§ 31-3-6. List of vehicles on which taxes delinquent — Denial of registration.
(a) On or before October 31 in each year, the collector of taxes of each city or town shall furnish the division of motor vehicles, with a listing showing the registration plate numbers, names, and addresses of the taxpayers of the city or town whose personal property and/or excise tax on motor vehicles, the assessment of which were made the prior December 31 in the case of the property tax, and the tax levied in the current year in the case of the excise tax, remained unpaid as of the date of the list. Subsequently, the collector of taxes in each city or town shall, at the times and in the manner prescribed by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, furnish to the division of motor vehicles the names and addresses of those persons whose names appeared on that list who have subsequently paid the personal property, and/or excise taxes on motor vehicles, and the division shall remove from the list the names and addresses of those persons. No city or town treasurer or tax collector shall refuse to accept personal property, and/or excise taxes on a motor vehicle, or refuse to remove the names and addresses of the owners of the vehicle from the list because of any other taxes owing the city or town. No person, corporation, partnership, joint stock company, or association whose name appears on the list and whose name has not been subsequently removed from the list shall be permitted to register any motor vehicle until all the excise and attendant penalties have been paid in full and the payment has been certified to the division of motor vehicles by the tax collector. The provisions of this section shall not be construed so as to prevent the payment of taxes on motor vehicles in quarterly installments as provided in chapter 5 of title 44. The provisions of this section shall apply in all respects in the case of taxes assessed upon motor vehicles by any fire district.
(b) The division of motor vehicles (the “division”) shall provide a written notice to those persons or other taxpayers (the “person”) whose name appears on the list generated in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a). This notice shall include:
(1) The name of the municipality or other entity providing the person’s name to the division; and
(2) A statement that the person identified on the list shall not be permitted to register any motor vehicle until the tax matter has been resolved and the person’s name is removed from the list as provided for under subsection (a).
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 2, § 7; P.L. 1956, ch. 3714, § 1; P.L. 1956, ch. 3714, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 31-3-6; R.P.L. 1957, ch. 142, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 341, § 6; P.L. 1979, ch. 379, § 2; P.L. 1988, ch. 84, § 61; P.L. 2018, ch. 175, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 293, § 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.]