Rhode Island § 31-3-18 § 31-3-18. Display of plates — Penalties.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 31-3-18 — § 31-3-18. Display of plates — Penalties.

Rhode Island § 31-3-18

Title 31Motor and Other vehicles

Ch. 31-3Registration of Vehicles

This text of Rhode Island § 31-3-18 (§ 31-3-18. Display of plates — Penalties.) 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 § 31-3-18 (2026).

Text

§ 31-3-18. Display of plates — Penalties.
(a) Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, transporter
            vehicle, in-transit vehicle, or a bailee engaged in a business as defined in § 31-1-17(a), or other than a motor vehicle owned by a duly authorized dealer in motor vehicles
            and which is used in the dealer's business shall be attached thereto one in the front
            and the other in the rear. The registration plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer,
            bailee, or a dealer's motor vehicle as defined in this subsection shall be attached
            to the rear of the vehicle.
         
(b) Every registrati

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§ 31-3-18. Display of plates — Penalties.

(a) Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, transporter vehicle, in-transit vehicle, or a bailee engaged in a business as defined in § 31-1-17(a), or other than a motor vehicle owned by a duly authorized dealer in motor vehicles and which is used in the dealer's business shall be attached thereto one in the front and the other in the rear. The registration plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer, bailee, or a dealer's motor vehicle as defined in this subsection shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle.

(b) Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging at a height of not less than twelve inches (12") from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate; in a place and position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible.

(c) Penalties. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a fine as enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

(d) All vehicles registered as passenger, commercial, trailer, motorcycle, suburban, farm, combination, taxi, radio operator, camper, public, racer tow, jitney, and antique must have displayed on them the registration plate(s) as described in § 31-3-11. This subsection does not apply to those registrants in possession of an alternative design plate as described in § 31-3-60 or any other specially authorized plate described in this chapter.

Legislative History

P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 3, § 9, G.L. 1956, § 31-3-18; P.L. 1968, ch. 103, § 1; P.L. 1970, ch. 108, § 2; P.L. 1978, ch. 386, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 165, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 109, § 56; P.L. 2006, ch. 216, § 7; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 12, § 5; P.L. 2009, ch. 245, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 261, § 1.