Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 280 - Department of Revenue
Chapter 30 - Division of Motor Vehicles
Subchapter 00 - GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Part 2 - Access to Public Records Regulation
Section 280-RICR-30-00-2.6 - Procedure for Requesting Public Records

Universal Citation: 280 RI Code of Rules 30 00 2.6

Current through September 18, 2024

A. Except as provided in § 2.7 of this Part, a written request to inspect or copy public records should be sent to the Division of Motor Vehicles or, in the alternative, to the Division of Legal Services at the Department of Revenue. Written requests may be mailed, hand delivered, e-mailed or sent via facsimile. Hand delivered requests may be made during the Division's regular business hours. It is suggested, but not required, that requests be submitted on the form provided by the Division, which is available at the Division or online at http://www.dmv.ri.gov. To assure that the Division can respond to the request as efficiently and as completely as possible, the request should identify and describe the records being requested with as much specificity as possible. A written record of all requests will be maintained within the Division of Motor Vehicles.

B. If the description of records being requested is not sufficient to allow the Division to identify and locate the requested records, the Division will notify the person requesting such records that additional information is needed to properly respond to the request.

C. Upon receipt of a request for records, the Division will mark on the face of a written request the date the request was received. The Division will permit the inspection or copying of the requested records within ten (10) business days after receiving the written request.

D. If the inspection or copying is not permitted within ten (10) business days of receipt, the Division shall forthwith explain in writing the need for additional time to comply with the request. In such cases the Division may have up to an additional twenty (20) business days to comply with the request if it can demonstrate that the voluminous nature of the request, the number of requests for records pending, or the difficulty in searching for and retrieving or copying the requested records, is such that additional time is necessary to avoid imposing an undue burden on the Division.

E. A written request is not required to be submitted for public information available under R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-2 or for other documents prepared for or readily available to the public such as:

1. rules and written statements of policy or interpretations formulated, adopted, or used by the agency; or

2. final orders, decisions, and opinions F. Non-written requests for public records are subject to the same timelines as written requests. Reasonable time must be given to locate, copy and send the requested records.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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