§ 31-3-10. Issuance of registration plates.
The division of motor vehicles, upon registering a vehicle, shall issue to the owner one fully reflective registration plate for each motorcycle, trailer, semi-trailer, in-transit vehicle, transporter, bailee vehicle, or a dealer vehicle and two (2) fully reflective registration plates for every other motor vehicle. Application for and issuance of so-called commercial registration plates shall be provided at all offices maintained by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles under § 31-2-6.
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 3, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 31-3-10; P.L. 1970, ch. 108, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 179, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 135, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-3 - Registration of Vehicles
Section 31-3-1. - Operation of unregistered vehicle.
Section 31-3-2. - Vehicles subject to registration.
Section 31-3-2.1. - Out-of-state motorized bicycles.
Section 31-3-2.2. - Registration of motorcycles, motorized bicycles, and motorized tricycles.
Section 31-3-3. - Application for registration.
Section 31-3-3.1. - Notice to division of motor vehicles of vehicle lease agreement.
Section 31-3-4. - Proof of payment of sales or use tax.
Section 31-3-5. - Grounds for refusal of registration.
Section 31-3-6. - List of vehicles on which taxes delinquent — Denial of registration.
Section 31-3-7. - Registration — Indexing of records.
Section 31-3-8. - Registration card — Contents.
Section 31-3-9. - Registration card carried in vehicle.
Section 31-3-10. - Issuance of registration plates.
Section 31-3-11. - Contents of registration plate.
Section 31-3-11.1. - Permanent registration and plates.
Section 31-3-12. - Visibility of plates.
Section 31-3-13. - Plates for rental or leased vehicles.
Section 31-3-14. - Bailee and in transit plates.
Section 31-3-15. - Special plates for state officers and mayors.
Section 31-3-16. - General assembly plates.
Section 31-3-17. - Volunteer fire company plates.
Section 31-3-17.1. - Courtesy plates.
Section 31-3-17.2. - Civil defense plates.
Section 31-3-17.3. - Temporary plates.
Section 31-3-17.4. - Firefighter plates.
Section 31-3-18. - Display of plates — Penalties.
Section 31-3-19. - Registration of race cars.
Section 31-3-20. - Operation with manufacturer’s or dealer’s plates.
Section 31-3-20.1. - Operation with auto body repair shop plates.
Section 31-3-21. - Use of bailee, transporter, and in transit plates.
Section 31-3-22. - Service vehicles owned by dealer.
Section 31-3-23. - Application for dealer’s plates.
Section 31-3-23.1. - Limitation on number of plates.
Section 31-3-24. - Dealer’s certificate.
Section 31-3-25. - Issuance of dealer’s plates.
Section 31-3-25.1. - Cost of dealer’s plates.
Section 31-3-25.2. - Issuance of motorcycle dealer’s plates.
Section 31-3-25.3. - Issuance of boat dealer’s plates.
Section 31-3-26. - Expiration of dealer’s plates.
Section 31-3-27. - Responsibility for use of dealer’s plates.
Section 31-3-28. - Rules and regulations as to plates.
Section 31-3-29. - Licensing of tow cars and tow trucks.
Section 31-3-30. - Accident chasing by tow trucks.
Section 31-3-31. - Registration of farm vehicles.
Section 31-3-31.1. - Registration of street rods and custom vehicles.
Section 31-3-31.2. - Custom vehicles — Definition — Registration and fees.
Section 31-3-31.3. - Registration of specially constructed vehicles.
Section 31-3-32. - Expiration of registration.
Section 31-3-33. - Renewal of registration.
Section 31-3-34. - Notice of change of address.
Section 31-3-35. - Notice of change of name.
Section 31-3-36. - Replacement of lost or mutilated registration card or plates.
Section 31-3-37. - Assignment of new identifying numbers.
Section 31-3-38. - Change of engines.
Section 31-3-39. - Amateur radio operator plates.
Section 31-3-40. - Special use identification tags.
Section 31-3-41. - Return of registration card and plates — Receipt.
Section 31-3-42. - Camper plates.
Section 31-3-43. - Sheriffs’ department plates.
Section 31-3-44. - Ambulance or rescue vehicles.
Section 31-3-45. - Police motorcycle plates.
Section 31-3-45.1. - Police registration plates.
Section 31-3-46. - P.O.W. plates.
Section 31-3-47. - Judiciary plates.
Section 31-3-48. - Plates for recipients of Purple Heart.
Section 31-3-48.1. - Plates for recipients of Distinguished Service Cross.
Section 31-3-48.2. - Plates for recipients of the Bronze Star Medal.
Section 31-3-49. - Chief Judge Emeritus — Charles F. Trumpetto.
Section 31-3-50. - Chief Judge Emeritus 8 — William R. Goldberg.
Section 31-3-51. - Police Chief Emeritus — Matthew Lynch.
Section 31-3-52. - Certificate of prior use.
Section 31-3-53. - Veterans’ plates.
Section 31-3-54. - Police Chief Emeritus — John C. Beebe III.
Section 31-3-56. - Congressman Emeritus — Fernand J. St. Germain.
Section 31-3-57. - Police Chief Emeritus — John T. Botelho.
Section 31-3-58. - Judge Emeritus — Edward J. Plunkett.
Section 31-3-59. - House Emeritus — Irving Levin.
Section 31-3-59.1. - Congressman Emeritus — Edward Beard.
Section 31-3-60. - Alternative design plates.
Section 31-3-61. - Fire Chief Emeritus — Gerald Landry.
Section 31-3-62. - National guard plates.
Section 31-3-63. - High Sheriff Emeritus — Anthony A. Giorgio.
Section 31-3-64. - Combination plates.
Section 31-3-65. - Judge Emeritus — Paul DelNero.
Section 31-3-67. - Judge Emeritus — Carmine R. DiPetrillo.
Section 31-3-68. - Police Chief Emeritus — Vincent A. Acciardo.
Section 31-3-69. - Registration suspension based on federal determination.
Section 31-3-70. - Police Lieutenant Emeritus — John J. Sinotte.
Section 31-3-71. - Chief Justice Emeritus — Joseph R. Weisberger.
Section 31-3-72. - Special plate for Mr. Potato Head.
Section 31-3-73. - Police Major Emeritus, City of East Providence.
Section 31-3-74. - Police chief emeritus.
Section 31-3-75. - Senator Emeritus — William Zuccarelli.
Section 31-3-76. - Special license plate decal.
Section 31-3-77. - Adjutant General Emeritus — Reginald A. Centracchio.
Section 31-3-78. - Special plate for Rotary International.
Section 31-3-79. - Special plate for Audubon Society of Rhode Island/Save the Bay.
Section 31-3-80. - Reserve Forces plates.
Section 31-3-81. - General state officers emeritus.
Section 31-3-82. - Special plate for WaterFire Providence.
Section 31-3-83. - Judge Emeritus — Vincent A. Ragosta.
Section 31-3-84. - Special plate in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Section 31-3-85. - Special plate for the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.
Section 31-3-86. - Special plate for Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse, Inc.
Section 31-3-87. - Special plate for breast cancer support.
Section 31-3-88. - Special plate in support of public education.
Section 31-3-89. - Rhode Island law enforcement memorial benefit fund license plates.
Section 31-3-90. - Special plate for the Red Sox Foundation.
Section 31-3-91. - Special plate for the Bristol Fourth of July Committee.
Section 31-3-92. - Judge Emeritus — Raymond E. Shawcross.
Section 31-3-93. - Special plate for the Gloria Gemma breast cancer resource foundation.
Section 31-3-94. - Expiration of authorization of issuance of special motor vehicle plates.
Section 31-3-95. - Special plate for Woonsocket high school arts and athletics.
Section 31-3-96. - Emergency medical technician plates.
Section 31-3-97. - Special plate for home and hospice care of Rhode Island.
Section 31-3-98. - Special plate for the Autism Project of Rhode Island.
Section 31-3-100. - General Magistrate Emeritus — John J. O’Brien.
Section 31-3-101. - Special electric and hybrid electric vehicle registration plate designation.
Section 31-3-102. - Special plate for the Boston Bruins Foundation.
Section 31-3-103. - Olympic medal winners.
Section 31-3-104. - Special plate in honor of César E. Chávez.
Section 31-3-105. - Special plate for Rhode Island private colleges and universities.
Section 31-3-106. - Special plate for the Dorian J. Murray foundation.
Section 31-3-107. - Police chief emeritus — Ernest Spaziano.
Section 31-3-108. - Special plate for The Rocky Point Foundation, Inc.
Section 31-3-109. - Special plate for Rhode Island public colleges and universities.
Section 31-3-110. - Special plate for the Lupus Foundation New England.
Section 31-3-111. - Gold Star Families.
Section 31-3-112. - Special plate for Gaspee Days Committee.
Section 31-3-113. - Special plate for Operation Stand Down RI.
Section 31-3-114. - Special plate for the Rhode Island Agricultural Council.
Section 31-3-115. - Special plate for the Rhode Island Salt Water Anglers Foundation.
Section 31-3-116. - Special plate for the Ocean State Animal Coalition.
Section 31-3-117. - Minimum prepaid special motor vehicle registration plate orders.
Section 31-3-118. - Special plate for Day of Portugal and Portuguese Heritage in RI, Inc.
Section 31-3-119. - Special plate for Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Section 31-3-120. - Police chief emeritus — Gary Malikowski.
Section 31-3-121. - Judge emeritus — Stephen J. Capineri.
Section 31-3-122. - Special plate for Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.
Section 31-3-123. - Special plate for Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Section 31-3-126. - Special plate for Atlantic Shark Institute. [Effective January 6, 2023.]