§ 31-5-1. Definitions. (a) Whenever the words “licensor” and/or “department” are used in chapters 5 and 5.1 of this title, they shall mean the “department of revenue”. (b) For the purposes of this section, an electric motorized bicycle as defined in § 31-1-3(g) is not considered a motor vehicle. History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, […]
§ 31-5-10. License required for dealers’ plates. (a) No motor vehicle dealer, unless licensed in accordance with §§ 31-5-1 — 31-5-20, shall be permitted to register or receive or use dealers’ license plates as limited by the number approved by the department for the dealer. (b) Whenever the department revokes or suspends a dealer’s license […]
§ 31-5-11. Grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of license. The department may deny an application for a license, or suspend or revoke a license after it has been granted, for the following reasons: (1) On proof of unfitness of applicant to do business as a motor vehicle dealer. (2) For any material misstatement by […]
§ 31-5-12. Responsibility of licensee for acts of agents. It shall be sufficient cause for the denial, suspension, or revocation of any license issued under this chapter, that any officer, director, partner, trustee, or agent, including independent salespersons of the licensee, has been found by the department of revenue to have engaged in any conduct, […]
§ 31-5-13. Procedure for suspension or revocation of license. No license shall be suspended or revoked, except after a hearing in accordance with the administrative procedures act, §§ 42-35-1 — 42-35-18. History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 7, § 6; G.L. 1956, § 31-5-13; P.L. 1981, ch. 219, § 1.
§ 31-5-14. Penalties for violations by dealers. (a) Upon the complaint of the department, any person violating any of the provisions of §§ 31-5-1 — 31-5-20, shall, upon conviction for the first offense, be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100), or by imprisonment […]
§ 31-5-15. Examination of records — Altered or reset odometers. (a) The department or its duly authorized representative may inspect the pertinent books, records, letters, and contracts of the licensee relating to any written complaint made against the licensee. If the licensee is found guilty of violating any of the provisions of §§ 31-5-1 — […]
§ 31-5-16. Complaint to set aside department order. Any licensee or other person in interest being dissatisfied with the final order of the department, within twenty (20) days after the entry of that order by the department, may file a complaint in the superior court of the state of Rhode Island against the department as […]
§ 31-5-17. Witnesses before department — Report of findings. The department shall have the power in hearings and trials arising under §§ 31-5-1 — 31-5-20 to determine the place where the hearing shall be held, to subpoena witnesses, to take depositions of witnesses residing without the state in the manner provided for in civil actions […]
§ 31-5-17.1. Repealed. History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 219, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 31-5-17.1; Repealed by P.L. 1986, ch. 369, § 2, effective June 24, 1986.
§ 31-5-18. Records of transactions maintained by dealers. Every licensee shall maintain a record in form as prescribed by the department of: (1) Every vehicle of a type subject to registration which is bought, sold, or exchanged by the licensee or received or accepted by the licensee for sale or exchange. (2) Every new or […]
§ 31-5-18.1. Inspection of records and premises. All records kept in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be open to inspection by the department and its duly authorized representatives, by the division of motor vehicles, and by any state or municipal official or police officer during reasonable business hours. History of Section.P.L. 1983, […]
§ 31-5-18.2. Sale of used motor vehicles — Annual reports. Every licensed dealer shall file with the department an annual report which lists: (1) The total number of used motor vehicles sold in the previous year by the dealer; and (2) The total number of used motor vehicles sold without a warranty pursuant to chapter […]
§ 31-5-18.3. Sale of all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s). (a) No motor vehicle dealer licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall sell, lease, or rent any class of all-terrain vehicle to any person under the age of sixteen (16) years. (b) Violations of this section shall be grounds for denial, suspension or revocation of the dealers […]
§ 31-5-19. Sunday business permitted. (a) Motor vehicle dealers shall be permitted to have open for the conduct of business any display room or outdoor display lot where motor vehicles are exhibited on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (b) “Business” as used […]
§ 31-5-19.1. Auction of antique and classic motor vehicles. The provisions of § 31-5-19 shall not apply to an auction of classic motor vehicles or antique motor vehicles as defined in § 31-1-3. A “classic motor” vehicle means a motor vehicle that is not sold in the normal course of business by a dealer and […]
§ 31-5-2. Duties of department of revenue. The department of revenue shall issue the licenses provided for in §§ 31-5-5 — 31-5-9 and § 31-5-34. The department of revenue shall have supervision over the licenses in respect to all the provisions of §§ 31-5-1 — 31-5-20 and §§ 31-5-33 — 31-5-39, and shall have power […]
§ 31-5-2.1. Motor vehicle dealers license and hearing board. (a) A board composed of a total of five (5) members, two (2) of which shall be licensed automobile dealers, one new car Rhode Island licensed automobile dealer, and one used car Rhode Island licensed automobile dealer, each to serve a three (3) year term; one […]
§ 31-5-20. Appropriations for dealer licensing law. The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum that it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 31-5-1 — 31-5-19, and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum, or […]
§ 31-5-21. Manufacturer’s license required. (a) No manufacturer, factory representative, or distributor shall engage in business as a manufacturer, factory representative, or distributor in this state without a license to do so as provided in § 31-5-22. (b) For the purpose of this chapter, each division of a motor vehicle manufacturer or distributor shall be […]
