§ 31-3-3. Application for registration.
(a) Every owner of a vehicle subject to registration under this chapter shall apply to
the division of motor vehicles for the registration of it using the appropriate form
or forms furnished by the division of motor vehicles. Every application shall bear
the signature of the owner written with pen and ink and the signature shall be acknowledged
by the owner before a person authorized to administer oaths or as authorized in accordance
with subsection (b) and the application shall contain:
(1) The name, city or town of bona fide residence, actual residence address, and mail
address of the owner as appearing on the owner's motor vehicle operator's license
or state identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of chapter 8 of title 3, or business address of the owner if a firm, association, or if a corporation, the
name of the city or town in which the vehicle is physically and primarily housed.
For purposes of this section, "physically and primarily housed� is defined as that
city or town in which the vehicle is housed for a period or periods of time greater
than in any other city or town in the state of Rhode Island. The division of motor
vehicles may substitute other indicators of residence when necessary.
(2) A description of the vehicle, including, insofar as this specified data may exist
with respect to a given vehicle, the make, model, type of body, the number of cylinders,
the serial number of the vehicle, and the engine or other number of the vehicle. In
the event a vehicle is designed, constructed, converted, or rebuilt for the transportation
of property, the application shall include a statement of its capacity in terms of
maximum gross vehicle weight rating as authorized by the manufacturer of the chassis
or the complete vehicle.
(3) A statement whether liability insurance is carried on the vehicle, and, if there is
liability insurance, the name of the carrier, policy number, and effective dates of
the policy.
(4) Any further information as may reasonably be required by the division of motor vehicles
to enable it to determine whether the vehicle is lawfully entitled to registration.
(5) The exact mileage reading from the motor vehicle on the date of application.
(b) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall prescribe and/or approve
a limited power-of-attorney form, which may be used in connection with applications
for vehicle registrations in satisfaction of the provision of subsection (a).
(c) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall promulgate rules and regulations
in order to effectuate the purpose and requirements of using a limited power of attorney
form to register a vehicle. The rules and regulations shall require that the limited
power of attorney form includes an attestation of the owner of the vehicle granting
another identified person permission to register the vehicle on behalf of the owner.
The limited power of attorney shall be witnessed and executed before a notary public
and identify the information described in subsections (a)(1) through (a)(5).