§ 31-3-17.1. Courtesy plates. (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall design and issue under regulations that he or she deems appropriate, special courtesy automobile, motorcycle, and commercial registration plates to be used on passenger motor vehicles, motorcycles, and all commercial vehicles whose gross weight is not more than nine thousand pounds (9,000 lbs.) in lieu of other number plates. Special plates shall be of such design and shall bear such letters or combinations of letters and numbers as the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall prescribe, and shall be made of light-reflecting sheeting applied on a metal base, provided that no automobile set of plates shall contain more than six (6) letters and numbers in a combination of letters and numbers, or less than two (2) letters, and that no motorcycle plate shall contain more than five (5) letters or more than five (5) letters and numbers in a combination or less than two (2) letters, and that a commercial courtesy plate shall be marked "commercial," and shall contain no more than six (6) letters or more than six (6) letters and numbers in a combination or less than two (2) letters, and provided further, that there shall be no duplication of identification and the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall, in his or her discretion, refuse to issue any letter or combination of letters and numbers that might carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency. A special automobile or commercial courtesy plate shall be issued upon application using forms furnished by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, and upon payment, in addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, a service charge of sixty dollars ($60.00) for each issue and for each registration renewal. For motorcycles, a special courtesy plate shall be issued upon application using forms furnished by the division of motor vehicles, and upon payment, in addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, a service charge of thirty-four dollars ($34.00) for each issue and for each registration renewal. The service charge shall be paid to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles prior to the administrator's acceptance of the application. The Rhode Island state lottery commission shall not be required to pay the service charge for any special courtesy plate issued pursuant to this section for motor vehicles owned or used by the lottery commission, and may utilize the special courtesy plates on all types of vehicles owned or operated by the lottery commission.

(b) For any vehicle that is registered in accordance with § 31-1-3(a), the division of motor vehicles may also issue or approve, subject to rules and regulations that may be promulgated by the administrator, a courtesy registration plate in accordance with the provisions of this section.

History of Section. (P.L. 1961, ch. 79, § 1; P.L. 1963, ch. 133, § 1; P.L. 1967, ch. 63, § 1; P.L. 1968, ch. 97, § 1; P.L. 1968, ch. 101, § 1; P.L. 1969, ch. 2, § 1; P.L. 1975, ch. 301, § 1; P.L. 1976, ch. 214, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 250, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 338, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 10, art. 3, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 73, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 305, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 559, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 7, § 11; P.L. 2012, ch. 47, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 53, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 134, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 249, § 1.)