Rhode Island SB 442: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- THREE WHEEL VEHICLES (Provides that three (3)-wheeled motorcycles be included under the licensing requirements of the department of motor vehicles. Effective March 1, 2022.)

Bill Text

2021 -- S 0442 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED 
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LC002026/SUB A 
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S T A T E     O F     R H O D E     I S L A N D 
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021 
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A N   A C T 
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- THREE WHEEL VEHICLES 
Introduced  By: Senators  Lombardo,  F  Lombardi,  Picard,  Miller,  Sosnowski,  Murray, 
McCaffrey, and Raptakis 
Date Introduced: February 25, 2021 
Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs 
 
 
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 
SECTION 1. Sections 31-10.1-1, 31-10.1-1.1, 31-10.1-1.2, 31-10.1-2 and 31-10.1-3 of the 1 
General Laws in Chapter 31-10.1 entitled "Special License for Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, and 2 
Other Motor Driven Cycles" are hereby amended to read as follows: 3 
31-10.1-1. License required. 4 
(a) No resident of this state, except those expressly exempted in this chapter, shall drive 5 
any two  (2)-wheeled motorcycle  or  motor-driven  cycle  upon  a  highway  in  this  state,  unless  the 6 
person  shall  first  obtain  a  special  license  as  an  operator  under  the  provisions  of  this  chapter; 7 
provided, however, motorized bicycles and motor scooters with a motor rated not more than four 8 
and nine-tenths (4.9) horsepower and not greater than fifty (50) cubic centimeters, which is capable 9 
of  a  maximum  speed  of  not  more  than  thirty  (30)  miles  per  hour,  shall  be  exempt  from  the 10 
provisions of this section. No person shall be licensed pursuant to this chapter unless he or she shall 11 
be at least sixteen (16) years of age or unless the person previously has been issued a full operator's 12 
license and a motorcycle learner's permit or is already licensed under a prior act of this state. Any 13 
person under the age of eighteen (18) duly licensed under the prior act shall be eligible to have his 14 
or her license renewed in the same manner as persons over the age of eighteen (18). All licenses 15 
issued  pursuant  to  this  chapter  shall  reflect  any  requirement  of  the  operator  to  wear  a  helmet 16 
pursuant to § 31-10.1-4. 17 
(b) No resident of this state, except those expressly exempted in this chapter, shall drive 18 
any three (3)-wheeled motorcycle or motor-driven cycle upon a highway in this state, unless the 19 

 
 
 
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person  shall  first  obtain  a  special  license  as  an  operator  under  the provisions  of  this  chapter; 1 
provided, however, motorized bicycles and motor scooters with a motor rated not more than four 2 
and nine-tenths (4.9) horsepower and not greater than fifty (50) cubic centimeters, which is capable 3 
of  a  maximum  speed  of  not  more than  thirty  (30)  miles  per  hour,  shall  be  exempt  from  the 4 
provisions of this section. No person shall be licensed pursuant to this chapter unless he or she shall 5 
be at least sixteen (16) years of age or unless the person previously has been issued a full operator's 6 
license and a motorcycle learner's permit or is already licensed under a prior act of this state. Any 7 
person under the age of eighteen (18) years duly licensed under the prior act shall be eligible to 8 
have their license renewed in the same manner as persons over the age of eighteen (18) years. All 9 
licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall reflect any requirement of the operator to wear a helmet 10 
pursuant to § 31-10.1-4. 11 
(c) Any person currently licensed pursuant to this chapter, prior to March 1, 2022, shall 12 
continue to be permitted to operate both two (2)-wheeled and three (3)-wheeled motorcycles and 13 
motor-driven cycles without further examination. 14 
31-10.1-1.1. Motorcycle driver education program. 15 
(a) The board of governors for higher education and the office of higher education shall 16 
through the Community College of Rhode Island provide:  17 
(1) a A minimum  of  six  (6)  and  up  to  a  maximum  of  twenty  (20)  hours  of  classroom 18 
instruction and/or on-the-road driver training, as determined by the board and/or the Community 19 
College of Rhode Island, for applicants or prospective applicants for a first motorcycle operator's 20 
license to operate two (2)-wheeled motorcycles under this chapter; and  21 
(2)  A  minimum  of  six  (6)  and  up  to  a  maximum  of  twenty  (20) hours  of  classroom 22 
instruction and/or on-the-road driver training, as determined by the board and/or the Community 23 
College of Rhode Island, for applicants or prospective applicants for a first motorcycle operator's 24 
license to operate three (3)-wheeled motorcycles under this chapter. Instruction shall be given by a 25 
person  eligible  for  a  teacher's  certificate  issued under  the  authority  of the  state  board of regents 26 
and/or  certified  to  teach  motorcycle  safety  classes  by  completion  of  a  course  of  instruction 27 
recognized by the Community College of Rhode Island. 28 
(b)  Motorcycle  driver  education