Bill Sponsors
DeSimone, McEntee, Kazarian, and Corvese
Committee
House Corporations
Summary
Select
This bill changes how toll violations are handled for rental cars. Instead of the rental car company being held responsible for unpaid tolls, the person who rented the car is held responsible. It allows rental companies to avoid liability by providing a copy of the rental agreement to show who was driving. It also prevents the state from blocking the registration renewal of rental company vehicles due to unpaid tolls incurred by their customers. The state must notify the rental company of the violation, and the company has 20 days to provide the renter's information.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Ensures that the actual individuals who evade tolls are held accountable, rather than punishing a third party, promoting a more accurate and fair justice system.
- Protects workers at rental car companies from potential business losses, layoffs, or operational disruptions that could occur if the state blocked the company's vehicle registrations.
- By shifting fines to the actual driver, it prevents rental companies from passing the costs of these penalties onto all consumers in the form of higher rental rates, potentially keeping transportation costs lower for lower-income renters.
Cons for Progressives
- Prioritizes the financial interests and administrative convenience of corporate rental car companies over the protections of individual consumers.
- May disproportionately burden low-income individuals who rent cars, as they will now face direct fines, steep administrative fees, and potential driver's license suspensions for missed tolls.
- Allows corporations to easily shed liability by handing over customer data, raising potential privacy concerns regarding the sharing of consumer information, including employer details, with the state government.
Pros for Conservatives
- Protects corporate freedom and private property rights by ensuring rental car businesses are not unfairly penalized for the unlawful actions of their customers.
- Promotes strict individual responsibility by ensuring that the specific person who evaded the toll is the one facing the fines, fees, and license suspension.
- Reduces government overreach against businesses by preventing the state from withholding vehicle registrations from rental companies due to unpaid customer tolls.
Cons for Conservatives
- Mandates that private businesses act as informants for the government by requiring them to hand over their customers' personal information, including home and employer addresses, to the state.
- Empowers the state to weaponize driver's license suspensions and registration blocks against individual citizens for relatively minor toll infractions.
- Imposes a new regulatory burden on rental companies, requiring them to respond to state notices within a strict 20-day window to establish non-liability.
Constitutional Concerns
Requires rental companies to provide customer data (name, address, employer) to the state without a warrant upon notice of a toll violation. While standard business records exemptions typically apply, this could raise minor Fourth Amendment privacy concerns regarding the sharing of consumer data.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Rental car companies
- People who rent cars
- Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority
- Division of Motor Vehicles
- Out-of-state drivers
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
None
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
Measures population affected and overall level of impact.
Freedom Impact
Level of individual freedom impacted by the bill.
Public Services
How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.
Regulatory
Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.
Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
Impact the bill will have on the environment, positive or negative.
Privacy Impact
Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.
Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 05/27/2026 Introduced, referred to House Corporations
• 05/29/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/02/2026)
• 06/02/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
• 06/05/2026 Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2026)
• 06/05/2026 Proposed Substitute
• 06/08/2026 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
• 06/08/2026 Placed on House Calendar (06/09/2026)
• 06/09/2026 House passed Sub A
• 06/09/2026 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/10/2026)
• 06/10/2026 Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
• 06/18/2026 Transmitted to Governor
• 05/29/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/02/2026)
• 06/02/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
• 06/05/2026 Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2026)
• 06/05/2026 Proposed Substitute
• 06/08/2026 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
• 06/08/2026 Placed on House Calendar (06/09/2026)
• 06/09/2026 House passed Sub A
• 06/09/2026 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/10/2026)
• 06/10/2026 Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
• 06/18/2026 Transmitted to Governor
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 24-12-37 of the General Laws in Chapter 24-12 entitled "Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority" is hereby amended to read as follows:
24-12-37. Penalty for nonpayment of toll — Toll violators and toll evaders.
(a) Legislative findings. The general assembly finds as follows:
(1) That all users of any tolled projects should be required to timely pay for the use of such projects;
(2) That toll violators and toll evaders unfairly shift the financial burden of maintaining the tolled projects to other project users; and
(3) Rhode Island has a strong interest in ensuring that its transportation infrastructure is adequately funded in a fair and equitable manner.
(b) In each instance when a person fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll on a tolled project, and is issued a violation for the same, the toll violator shall pay the toll amount within fourteen (14) days of issuance of the violation.
(c) Any toll violator who fails to pay the toll amount due within the fourteen-day (14) period in subsection (b) shall immediately incur a forty-dollar ($40.00) administrative fee in addition to the unpaid toll amount.
(d) Any toll violator who fails to pay the administrative fee and unpaid toll as required by subsection (c) within forty-five (45) days of the issuance of the original violation, shall incur a thirty five-dollar ($35.00) administrative fee in addition to the forty dollar ($40.00) administrative fee and the unpaid toll amount. The toll amount and administrative fees shall be paid to the authority.
(e) Toll evaders shall be responsible for any tolls and administrative fees applicable to toll violators. Further, at the request of the authority, any toll evader shall also promptly receive a traffic violation summons that shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island traffic tribunal, which may suspend the toll evader’s driver’s license for up to six (6) months for the violations and assess a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500), or both. All tolls, administrative fees, and fines shall be payable to the authority.
(f) If any unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are not paid within ninety (90) days of the issuance of the original violation, and the toll violator has incurred at least ten (10) instances in which such toll violator has failed to pay any required toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines, then the authority may report the person as a toll violator, or, if appropriate, as a toll evader, to the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles, who then shall not permit that person to renew his or her driver’s license and vehicle registration until any unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are paid to the authority. Upon the authority’s receipt of such payment or a written repayment agreement between the person and the authority, the authority shall promptly issue a verbal, written, or electric confirmation showing the amounts paid and a certification that the person does not owe any amounts to the authority or has otherwise made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the authority. In any such case, the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles shall forthwith release any hold placed for this purpose on the person’s license renewal and vehicle registration renewal. If a person who made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the authority subsequently fails to honor and comply with such arrangements with the authority according to their terms, the authority may re-report the person to the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles which shall then prohibit that person from renewing their driver’s license and vehicle registration until the originally unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are paid to the authority. This provision of this subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a rental company as defined in §31-34.1-1.
(g) “Toll violator” means, for the purposes of this section, any person who uses any project and fails to pay or prepay the required toll.
(h) “Toll evader” means, for the purposes of this section, any person who uses a project, fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll, and deliberately circumvents or proceeds around or through a gate or other barrier on a project; and/or any toll violator who fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll on a tolled project at least twenty (20) or more times, received at least three (3) written notices from the authority (or its agent) regarding the non-payment of tolls, and is LC006496 - Page 2 of 5 not a party to, or in current compliance with, a written repayment plan with the authority.
(i) The authority may promulgate appropriate rules and regulations to ensure the proper administration of the provisions of this section. Any person aggrieved by the authority’s assessment of any administrative fees may request review of such assessment through the process established by the authority, which shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.
(j) For the purposes of this section only, “person” means the registered owner, EZPass account holder, driver, rentee, or lessee of a motor vehicle. In the case of a motor vehicle owned by a rental company, "person" means the rentee or lessee of the vehicle at the time of the violation, provided that the rental company complies with subsections (o) and (p) of this section.
(k) This section shall apply retroactively to all persons who are toll evaders as of the effective date of this act [October 1, 2016].
(l) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to reduce or otherwise eliminate any tolls, fines, or penalties a person owes to the authority based upon violations occurring prior to the effective date of this act [October 1, 2016].
(m) It is unlawful for any person or business, other than an authorized representative of the authority, or any other duly authorized and existing toll or transportation agency, to sell, lease, rent, or offer for sale, lease or rent, any tokens, tickets, passes, transponders, or other evidences of payment issued for passage on any project. Any person or business who or that is found in violation of this subsection shall be punished, for each offense, by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).
(n) If any provision of this section or its application to any person is deemed invalid, any such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this section that may lawfully be given effect without the invalid provision.
(o) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a rental company, as defined in § 31-34.1-1, that is the registered owner of a motor vehicle shall be entitled to establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, and fines by providing to the traffic tribunal a copy of a written rental or lease agreement which shall be prima facie evidence that the lessee was the operator of the vehicle.
(p) The issuing authority shall provide to the owner of a rented or leased vehicle a notice, in writing, of each toll violation in which a motor vehicle owned by the rental or leasing company is involved, including the license number of the vehicle and the date and time of the toll violation. Upon receipt of this notice the owner of a rented or leased vehicle shall inform the issuing authority, within twenty (20) days, to the extent available, the operator’s name, home address, employer, employer’s address, and local address, if any. LC006496 - Page 3 of 5
(q) The renter or lessee shall not be considered an agent of the owner if the owner is engaged in the business of renting or leasing vehicles.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
24-12-37. Penalty for nonpayment of toll — Toll violators and toll evaders.
(a) Legislative findings. The general assembly finds as follows:
(1) That all users of any tolled projects should be required to timely pay for the use of such projects;
(2) That toll violators and toll evaders unfairly shift the financial burden of maintaining the tolled projects to other project users; and
(3) Rhode Island has a strong interest in ensuring that its transportation infrastructure is adequately funded in a fair and equitable manner.
(b) In each instance when a person fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll on a tolled project, and is issued a violation for the same, the toll violator shall pay the toll amount within fourteen (14) days of issuance of the violation.
(c) Any toll violator who fails to pay the toll amount due within the fourteen-day (14) period in subsection (b) shall immediately incur a forty-dollar ($40.00) administrative fee in addition to the unpaid toll amount.
(d) Any toll violator who fails to pay the administrative fee and unpaid toll as required by subsection (c) within forty-five (45) days of the issuance of the original violation, shall incur a thirty five-dollar ($35.00) administrative fee in addition to the forty dollar ($40.00) administrative fee and the unpaid toll amount. The toll amount and administrative fees shall be paid to the authority.
(e) Toll evaders shall be responsible for any tolls and administrative fees applicable to toll violators. Further, at the request of the authority, any toll evader shall also promptly receive a traffic violation summons that shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island traffic tribunal, which may suspend the toll evader’s driver’s license for up to six (6) months for the violations and assess a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500), or both. All tolls, administrative fees, and fines shall be payable to the authority.
(f) If any unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are not paid within ninety (90) days of the issuance of the original violation, and the toll violator has incurred at least ten (10) instances in which such toll violator has failed to pay any required toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines, then the authority may report the person as a toll violator, or, if appropriate, as a toll evader, to the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles, who then shall not permit that person to renew his or her driver’s license and vehicle registration until any unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are paid to the authority. Upon the authority’s receipt of such payment or a written repayment agreement between the person and the authority, the authority shall promptly issue a verbal, written, or electric confirmation showing the amounts paid and a certification that the person does not owe any amounts to the authority or has otherwise made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the authority. In any such case, the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles shall forthwith release any hold placed for this purpose on the person’s license renewal and vehicle registration renewal. If a person who made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the authority subsequently fails to honor and comply with such arrangements with the authority according to their terms, the authority may re-report the person to the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles which shall then prohibit that person from renewing their driver’s license and vehicle registration until the originally unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are paid to the authority. This provision of this subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a rental company as defined in §31-34.1-1.
(g) “Toll violator” means, for the purposes of this section, any person who uses any project and fails to pay or prepay the required toll.
(h) “Toll evader” means, for the purposes of this section, any person who uses a project, fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll, and deliberately circumvents or proceeds around or through a gate or other barrier on a project; and/or any toll violator who fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll on a tolled project at least twenty (20) or more times, received at least three (3) written notices from the authority (or its agent) regarding the non-payment of tolls, and is LC006496 - Page 2 of 5 not a party to, or in current compliance with, a written repayment plan with the authority.
(i) The authority may promulgate appropriate rules and regulations to ensure the proper administration of the provisions of this section. Any person aggrieved by the authority’s assessment of any administrative fees may request review of such assessment through the process established by the authority, which shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.
(j) For the purposes of this section only, “person” means the registered owner, EZPass account holder, driver, rentee, or lessee of a motor vehicle. In the case of a motor vehicle owned by a rental company, "person" means the rentee or lessee of the vehicle at the time of the violation, provided that the rental company complies with subsections (o) and (p) of this section.
(k) This section shall apply retroactively to all persons who are toll evaders as of the effective date of this act [October 1, 2016].
(l) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to reduce or otherwise eliminate any tolls, fines, or penalties a person owes to the authority based upon violations occurring prior to the effective date of this act [October 1, 2016].
(m) It is unlawful for any person or business, other than an authorized representative of the authority, or any other duly authorized and existing toll or transportation agency, to sell, lease, rent, or offer for sale, lease or rent, any tokens, tickets, passes, transponders, or other evidences of payment issued for passage on any project. Any person or business who or that is found in violation of this subsection shall be punished, for each offense, by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).
(n) If any provision of this section or its application to any person is deemed invalid, any such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this section that may lawfully be given effect without the invalid provision.
(o) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a rental company, as defined in § 31-34.1-1, that is the registered owner of a motor vehicle shall be entitled to establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, and fines by providing to the traffic tribunal a copy of a written rental or lease agreement which shall be prima facie evidence that the lessee was the operator of the vehicle.
(p) The issuing authority shall provide to the owner of a rented or leased vehicle a notice, in writing, of each toll violation in which a motor vehicle owned by the rental or leasing company is involved, including the license number of the vehicle and the date and time of the toll violation. Upon receipt of this notice the owner of a rented or leased vehicle shall inform the issuing authority, within twenty (20) days, to the extent available, the operator’s name, home address, employer, employer’s address, and local address, if any. LC006496 - Page 3 of 5
(q) The renter or lessee shall not be considered an agent of the owner if the owner is engaged in the business of renting or leasing vehicles.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
SECTION 1. Section 24-12-37 of the General Laws in Chapter 24-12 entitled "Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority" is hereby amended to read as follows:
24-12-37. Penalty for nonpayment of toll — Toll violators and toll evaders.
(a) Legislative findings. The general assembly finds as follows:
(1) That all users of any tolled projects should be required to timely pay for the use of such projects;
(2) That toll violators and toll evaders unfairly shift the financial burden of maintaining the tolled projects to other project users; and
(3) Rhode Island has a strong interest in ensuring that its transportation infrastructure is adequately funded in a fair and equitable manner.
(b) In each instance when a person fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll on a tolled project, and is issued a violation for the same, the toll violator shall pay the toll amount within fourteen (14) days of issuance of the violation.
(c) Any toll violator who fails to pay the toll amount due within the fourteen-day (14) period in subsection (b) shall immediately incur a forty-dollar ($40.00) administrative fee in addition to the unpaid toll amount.
(d) Any toll violator who fails to pay the administrative fee and unpaid toll as required by subsection (c) within forty-five (45) days of the issuance of the original violation, shall incur a thirty five-dollar ($35.00) administrative fee in addition to the forty dollar ($40.00) administrative fee and the unpaid toll amount. The toll amount and administrative fees shall be paid to the authority.
(e) Toll evaders shall be responsible for any tolls and administrative fees applicable to toll violators. Further, at the request of the authority, any toll evader shall also promptly receive a traffic violation summons that shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island traffic tribunal, which may suspend the toll evader’s driver’s license for up to six (6) months for the violations and assess a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500), or both. All tolls, administrative fees, and fines shall be payable to the authority.
(f) If any unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are not paid within ninety (90) days of the issuance of the original violation, and the toll violator has incurred at least ten (10) instances in which such toll violator has failed to pay any required toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines, then the authority may report the person as a toll violator, or, if appropriate, as a toll evader, to the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles, who then shall not permit that person to renew his or her driver’s license and vehicle registration until any unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are paid to the authority. Upon the authority’s receipt of such payment or a written repayment agreement between the person and the authority, the authority shall promptly issue a verbal, written, or electric confirmation showing the amounts paid and a certification that the person does not owe any amounts to the authority or has otherwise made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the authority. In any such case, the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles shall forthwith release any hold placed for this purpose on the person’s license renewal and vehicle registration renewal. If a person who made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the authority subsequently fails to honor and comply with such arrangements with the authority according to their terms, the authority may re-report the person to the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles which shall then prohibit that person from renewing their driver’s license and vehicle registration until the originally unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are paid to the authority. This provision of this subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a rental company as defined in §31-34.1-1.
(g) “Toll violator” means, for the purposes of this section, any person who uses any project and fails to pay or prepay the required toll.
(h) “Toll evader” means, for the purposes of this section, any person who uses a project, fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll, and deliberately circumvents or proceeds around or through a gate or other barrier on a project; and/or any toll violator who fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll on a tolled project at least twenty (20) or more times, received at least three (3) written notices from the authority (or its agent) regarding the non-payment of tolls, and is LC006496/SUB A - Page 2 of 6 not a party to, or in current compliance with, a written repayment plan with the authority.
(i) The authority may promulgate appropriate rules and regulations to ensure the proper administration of the provisions of this section. Any person aggrieved by the authority’s assessment of any administrative fees may request review of such assessment through the process established by the authority, which shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.
(j) For the purposes of this section only, “person” means the registered owner, EZPass account holder, driver, rentee, or lessee of a motor vehicle. In the case of a motor vehicle owned by a rental company, "person" means the rentee or lessee of the vehicle at the time of the violation, provided that the rental company complies with subsections (o) and (p) of this section.
(k) This section shall apply retroactively to all persons who are toll evaders as of the effective date of this act [October 1, 2016].
(l) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to reduce or otherwise eliminate any tolls, fines, or penalties a person owes to the authority based upon violations occurring prior to the effective date of this act [October 1, 2016].
(m) It is unlawful for any person or business, other than an authorized representative of the authority, or any other duly authorized and existing toll or transportation agency, to sell, lease, rent, or offer for sale, lease or rent, any tokens, tickets, passes, transponders, or other evidences of payment issued for passage on any project. Any person or business who or that is found in violation of this subsection shall be punished, for each offense, by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).
(n) If any provision of this section or its application to any person is deemed invalid, any such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this section that may lawfully be given effect without the invalid provision.
(o) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a rental company, as defined in § 31-34.1-1, that is the registered owner of a motor vehicle shall be entitled to establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, and fines by providing to the traffic tribunal a copy of a written rental or lease agreement which shall be prima facie evidence that the lessee was the operator of the vehicle.
(p) The issuing authority shall provide to the owner of a rented or leased vehicle a notice, in writing, of each toll violation in which a motor vehicle owned by the rental or leasing company is involved, including the license number of the vehicle and the date and time of the toll violation. Upon receipt of this notice the owner of a rented or leased vehicle shall inform the issuing authority, within twenty (20) days, to the extent available, the operator’s name, home address, employer, employer’s address, and local address, if any. LC006496/SUB A - Page 3 of 6
(q) The renter or lessee shall not be considered an agent of the owner if the owner is engaged in the business of renting or leasing vehicles.
SECTION 2. 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 LC006496/SUB A - Page 4 of 6 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 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
24-12-37. Penalty for nonpayment of toll — Toll violators and toll evaders.
(a) Legislative findings. The general assembly finds as follows:
(1) That all users of any tolled projects should be required to timely pay for the use of such projects;
(2) That toll violators and toll evaders unfairly shift the financial burden of maintaining the tolled projects to other project users; and
(3) Rhode Island has a strong interest in ensuring that its transportation infrastructure is adequately funded in a fair and equitable manner.
(b) In each instance when a person fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll on a tolled project, and is issued a violation for the same, the toll violator shall pay the toll amount within fourteen (14) days of issuance of the violation.
(c) Any toll violator who fails to pay the toll amount due within the fourteen-day (14) period in subsection (b) shall immediately incur a forty-dollar ($40.00) administrative fee in addition to the unpaid toll amount.
(d) Any toll violator who fails to pay the administrative fee and unpaid toll as required by subsection (c) within forty-five (45) days of the issuance of the original violation, shall incur a thirty five-dollar ($35.00) administrative fee in addition to the forty dollar ($40.00) administrative fee and the unpaid toll amount. The toll amount and administrative fees shall be paid to the authority.
(e) Toll evaders shall be responsible for any tolls and administrative fees applicable to toll violators. Further, at the request of the authority, any toll evader shall also promptly receive a traffic violation summons that shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island traffic tribunal, which may suspend the toll evader’s driver’s license for up to six (6) months for the violations and assess a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500), or both. All tolls, administrative fees, and fines shall be payable to the authority.
(f) If any unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are not paid within ninety (90) days of the issuance of the original violation, and the toll violator has incurred at least ten (10) instances in which such toll violator has failed to pay any required toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines, then the authority may report the person as a toll violator, or, if appropriate, as a toll evader, to the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles, who then shall not permit that person to renew his or her driver’s license and vehicle registration until any unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are paid to the authority. Upon the authority’s receipt of such payment or a written repayment agreement between the person and the authority, the authority shall promptly issue a verbal, written, or electric confirmation showing the amounts paid and a certification that the person does not owe any amounts to the authority or has otherwise made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the authority. In any such case, the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles shall forthwith release any hold placed for this purpose on the person’s license renewal and vehicle registration renewal. If a person who made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the authority subsequently fails to honor and comply with such arrangements with the authority according to their terms, the authority may re-report the person to the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles which shall then prohibit that person from renewing their driver’s license and vehicle registration until the originally unpaid toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines are paid to the authority. This provision of this subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a rental company as defined in §31-34.1-1.
(g) “Toll violator” means, for the purposes of this section, any person who uses any project and fails to pay or prepay the required toll.
(h) “Toll evader” means, for the purposes of this section, any person who uses a project, fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll, and deliberately circumvents or proceeds around or through a gate or other barrier on a project; and/or any toll violator who fails or refuses to pay or prepay the required toll on a tolled project at least twenty (20) or more times, received at least three (3) written notices from the authority (or its agent) regarding the non-payment of tolls, and is LC006496/SUB A - Page 2 of 6 not a party to, or in current compliance with, a written repayment plan with the authority.
(i) The authority may promulgate appropriate rules and regulations to ensure the proper administration of the provisions of this section. Any person aggrieved by the authority’s assessment of any administrative fees may request review of such assessment through the process established by the authority, which shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.
(j) For the purposes of this section only, “person” means the registered owner, EZPass account holder, driver, rentee, or lessee of a motor vehicle. In the case of a motor vehicle owned by a rental company, "person" means the rentee or lessee of the vehicle at the time of the violation, provided that the rental company complies with subsections (o) and (p) of this section.
(k) This section shall apply retroactively to all persons who are toll evaders as of the effective date of this act [October 1, 2016].
(l) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to reduce or otherwise eliminate any tolls, fines, or penalties a person owes to the authority based upon violations occurring prior to the effective date of this act [October 1, 2016].
(m) It is unlawful for any person or business, other than an authorized representative of the authority, or any other duly authorized and existing toll or transportation agency, to sell, lease, rent, or offer for sale, lease or rent, any tokens, tickets, passes, transponders, or other evidences of payment issued for passage on any project. Any person or business who or that is found in violation of this subsection shall be punished, for each offense, by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).
(n) If any provision of this section or its application to any person is deemed invalid, any such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this section that may lawfully be given effect without the invalid provision.
(o) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a rental company, as defined in § 31-34.1-1, that is the registered owner of a motor vehicle shall be entitled to establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, and fines by providing to the traffic tribunal a copy of a written rental or lease agreement which shall be prima facie evidence that the lessee was the operator of the vehicle.
(p) The issuing authority shall provide to the owner of a rented or leased vehicle a notice, in writing, of each toll violation in which a motor vehicle owned by the rental or leasing company is involved, including the license number of the vehicle and the date and time of the toll violation. Upon receipt of this notice the owner of a rented or leased vehicle shall inform the issuing authority, within twenty (20) days, to the extent available, the operator’s name, home address, employer, employer’s address, and local address, if any. LC006496/SUB A - Page 3 of 6
(q) The renter or lessee shall not be considered an agent of the owner if the owner is engaged in the business of renting or leasing vehicles.
SECTION 2. 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 LC006496/SUB A - Page 4 of 6 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 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
Changes from H8586A:
The amended bill adds a new section allowing the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority to enforce out-of-state toll violations through reciprocal agreements. After reviewing evidence and notifying the vehicle owner, unpaid out-of-state tolls can be reported to the division of motor vehicles, which will deny license renewals, vehicle registrations, or transfers until the debt is resolved.
- Adds a new Section 2 amending § 31-3-6.3 regarding unpaid out-of-state toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines.
- Establishes an independent review and notification process for out-of-state toll violations requested by entities with reciprocal agreements.
- Authorizes the division of motor vehicles to deny license renewals, vehicle registrations, and registration transfers for individuals with unpaid out-of-state tolls.
- Renumbers the effective date provision from Section 2 to Section 3.
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The amended bill adds a new section allowing the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority to enforce out-of-state toll violations through reciprocal agreements. After reviewing evidence and notifying the vehicle owner, unpaid out-of-state tolls can be reported to the division of motor vehicles, which will deny license renewals, vehicle registrations, or transfers until the debt is resolved.
- Adds a new Section 2 amending § 31-3-6.3 regarding unpaid out-of-state toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines.
- Establishes an independent review and notification process for out-of-state toll violations requested by entities with reciprocal agreements.
- Authorizes the division of motor vehicles to deny license renewals, vehicle registrations, and registration transfers for individuals with unpaid out-of-state tolls.
- Renumbers the effective date provision from Section 2 to Section 3.
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