The bill amends Section 31-23-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-23, which pertains to the driving of unsafe vehicles and the regulations surrounding motor carriers. It establishes that it is a civil violation for any person to operate a vehicle in an unsafe condition that endangers others. The bill mandates that all commercial motor vehicles must comply with applicable safety standards and federal regulations. Notably, effective April 1, 2027, every carrier operating a motor vehicle in intrastate commerce must be permanently marked with a USDOT number assigned in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 390.21T.

The bill specifies exemptions from the vehicle marking and DOT number requirements for certain vehicles, including those owned and operated by the State of Rhode Island or its political subdivisions, vehicles carrying hazardous materials owned by a city, town, or agency of the State (with exceptions for private contractors), transit-type buses operated by municipalities, buses operated by the Rhode Island public transit authority, school buses and pupil transport vehicles, and vehicles of professional driving schools used for training.

Additionally, the bill outlines the authority of authorized personnel to inspect motor carrier vehicles and enforce safety regulations, including declaring vehicles out of service if deemed hazardous. It establishes penalties for violations, including fines for unauthorized removal of out-of-service stickers and for operating unsafe vehicles. The bill also specifies that inspector certification and annual in-service training will be managed by the Rhode Island state police as the lead Motor Carrier Safety Administration Program agency.

Statutes affected:
7725: 31-23-1