S 3187Licensing & Accreditation

Motor and Other Vehicles - Regulation of Rental of Motorized Bicycles, Motor Scooters and Motorized Tricycles in New Shoreham

This bill permanently reduces the number of motorized scooter and bicycle rental licenses in New Shoreham whenever one expires.

Held for study

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Affected

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Introduced Apr 3, 2026Committee Senate Housing & Municipal Government

Plain-English Summary

This bill changes the rules for renting motorized bicycles, motor scooters, and motorized tricycles in the town of New Shoreham (Block Island). It states that the town cannot issue more than five rental licenses in total. Additionally, if an existing rental license is surrendered, revoked, or expires without being renewed, the maximum number of allowed licenses in the town is permanently reduced by one. This means that as existing rental businesses close or lose their licenses, those licenses cannot be reissued to new businesses.

For younger readers

In a town called New Shoreham, people can rent motorized scooters and bikes to ride around. The town only gives out five special permission slips, called licenses, to the stores that rent them. This new rule says that if a store closes or loses its permission slip, the town throws that slip away forever instead of giving it to a new store. Over time, this means there will be fewer and fewer stores allowed to rent out these scooters and bikes on the island.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Motorized vehicle rental business ownersTourists and visitors to New ShorehamNew Shoreham residentsLocal pedestrians and bicyclistsEntrepreneurs seeking to open rental businesses

Impacted communities

New Shoreham

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. The regulation of local business licenses, particularly for motor vehicle rentals on public roads, falls squarely within the police powers of the state and local municipalities. There are no apparent free speech, due process, or search and seizure violations, as the reduction applies to future licenses and does not arbitrarily seize existing valid licenses without cause.

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Gradually reducing the number of motorized scooters and bicycles could decrease noise and air pollution, contributing to a healthier local environment and better community welfare in New Shoreham.
Fewer motorized rentals on the roads may improve safety for pedestrians and traditional bicyclists, promoting safer, more accessible public spaces for residents and visitors.
By capping and slowly reducing licenses, the town can better manage local infrastructure and prevent the overcrowding of small island roads, aligning with sustainable land use and community planning goals.
Reducing rental options could limit accessible transportation for lower-income visitors or those with mobility issues who rely on motorized scooters to navigate the island.
The policy protects existing license holders from new competition, potentially creating a monopoly that could drive up rental prices and make the service unaffordable for working-class tourists.
Gradually eliminating these rental businesses could lead to job losses for local workers who depend on the tourism and rental industry for their livelihood.

For Conservatives

Empowers local government (the town council) to manage and regulate its own community affairs and infrastructure without overbearing state mandates.
Protects the traditional aesthetic and quiet, historic character of New Shoreham by slowly phasing out noisy motorized scooter rentals.
Existing business owners with licenses will benefit from reduced future competition, protecting their current market share and private business interests.
Heavily restricts free enterprise and corporate freedom by permanently preventing new businesses from entering the motorized rental market in New Shoreham.
The permanent reduction of licenses artificially interferes with the free market, limiting consumer choice and potentially driving up prices through government-enforced scarcity.
Revoking or retiring licenses without the ability to replace them violates the principles of economic deregulation and limits opportunities for economic growth and entrepreneurship.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 14 additions

SECTION 1. Section 31-19.3-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-19.3 entitled "Regulation of Rental of Motorized Bicycles, Motor Scooters and Motorized Tricycles in New Shoreham" is hereby amended to read as follows: 31-19.3-5. Ordinances.

(a) The town council of the town of New Shoreham may enact reasonable ordinances establishing procedures and standards for the licensing, supervision, regulation, and control of the rental of motorized bicycles, motor scooters and motorized tricycles.

(b) An ordinance enacted pursuant to this section may:

(1) Establish a fee to be charged for the issuance or renewal of any license for the rental of motorized bicycles, motor scooters and/or motorized tricycles the holder of the license is authorized to rent or lease and shall not exceed the sum of forty dollars ($40.00) per motorized bicycle, motor scooters or motorized tricycle.

(2) Establish a maximum number of licenses, not to exceed that authorized by subsection

(c) of this section, which may be adjusted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, which may be granted for the rental of motorized bicycles, motor scooters and/or motorized tricycles.

(3) Establish hours during which motorized bicycles, motor scooters and/or motorized tricycles may be rented.

(4) Establish a maximum number of motorized bicycles, motor scooters and/or motorized tricycles which a license holder may rent or lease under the license, which shall not exceed thirty- four (34) motorized bicycles, motor scooters and/or motorized tricycles.

(5) Provide that no motorized bicycle, motor scooters or motorized tricycle shall be rented or leased in the town of New Shoreham unless the operator thereof has a valid license issued under the provisions of § 31-10-1, or a similar license issued by a state other than Rhode Island.

(6) Require all motorized bicycles, motor scooters and/or motorized tricycles to pass inspection annually and be issued a certificate by a duly authorized state inspection facility indicating that the vehicle has passed inspection to be conducted at inspection agencies which shall be created and governed by rules and regulations promulgated by the department of revenue.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, the town council of the town of New Shoreham shall not grant more than five (5) licenses, which may be adjusted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, for the rental of motorized bicycles, motor scooters and/or motorized tricycles.

(d) Upon the voluntary surrender, expiration without renewal, revocation, or other retirement of a license for the rental of motorized bicycles, motor scooters and/or motorized tricycles, the maximum number of licenses authorized under subsection (c) of this section, shall be permanently reduced by one for each license voluntarily surrendered, expired without renewal, revoked, or otherwise retired.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.