§ 31-10-1. License required to drive.
(a) No person, except those expressly exempted in this chapter, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless that person has a valid license as an operator or chauffeur under the provisions of this chapter. No person shall receive an operator’s license unless and until he or she surrenders to the division of motor vehicles all valid operators’ licenses in his or her possession issued to that person by any other jurisdiction. All surrendered licenses shall be returned by the division of motor vehicles to the issuer together with the information that the licensee is now licensed in this state. No person shall be permitted to have more than one valid operator’s license at any time. Any resident as defined under § 31-1-18 shall be required to obtain a Rhode Island operator’s or chauffeur’s license within thirty (30) days of establishing residency.
(b) No person shall drive a motor vehicle as a chauffeur unless he or she holds a valid chauffeur’s license. No person shall receive a chauffeur’s license unless and until he or she surrenders to the division of motor vehicles any operator’s license issued to him or her, or an affidavit that he or she does not possess an operator’s license.
(c) Any person holding a valid chauffeur’s license under this chapter need not procure an operator’s license.
(d) Any person licensed as an operator or chauffeur under this chapter may exercise the privilege granted by that license upon all streets and highways in this state, and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise that privilege by any county, municipal, or local board, or by any body having authority to adopt local police regulations.
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 15, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 31-10-1; P.L. 1962, ch. 204, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 26, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-10 - Operators’ and Chauffeurs’ Licenses
Section 31-10-1. - License required to drive.
Section 31-10-2. - Persons exempt from licensing requirements.
Section 31-10-3. - Persons ineligible for licenses.
Section 31-10-4. - Classification of chauffeurs — Examination of applicants.
Section 31-10-5. - Special restrictions for drivers for compensation.
Section 31-10-5.1. - School bus driver annual training.
Section 31-10-6. - Graduated licensing for person under the age of eighteen (18).
Section 31-10-6.1. - Supervising driver.
Section 31-10-6.2. - Out-of-state exceptions.
Section 31-10-6.3. - Duration and fee.
Section 31-10-6.4. - Violations.
Section 31-10-6.5. - Insurance status.
Section 31-10-7. - Temporary driver’s permit — Persons over the age of eighteen (18).
Section 31-10-8. - Special armed forces operator’s license.
Section 31-10-9. - Operator’s license issued after expiration of armed forces license.
Section 31-10-10. - Rules as to armed forces license.
Section 31-10-11. - Application forms — Destruction of refused applications.
Section 31-10-12. - Contents of application.
Section 31-10-13. - Record from other jurisdiction.
Section 31-10-14. - Applications of minors.
Section 31-10-15. - Liability of person signing minor’s application.
Section 31-10-16. - Liability when minor proves financial responsibility.
Section 31-10-17. - Release from liability.
Section 31-10-18. - Cancellation of license upon death of person signing minor’s application.
Section 31-10-20. - Driver education course requirement before licensing.
Section 31-10-21. - Written and eye examination.
Section 31-10-22. - Road test.
Section 31-10-23. - Examiners not liable for acts of persons being examined.
Section 31-10-24. - Applicants excused from road test.
Section 31-10-26. - Issuance of license.
Section 31-10-26.1. - Anatomical gifts by drivers.
Section 31-10-27. - License to be carried and exhibited on demand.
Section 31-10-28. - Restricted licenses.
Section 31-10-29. - Duplicate certificates.
Section 31-10-30. - Expiration and renewal of licenses.
Section 31-10-32. - Notice of change of address or name.
Section 31-10-33. - Records to be kept by the division of motor vehicles.
Section 31-10-34 - — 31-10-34.4. Repealed.
Section 31-10-34.5. - Transfer of functions to administrator of division of motor vehicles.
Section 31-10-35. - Commercial drivers’ school license required.
Section 31-10-36. - Application for commercial drivers’ school license.
Section 31-10-37. - Fee — Expiration of license — Duplicates.
Section 31-10-38. - Denial, suspension, or revocation of commercial drivers’ school licenses.
Section 31-10-39. - Instructor’s license required.
Section 31-10-40. - Fee — Expiration of instructor’s license.
Section 31-10-41. - Denial, suspension, or revocation of instructor’s license.
Section 31-10-43. - Penalties for violations.
Section 31-10-44. - Medical advisory board.
Section 31-10-45. - Safety belts.
Section 31-10-46. - Driver education course — Credit given.
Section 31-10-47. - Notification of selective service registration requirement.
Section 31-10-48. - Veteran designation on operator license.