§ 31-1-3. Types of vehicles.
(a)(1) "Antique motor car� means any motor vehicle that is more than twenty-five (25) years
old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, the vehicle may be
maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions
of public interest. The vehicle may also be used for limited enjoyment and purposes
other than the previously mentioned activities, but may not be used primarily for
the transportation of passengers or goods over any public highway.
(2) After the vehicle has met the requirements of state inspection, a registration plate
may be issued to it on payment of the standard fee. The vehicle may be operated on
the highways of this and other states, and may, in addition to the registration plate,
retain the designation "antique� and display an "antique plate.�
(3) For any vehicle that is more than twenty-five (25) years old, the division of motor
vehicles may also issue or approve, subject to rules and regulations that may be promulgated
by the administrator, a "year of manufacture plate� for the vehicle that is an exact
replica plate designating the exact year of manufacture of the vehicle. The year of
manufacture plate, as authorized by this subsection, need only be attached to the
rear of the vehicle.
(b)(1) "Antique motorcycle� means any motorcycle that is more than twenty-five (25) years
old. Unless fully inspected and meeting inspection requirements, the vehicle shall
be maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions
of public interest. The vehicle may also be used for limited enjoyment and purposes
other than the previously mentioned activities, but may not be used primarily for
the transportation of passengers or goods over any public highway; and
(2) After the vehicle has met the requirements of state inspection, a registration plate
may be issued to it, on payment of the standard fee, and the vehicle may be operated
on the highways of this and other states, and may, in addition to the registration
plate, retain the designation "antique� and display an "antique plate.�
(c) "Authorized emergency vehicle� means vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol);
police vehicles; vehicles of the department of corrections while in the performance
of official duties; vehicles used by the state bomb squad within the office of state
fire marshal; vehicles of municipal departments or public service corporations designated
or authorized by the administrator as ambulances and emergency vehicles; and privately
owned motor vehicles of volunteer firefighters or privately owned motor vehicles of
volunteer ambulance drivers or attendants, as authorized by the department chief or
commander and permitted by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs and Rhode Island
Association of Police Chiefs Joint Committee for Volunteer Warning Light Permits.
(d) "Automobile� means, for registration purposes, every motor vehicle carrying passengers
other than for hire.
(e) "Bicycle� means every vehicle having two (2) tandem wheels, except scooters and similar
devices, propelled exclusively by human power, and upon which a person may ride.
(f) "Camping recreational vehicle� means a vehicular type camping unit, certified by the
manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.2 Standards, designed primarily as temporary
living quarters for recreation that has either its own motor power or is mounted on,
or towed by, another vehicle. The basic units are tent trailers, fifth-wheel trailers,
motorized campers, travel trailers, and pick-up campers.
(g) "Electric motorized bicycleâ€�, also called an "electric bicycleâ€�, as defined in § 31-19.7-1, means a two-wheel (2) vehicle that may be propelled by human power or electric motor
power, or by both, with an electric motor rated not more than two (2) (S.A.E.) horsepower,
that is capable of a maximum speed of not more than twenty-eight miles per hour (28
m.p.h.).
(h) "Electric personal assistive mobility device� ("EPAMD�) is a self-balancing, non-tandem
two-wheeled (2) device, designed to transport only one person, with an electric propulsion
system that limits the maximum speed of the device to fifteen miles per hour (15 m.p.h.).
(i) "Fifth-wheel trailer�: A towable recreational vehicle, not exceeding four hundred
(400) square feet in area, designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle that contains
a towing mechanism that is mounted above or forward of the tow vehicle's rear axle
and that is eligible to be registered for highway use.
(j) "Hearse� means every motor vehicle used for transporting human corpses. A hearse shall
be considered an automobile for registration purposes.
(k) "Jitney or bus� means: (1) A "public bus� that includes every motor vehicle, trailer,
semi-trailer, tractor trailer, or tractor trailer combination, used for the transportation
of passengers for hire, and operated wholly or in part upon any street or highway
as a means of transportation similar to that afforded by a street railway company,
by indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers, or running on a regular route
or over any portion of one, or between fixed termini; or (2) A "private bus� that
includes every motor vehicle other than a public bus or passenger van designed for
carrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the transportation of persons,
and every motor vehicle other than a taxicab designed and used for the transportation
of persons for compensation.
(l) "Kei car� or "Kei truck� means every motor vehicle of the keijid�sha class of imported
vehicles, including, but not limited to, mini-trucks, microvans, and Kei cars imported
pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 30112(b)(9), having four (4) wheels, an engine displacement of six hundred sixty cubic centimeters
(660 cc) or less, an overall length of one hundred thirty inches (130″) or less, an
overall height of seventy-eight inches (78″) or less, and an overall width of sixty
inches (60″) or less.
(m) "Low-speed motor vehicle� or "low-speed vehicle� means a motor vehicle defined in
49 C.F.R. § 571.3 as a vehicle that is four (4) wheeled, whose speed attainable in one mile is more
than twenty miles per hour (20 m.p.h.) and not more than twenty-five miles per hour
(25 m.p.h.) on a paved level surface, is electric, and whose gross vehicle weight
rating is less than three thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.). All low-speed motor vehicles
shall comply with the standards established in 49 C.F.R. § 571.500, as amended, and pursuant thereto, shall be equipped with headlamps, front and rear
turn signal lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, an exterior mirror mounted on the driver's
side of the vehicle and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side
of the vehicle or an interior mirror, a parking brake, a windshield that conforms
to the federal standards on glazing materials, a vehicle identification number that
conforms to the requirements of 49 C.F.R. pt. 565 for such numbers, a Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly conforming to 49 C.F.R. § 571.209, installed at each designated seating position, and reflex reflectors; provided,
that one reflector is red on each side as far to the rear as practicable and one reflector
is red on the rear. A low-speed motor vehicle that meets the requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 571.500, as amended, and is equipped as herein provided, may be registered in this state,
subject to inspection and insurance requirements.
(n) "Motorcycle� means only those motor vehicles having not more than three (3) wheels
in contact with the ground and a saddle on which the driver sits astride, except bicycles
with helper motors as defined in subsection (p) of this section.
(o) "Motor-driven cycle� means every motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a
motor of no greater than five (5) horsepower, except bicycles with helper motors as
defined in subsection (p) of this section.
(p) "Motorized bicycles� means two-wheel (2) vehicles that may be propelled by human power
or helper power, or by both, with a motor rated not more than four and nine-tenths
(4.9) horsepower and not greater than fifty cubic centimeters (50 cc), that are capable
of a maximum speed of not more than thirty miles per hour (30 m.p.h.).
(q) "Motorized camper�: A camping recreational vehicle, built on, or permanently attached
to, a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis cab or van that is an integral part of
the completed vehicle.
(r) "Motorized tricycles� means tricycles that may be propelled by human power or helper
motor, or by both, with a motor rated no more than 1.5 brake horsepower that is capable
of a maximum speed of not more than thirty miles per hour (30 m.p.h.).
(s) "Motorized wheelchair� means any self-propelled vehicle, designed for, and used by,
a person with a disability that is incapable of speed in excess of eight miles per
hour (8 m.p.h.).
(t) "Motor scooter� means a motor-driven cycle with a motor rated not more than four and
nine-tenths (4.9) horsepower and not greater than fifty cubic centimeters (50 cc)
that is capable of a maximum speed of not more than thirty miles per hour (30 m.p.h.).
(u) "Motor vehicle� means every vehicle that is self-propelled or propelled by electric
power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except vehicles
moved exclusively by human power, an EPAMD and electric motorized bicycles as defined
in subsection (g) of this section, and motorized wheelchairs.
(v) "Motor vehicle for hire� means every motor vehicle other than jitneys, public buses,
hearses, and motor vehicles used chiefly in connection with the conduct of funerals,
to transport persons for compensation in any form, or motor vehicles rented for transporting
persons either with or without furnishing an operator.
(w) "Natural gas vehicle� means a vehicle operated by an engine fueled primarily by natural
gas.
(x) "Park trailer�: A camping recreational vehicle that is eligible to be registered for
highway use and meets the following criteria: (1) Built on a single chassis mounted
on wheels; and (2) Certified by the manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.5.
(y) "Passenger van� means every motor vehicle capable of carrying ten (10) to fourteen
(14) passengers plus an operator and used for personal use or on a not-for-hire basis.
Passenger vans may be used for vanpools, transporting passengers to and from work
locations, provided that the operator receives no remuneration other than free use
of the vehicle.
(z) "Pedal carriage� (also known as "quadricycles�) means a nonmotorized bicycle with
four (4) or more wheels operated by one or more persons for the purpose of, or capable
of, transporting additional passengers in seats or on a platform made a part of or
otherwise attached to the pedal carriage. The term shall not include a bicycle with
trainer or beginner wheels affixed to it, nor shall it include a wheelchair or other
vehicle with the purpose of operation by or for the transportation of a person with
a disability, nor shall it include a tricycle built for a child or an adult with a
seat for only one operator and no passenger.
(aa) "Pick-up camper�: A camping recreational vehicle consisting of a roof, floor, and
sides designed to be loaded onto and unloaded from the back of a pick-up truck.
(bb) "Rickshaw� (also known as "pedi cab�) means a nonmotorized bicycle with three (3)
wheels operated by one person for the purpose of, or capable of, transporting additional
passengers in seats or on a platform made a part of, or otherwise attached to, the
rickshaw. This definition shall not include a bicycle built for two (2) where the
operators are seated one behind the other, nor shall it include the operation of a
bicycle with trainer or beginner wheels affixed thereto, nor shall it include a wheelchair
or other vehicle with the purpose of operation by or for the transportation of a person
with a disability.
(cc) "School bus� means every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency, when
operated for the transportation of children to or from school; or privately owned,
when operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school.
(dd) "Suburban vehicle� means every motor vehicle with a convertible or interchangeable
body or with removable seats, usable for both passenger and delivery purposes, and
including motor vehicles commonly known as station or depot wagons or any vehicle
into which access can be gained through the rear by means of a hatch or trunk and
where the rear seats can be folded down to permit the carrying of articles as well
as passengers.
(ee) "Tent trailer�: A towable recreational vehicle that is mounted on wheels and constructed
with collapsible partial side walls that fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold
for use and that is eligible to be registered for highway use.
(ff) "Trackless trolley coach� means every motor vehicle that is propelled by electric
power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated on rails.
(gg) "Travel trailer�: A towable recreational vehicle, not exceeding three hundred twenty
square feet (320 sq. ft.) in area, designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle containing
a towing mechanism that is mounted behind the tow vehicle's bumper and that is eligible
to be registered for highway use.
(hh) "Vehicle� means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may
be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices used exclusively upon stationary
rails or tracks.