§ 31-2-3. Enforcement duties of administrator.
(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is vested with the power and is charged with the duty of observing, administering, and enforcing the provisions of chapters 1 — 50 of this title and of all laws regulating the operation of vehicles, or the use of the highways, the enforcement or administration of which is now or hereafter vested in the division of motor vehicles.
(b) The administrator shall appoint any subordinates he or she may require for the proper performance of his or her duties. The administrator, and any subordinates designated by the administrator, shall have and exercise throughout this state the same authority to make arrests for violations of statutes relating to motor vehicles and to enforce those statutes as police or town constables have in their respective jurisdictions, including the power of arrest without warrant for any violation of title 31. The administrator, and any subordinates designated by the administrator, may serve all process lawfully issued by the administrator. Whenever a complaint is made of any violation of the provisions of the aforementioned chapters by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, or those subordinates designated by him or her to enforce these provisions, he or she shall not be required to furnish surety for cost or be liable for cost upon any complaint. The administrator, and any subordinates he or she may designate, may bear and use firearms and may be equipped with uniforms as prescribed by the administrator of motor vehicles in accordance with the policing and enforcing provisions as prescribed by this section.
(c) The administrator may provide for training for those persons designated with authority to make arrests and shall issue to each such person credentials showing his or her identity and these credentials shall be carried upon their person while in the discharge of his or her duties.
(d) At no time may any subordinate authorized to make arrests stop a motorist for any violation of the motor vehicle law while the motorist is operating a vehicle upon any highway of this state, unless that subordinate is operating or riding in a division of motor vehicles vehicle that is plainly marked “Division of motor vehicles” or unless the motorist is fleeing from pursuit by a division of motor vehicles officer.
(e) The administrator may adopt any further regulations that he or she may deem necessary to implement this section.
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 2, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 31-2-3; P.L. 1975, ch. 121, § 2; P.L. 2015, ch. 260, § 32; P.L. 2015, ch. 275, § 32.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-2 - Division of Motor Vehicles
Section 31-2-1. - Establishment — Duties — Chief of division.
Section 31-2-2. - Subordinates and investigators.
Section 31-2-3. - Enforcement duties of administrator.
Section 31-2-4. - Rules and regulations — Exception to authority.
Section 31-2-5. - Official seal.
Section 31-2-8. - Oaths and acknowledgments.
Section 31-2-9. - Certified copies of licenses, applications and certificates.
Section 31-2-10. - Abstracts of operator’s records.
Section 31-2-12. - Destruction of obsolete records.
Section 31-2-13. - Report to tax assessors of vehicles registered.
Section 31-2-14. - Investigation of applications — Rejection.
Section 31-2-15. - Seizure of documents and plates.
Section 31-2-16. - Publication of laws.
Section 31-2-17. - Summons of witnesses — Taking of testimony.
Section 31-2-18. - Service of notice.
Section 31-2-19. - Appeal from administrator of the division of motor vehicles.
Section 31-2-20. - Registration and license information — Fee.
Section 31-2-21. - Record of hearings.
Section 31-2-22. - Authority to enter into reciprocity agreements.
Section 31-2-23. - Denial of license or registrations for nonpayment of delinquent child support.
Section 31-2-24. - Service fees on returned checks.
Section 31-2-25. - Surrender of suspended license.
Section 31-2-26. - Surrender of suspended registration.