit of registration, pending any complaint or hearing upon the question of revocation or suspension or in which such question is involved. The administrator shall prescribe reasonable rules and regulations governing the registration and identification of motor vehicles authorized for operation under this chapter. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

History of Section.
P.L. 1935, ch. 2268, art. 5, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 99, art. 5, § 11; P.L. 1946, ch. 1805, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 39-12-25; G.L. 1956, § 39-12-26; P.L. 1958, ch. 87, § 1; P.L. 1960, ch. 71, art. 3, § 32; P.L. 1967, ch. 209, § 6; P.L. 1969, ch. 240, § 13; P.L. 1980, ch. 339, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 508, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 129, art. 8, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 133, art. 34, § 5; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 40, § 118; P.L. 2002, ch. 292, § 129; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 26, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 485, § 2.