Rhode Island § 31-25-16 § 31-25-16. Authorized weight shown in registration — Exceeding limit.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 31-25-16 — § 31-25-16. Authorized weight shown in registration — Exceeding limit.

Rhode Island § 31-25-16

Title 31Motor and Other vehicles

Ch. 31-25Size, Weight, and Load Limits

This text of Rhode Island § 31-25-16 (§ 31-25-16. Authorized weight shown in registration — Exceeding limit.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-25-16 (2026).

Text

§ 31-25-16. Authorized weight shown in registration — Exceeding limit.
(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall insert in the registration
            card issued for a vehicle the gross weight for which it is registered. If it is a
            truck tractor to be used for propelling semi-trailers, the administrator shall separately
            insert the total permissible gross weight of the truck tractor and semi-trailers to
            be propelled by it. It shall be unlawful for any carrier to operate or permit to be
            operated any vehicle or combination of vehicles of a gross weight in excess of that
            registered by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles,

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§ 31-25-16. Authorized weight shown in registration — Exceeding limit.

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall insert in the registration card issued for a vehicle the gross weight for which it is registered. If it is a truck tractor to be used for propelling semi-trailers, the administrator shall separately insert the total permissible gross weight of the truck tractor and semi-trailers to be propelled by it. It shall be unlawful for any carrier to operate or permit to be operated any vehicle or combination of vehicles of a gross weight in excess of that registered by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, permitted by the department of transportation, or in excess of the limitations set forth in this chapter.

(b) For the purposes of this chapter, "carrierâ€� means and includes any company or person who furthers their commercial or private enterprise by use of the vehicle.

(c)(1) Penalties for violations of this section will be calculated on the legal weight in comparison to the actual weight and shall be heard and adjudicated at the traffic tribunal.

(2) The overweight penalties for vehicles with ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) gross vehicle weight or less shall be one hundred dollars ($100) per thousand pounds overweight or portion of it.

(3) The overweight penalties for vehicles exceeding ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) gross vehicle weight shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) per five hundred pounds (500 lbs.) overweight or portion of it.

(4) The overweight penalty for vehicles being operated in excess of one hundred four thousand, eight hundred pounds (104,800 lbs.) gross vehicle weight shall be one thousand twenty-five dollars ($1,025) in addition to the penalties enumerated in subsection (c)(3) of this section.

(5) The overweight penalty for vehicles being operated in excess of one hundred thirty thousand pounds (130,000 lbs.) gross vehicle weight shall be two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) in addition to the penalties enumerated in subsection (c)(3) of this section.

Legislative History

P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 35, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 31-25-16; P.L. 1983, ch. 213, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 437, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 445, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 287, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 126, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 218, art. 6, § 13; P.L. 2002, ch. 58, § 5; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 12, § 11; P.L. 2022, ch. 178, § 1, effective June 27, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 179, § 1, effective June 27, 2022; P.L. 2025, ch. 278, art. 11, § 6, effective June 29, 2025.