Bill Sponsors
Ciccone, Burke, and Patalano
Committee
Senate Judiciary
Summary
Select
This bill updates the rules for unpaid tolls involving rented or leased vehicles. It makes the person renting or leasing the vehicle responsible for any unpaid tolls, administrative fees, and fines, rather than the rental company that owns the vehicle. To avoid being held financially responsible, 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 violation notice. It also prevents the state from blocking the vehicle registration renewals of rental companies due to unpaid tolls incurred by their customers.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Ensures that the actual user of the public infrastructure pays for it, which helps fund and maintain public transportation systems and infrastructure.
- Prevents rental car corporations from broadly passing the costs of toll violations onto all consumers, which could help keep rental prices more accessible for everyone.
- Creates a clearer administrative process for identifying the actual driver, ensuring that penalties are directed accurately rather than applying blanket punishments to vehicle owners.
Cons for Progressives
- Imposes steep administrative fees and fines that could disproportionately burden low-income individuals who rent vehicles and accidentally miss a toll payment.
- Prioritizes corporate protection by allowing rental car companies an easy exemption from liability, shifting the entire burden onto individual consumers.
- Increases the risk that renters might face severe penalties, such as driver's license suspension, due to delayed notifications when rental companies forward their information to the state.
Pros for Conservatives
- Protects private businesses by ensuring rental car companies are not held financially or legally liable for the actions and infractions of their customers.
- Promotes personal responsibility by ensuring the individual who actually committed the toll violation is directly held accountable for the unpaid fees.
- Strengthens the rule of law by providing a clear and enforceable mechanism for the state to collect unpaid tolls and fines from evaders.
Cons for Conservatives
- Compels private businesses to act on behalf of the government by mandating that rental companies hand over detailed customer information within a strict twenty-day window.
- Maintains excessive administrative fees and government fines that heavily penalize citizens for minor infractions like missing a toll payment.
- Expands the state's ability to track individuals and suspend driver's licenses over unpaid administrative fees, which could be viewed as government overreach.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely. The bill provides a standard administrative process for reassigning liability for civil infractions from a vehicle owner to the actual operator. Due process is maintained because the individual is identified and notified before further penalties are applied. The requirement for rental companies to provide customer information is a standard regulatory condition of operating a vehicle rental business.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Rental car companies
- Rental car customers
- Toll violators
- Toll evaders
- Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
Amount unknown
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
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Freedom Impact
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Public Services
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Regulatory
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Clarity of Bill Language
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Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
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Privacy Impact
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 05/15/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
• 05/15/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/19/2026)
• 05/19/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
• 05/15/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/19/2026)
• 05/19/2026 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 LC006460 - 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. LC006460 - 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 LC006460 - 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. LC006460 - 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.