The bill proposes an amendment to Section 31-6-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-6, which pertains to "Registration Fees" for motor vehicles. It revises the fee structure based on the gross weight of various vehicles, including automobiles, semi-trailers, public buses, motorcycles, trailers, vehicles used for racing, and school buses. The fees range from $30.00 for automobiles with a gross weight not exceeding 4,000 pounds to $972.00 for those over 74,000 pounds, with an additional $24.00 per 2,000 pounds of gross weight. The bill also specifies fees for other services such as certified copies of registration certificates, special identification numbers, replacement of number plates, and farm vehicle registration.

A significant change introduced by the bill is the insertion of a reduced fee for electronic duplicate registration certificates. The fee for a duplicate registration certificate is currently $17.00, but the bill proposes to lower this fee to $5.00 if the certificate is provided via email. This amendment encourages the use of electronic documentation and offers a cost-saving measure for vehicle owners. The bill also includes a provision for the act to take effect six months after its passage, providing a transition period for the new fee structure to be implemented.

Statutes affected:
5398: 31-6-1