§ 31-3.2-2. Registration.
(a) General requirements. Except as provided in this chapter, no person shall operate any snowmobile or recreational
vehicle within the state unless the snowmobile or recreational vehicle has been registered
in accordance with this chapter. Any operator of any snowmobile or recreational vehicle
not registered in accordance with this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a civil violation
and be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for each offense. All recreational
vehicles sold by a dealer shall be registered at time of sale of such vehicle. Any
recreational vehicle purchased for use exclusively outside of the state of Rhode Island
shall not require registration at the time of purchase; provided that the purchaser
of such recreational vehicle shall sign a declaration, provided by the director via
the dealer, stating that the purchaser understands the conditions under which a recreational
vehicle must be registered and the penalty for violation of such registration requirements.
Each signed declaration shall be forwarded by the dealer to the director.
(1) Recreational vehicle safety course and safety certificate. The director shall establish a curriculum or curricula for a recreational vehicle
safety training course or courses. Any such curriculum may include, but not be limited
to, on-vehicle training and safe riding practices. The director may establish different
courses and curricula for different types of recreational vehicles. The director may
permit any such safety training course to be given by any private person, club, association
or municipality that meets standards established by the director. The director may
establish a reasonable fee that any such person or entity may charge for such course
or courses.
(2) The safety course shall be required for all first time recreational vehicle buyers,
as well as all operators under the age of sixteen (16). Proof of completion of safety
course shall be carried while operating any recreational vehicle off private property.
(b) Application — Issuance — Reports. Application for registration shall be made to the director in such form as the director
shall prescribe, and shall state the name and address of every owner of the snowmobile
or recreational vehicle and be signed by at least one owner. Upon receipt of the application
and the appropriate fee, the snowmobile or recreational vehicle shall be registered
and a reflectorized identification number assigned which shall be affixed to the snowmobile
or recreational vehicle in such manner as the director shall prescribe.
(c) Fees for registration.
(1) The fee for registration of each snowmobile or recreational vehicle, other than those
registered by a dealer or manufacturer pursuant to subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) shall
be as follows: twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for one year and one dollar ($1.00) for
a duplicate or transfer.
(2) The total registration fee for all snowmobiles or recreational vehicles owned by a
dealer and operated for demonstration or testing purposes shall be twenty-five dollars
($25.00) per year.
(3) The total registration fee for all snowmobiles or recreational vehicles owned by a
manufacturer and operated for research, testing, experimentation, or demonstration
purposes shall be one hundred dollars ($100) per year. Dealer and manufacturer registrations
are not transferable.
(4) In addition to the registration fees enumerated in subdivisions (1) — (3) of this
subsection, an annual registration fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for residents and twenty
dollars ($20.00) for nonresidents on all off-road facilities established by the department
of environmental management for such purposes. No person shall operate any recreational
vehicles on off-road facilities which has not been registered as required by this
subdivision.
(d) Renewal. Every owner of a snowmobile or recreational vehicle shall renew his or her registration
in such manner as the director shall prescribe, upon payment of the same registration
fees provided in subsection (c).
(e) Snowmobiles or recreational vehicles owned by state or political subdivision. A registration number shall be issued without the payment of a fee for snowmobiles
or recreational vehicles owned by the state of Rhode Island or a political subdivision
of the state upon application for it.
(f) Exemptions. No registration under this section shall be required for the following described snowmobiles
or recreational vehicles:
(1) Snowmobiles or recreational vehicles owned and used by the United States, another
state, or a political subdivision of the United States or another state.
(g) Special Permits. The director of environmental management may issue special permits to out of state
snowmobiles or recreational vehicles from a state or country where registration is
not required to operate in Rhode Island for limited periods of time not to exceed
thirty (30) days in connection with organized group outings, trail rides, races, rallies,
and other promotional events.
(h) Non-resident recreational vehicle registration. The registration provisions of this section shall not apply to non-resident owners
who have registered their recreational vehicles in compliance with the registration
and licensing laws of the state, province, district or country of residence in which
they reside, provided that the recreational vehicle is appropriately identified in
accordance with the laws of the state of residence. The provisions of this subsection
shall not apply to a resident of another state, province, district or country that
does not have a recreational vehicle registration and identification law.