H 7574Personal

Motor and Other Vehicles - Registration of Vehicles

This bill prevents drivers from renewing licenses or registrations if they have unpaid tolls or fines in other states.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Feb 6, 2026Committee House State Government & Elections

Plain-English Summary

This bill establishes a process for Rhode Island to enforce unpaid tolls and fines from other states. If a Rhode Island vehicle owner has unpaid toll violations in a state that has a reciprocal agreement with Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) will review the evidence. RITBA will notify the owner, giving them 10 days to contest the claim. If the violation is upheld, RITBA notifies the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV is then required to block the renewal or transfer of the owner's driver’s license and vehicle registration until the debt is paid.

For younger readers

Imagine you drove your car in another state on a road that costs money to use, called a toll road, but you didn't pay. If you ignore the bill, this new law helps that other state get their money. The people in charge of bridges in Rhode Island will look at pictures to make sure it was really your car. If you owe money, they will tell the office that gives out driver's licenses. You won't be allowed to get a new license or register your car until you pay what you owe to the other state.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Vehicle owners with unpaid out-of-state tollsDrivers traveling out of stateRental car companiesRhode Island Turnpike and Bridge AuthorityDivision of Motor Vehicles

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Promotes fairness by ensuring that drivers who travel out of state contribute their share to infrastructure costs, preventing a free-rider problem where rule-abiders subsidize violators.
Includes specific due process protections, such as an independent review of photographic evidence and a notification period, allowing individuals to contest errors before facing penalties.
Encourages distinct accountability for vehicle owners rather than broad punitive measures, potentially aiding in the maintenance of interstate transportation networks used by the community.
Disproportionately impacts low-income individuals by threatening their ability to drive and get to work over financial debts, effectively criminalizing poverty and creating a cycle of debt.
Exempts rental car companies from these penalties, favoring large corporations over individual citizens who face the immediate loss of essential mobility privileges.
Expands the surveillance and punitive power of the state by allowing cross-border data sharing and enforcement, which could lead to administrative errors that harm marginalized drivers.

For Conservatives

Upholds the rule of law and personal responsibility by ensuring that individuals are held accountable for the financial obligations they incur while traveling in other jurisdictions.
Protects the interests of private enterprise by explicitly exempting rental car companies from registration denials, preventing undue burden on businesses due to the actions of their customers.
Strengthens the integrity of user-fee systems, ensuring that those who use toll roads actually pay for them rather than shifting the burden to law-abiding citizens.
Represents government overreach by transforming Rhodes Island state agencies into debt collectors for foreign jurisdictions, expanding the size and scope of the administrative state.
Infringes on personal liberty and freedom of movement by allowing the government to revoke driving privileges based on out-of-state administrative fees rather than safety-related driving violations.
Increases interstate data sharing and surveillance, raising concerns about privacy and the government's ability to track and penalize citizens across state lines.

Votes

Loading votes...

Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 5 additions

SECTION 1. Section 31-3-6.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows: 31-3-6.3. Unpaid out-of-state toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines — Denial of registration — Denial of transfer of registration — Denial of renewal of registration and licenses.

(a) Upon receipt of a request from another state or other entity with similar tolling authority with which the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority has entered into an agreement providing for the reciprocal treatment of out-of-state toll violators to take action against a toll violator, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall conduct an independent review of each toll violation that forms the basis for such request, which shall include a review of photographic, video, or other visual evidence, to determine that the requesting state or other entity with similar tolling authority imposed any toll amounts, administrative fees, and/or fines against the actual registered owner of the motor vehicle.

(b) As part of its independent review, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall provide written notice to the registered owner of the motor vehicle in question. The registered owner shall have ten (10) days from the date on the written notice to contact the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority and to provide information, documentation, and any other evidence contesting the requested action against the out-of-state toll violator. Thereafter, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall consider all of the information, documentation, and any other evidence provided as part of its independent review.

(c) If after its independent review the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority is satisfied that any toll amounts, administrative fees, and/or fines are properly imposed against the actual registered owner of the motor vehicle and the registered owner could be subject to reporting to the division of motor vehicles pursuant to § 24-12-37 if such toll violations had occurred on tolled projects in this state, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority may report the registered owner to the division of motor vehicles.

(d) The division of motor vehicles shall not renew any operator’s license or registration upon expiration thereof; register any motor vehicle; or transfer the registration of any motor vehicle of any person reported to it pursuant to subsection (c) of this section until any toll amounts, administrative fees, and/or fines owed to the other state or other entity with similar tolling authority have been paid in full or the person has entered into, and is in current compliance with, a repayment agreement with respect to any amounts owed. The Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority shall provide a copy of any notification received from the other state or other entity with similar tolling authority regarding full payment of amounts owed or the existence of a repayment agreement to the division of motor vehicles within five (5) business days of receipt. Within five (5) business days of receiving such notification, the division of motor vehicles shall renew the person’s license and renew, transfer, or issue the person’s registration. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a rental company as defined in § 31-34.1-1.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.