§ 31-10-5. Special restrictions for drivers for compensation.
(a) No person who is under the age of twenty-one (21) years shall drive any school bus transporting school children or any motor vehicle when in use for the transportation of persons or property for compensation nor in either event until he or she has been licensed as a chauffeur for either purpose and the license so indicates. Colleges and universities shall be exempt from the requirement for a public plate for vehicles used to shuttle only students or employees to various points within the college or university campus or if a college or university owned or leased vehicle is used for the occasional transportation of college or university employees or students either on or off campus provided that the vehicle is operated by a college or university employee possessing a valid Rhode Island chauffeur’s license or a commercial drivers license with a passenger endorsement. Provided, however, that the college or university shall operate the shuttle service and there shall be no specific charge for the transportation of students or employees. The division of motor vehicles shall not issue a chauffeur’s license for either purpose unless the applicant has had at least one year of driving experience prior to the application, and has filed with the division of motor vehicles one or more certificates signed by a total of at least three (3) responsible people to whom he or she is well known certifying to the applicant’s good character and habits and the administrator of the division of motor vehicles is fully satisfied as to the applicant’s competency and fitness to be so employed.
(b) In addition to the requirements provided in subsection (a) of this section, any person attempting to obtain a chauffeur’s license to drive a school bus transporting school children shall, prior to being certified:
(1) Successfully complete a ten (10) hour school bus driver training course conducted by the department of revenue or the department of revenue’s designee and file a certificate of successful completion with the division of motor vehicles. The curriculum of that course and the accreditation of courses offered shall be pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the division of motor vehicles;
(2) Pass a written examination prepared and given by the department of revenue or the department of revenue’s designee.
(3) Pass a driving test in a school bus of a like type which that person will be employed to drive. The test will be prepared and given by the department of revenue.
(c) Prior to issuing a certificate to any person who intends to drive a school bus, the division of motor vehicles shall conduct a search of that person’s motor vehicle record. Any violation of any safety regulation or conviction of any motor vehicle law in this or any other state shall be grounds for refusing to issue a certificate.
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 15, § 5; P.L. 1952, ch. 2937, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 31-10-5; P.L. 1962, ch. 204, § 1; P.L. 1975, ch. 235, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 413, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 109, § 62; P.L. 2002, ch. 408, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 380, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 98, § 9; P.L. 2008, ch. 145, § 9.
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.