Bill Sponsors
DeSimone, McEntee, Kazarian, and Corvese
Committee
House Corporations
Summary
Select
This bill updates the rules regarding unpaid tolls for rental cars in Rhode Island. It states that rental car companies will not be held responsible for tolls, fees, or fines incurred by people who rent their vehicles. Instead, the person who rented the car is considered the responsible party. To avoid liability, the rental company must provide the toll authority with a copy of the rental agreement and the renter's contact information within 20 days of receiving a notice of a toll violation.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Ensures individual accountability by placing the responsibility for unpaid tolls on the actual driver who committed the violation, promoting fair enforcement of the law.
- Prevents rental car companies from passing the costs of unpaid tolls onto all consumers through higher base rental rates, which helps keep transportation costs down for lower-income renters.
- Helps secure funding for public transportation infrastructure by creating a clearer, more effective process to collect unpaid tolls from the individuals who actually evaded them.
Cons for Progressives
- Shifts the burden of tracking down toll evaders to the government, effectively providing a liability loophole for large corporate rental companies.
- Imposes steep compounding administrative fees that could disproportionately harm low-income individuals who may already struggle to pay the initial toll.
- Allows for the suspension of driver's licenses over unpaid tolls, a punitive measure that can criminalize poverty and severely limit a person's ability to work and travel.
Pros for Conservatives
- Protects corporate freedom by shielding rental car businesses from being unfairly penalized for the unlawful actions of their customers.
- Promotes personal responsibility and the rule of law by ensuring the specific individual who evaded the toll is held directly accountable.
- Reduces government overreach into private enterprise by allowing a standard rental agreement to easily establish a company's non-liability.
Cons for Conservatives
- Forces private businesses to act as government informants by requiring them to turn over their customers' personal and employment data to avoid liability.
- Empowers an unelected state authority to impose excessive administrative fees and suspend driver's licenses, infringing on personal freedom.
- Limits due process by explicitly denying citizens the right to challenge administrative fee assessments through the standard state administrative procedures act.
Constitutional Concerns
There is a potential due process concern because subsection (i) states that the process to review the assessment of administrative fees "shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42" (the Administrative Procedures Act). Stripping standard administrative review protections could face constitutional scrutiny regarding adequate due process. Additionally, requiring rental companies to surrender customer employment data might raise minor privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Rental car companies
- Rental car customers
- Toll violators
- Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority
- Division of Motor Vehicles
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
Amount unknown
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
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Freedom Impact
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Public Services
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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
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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
• 05/29/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/02/2026)
• 06/02/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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.