§ 31-3-53. Veterans’ plates.
(a) The registrar of motor vehicles shall issue for any motor vehicle eligible for registration as an automobile, or for any motorcycle eligible for registration as a motorcycle, or for a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, plates designated as “Veteran” upon application on proper forms furnished by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles to veterans.
(b) The special plate designated “Veteran” shall be designed as follows:
(1) Letters and numbers shall be blue in a white background with the words “Rhode Island” clearly visible at the top center of the plate and the word “Veteran” visible at the bottom center of the plate.
(2) The background will be a red, white, and blue waving American Flag.
(3) On the top right corner will be a decal with the military branch of the service in which the Veteran served (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines).
(4) For war veterans, a white decal with blue letters with the words “War Veteran” placed under the military branch decal on the right side of the plate above the validation sticker.
(c) The applicant shall not be required to pay a service charge or a transfer charge for each plate.
(d)(1) The applicant shall be entitled to a plate for each vehicle owned by the applicant.
(2) The applicant shall also be entitled to a plate for one vehicle owned by an entity the applicant owns. The entity must be registered and authorized to conduct business in the state of Rhode Island. The applicant must provide to the division of motor vehicles documentation demonstrating the applicant’s ownership of the entity.
(e) The owner of a motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle and having a gross weight of twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less who is issued veteran plates shall continue to pay the appropriate commercial registration fee for those plates.
(f)(1) For the purposes of this section, a “veteran” shall be defined as any person who has served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. The term “veteran” shall also include members of the National Guard and Reserves: (i) Called to active duty authorized by the President of the United States or the Secretary of Defense; or (ii) Who have twenty (20) years of service with a letter and record of separation of service.
(2) For the purposes of this section, “War Veteran” shall be defined as any veteran of any conflict or undeclared war who has earned a campaign ribbon or expeditionary medal for service in either a declared or undeclared war as noted on the war veteran’s DD-214. Upon the death of the holder of any veteran plates, the plates shall be transferred to the surviving spouse for the spouse’s lifetime until he or she remarries.
(g) The “veteran” or “war veteran” described in subdivisions (f)(1)(i) or (ii) and (f)(2) must have been honorably discharged from the armed forces of this nation in order to receive plates pursuant to this section and, for purposes of this section, a medical discharge or a general discharge shall be deemed an honorable discharge.
(h) [Deleted by P.L. 2021, ch. 119, § 1 and P.L. 2021, ch. 120, § 1.]
(i) A person shall be eligible for a veterans’ plate if his or her deceased spouse was eligible for a veterans’ plate, notwithstanding the fact that the eligible, deceased spouse died prior to the enactment of this section in 1988.
History of Section.P.L. 1988, ch. 458, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 354, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 186, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 402, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 426, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 454, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 30, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 156, § 2; P.L. 1992, ch. 334, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 411, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 305, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 126, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 323, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 460, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 428, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 212, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 343, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 642, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 59, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 68, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 10, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 11, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 152, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 510, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 142, art. 9, § 2; P.L. 2021, ch. 119, § 1, effective July 2, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 120, § 1, effective July 2, 2021.
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.]