Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 815 - Division of Public Utilities and Carriers
Chapter 50 - Common Carriers
Subchapter 05 - Motor Carriers of Property
Part 1 - Transportation Provided by Motor Carriers of Property (815-RICR-50-05-1)
Section 815-RICR-50-05-1.3 - Definitions

Universal Citation: 815 RI Code of Rules 50 05 1.3

Current through September 18, 2024

A. "Administrator" means the Administrator, Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.

B. "Abandoned Vehicle" means any vehicle which meets any of the following three (3) tests:

1. A vehicle that is inoperable, over eight (8) years old, and is left unattended on public property for more than forty-eight (48) hours; or,

2. A vehicle that has remained illegally on public property for a period of more than three (3) days; or,

3. A vehicle that has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than three (3) days.

C. "Abandoned Vehicle of No Value" means any motor vehicle which meets any of the following three tests:

1. Any motor vehicle that is inoperable, over ten (10) years old, and is left on public property for more than forty-eight (48) hours; or,

2. Any vehicle that has remained illegally on public property for a period of more than three (3) days; or,

3. A vehicle that has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than three (3) days, and meets all of the following criteria:
a. The vehicle has no evidence of current registration in or upon the vehicle; and,

b. The vehicle has a fair market value of five hundred dollars ($500) or less; and,

c. The vehicle does not have a valid inspection sticker.

D. "Agency Tariff" means a tariff issued by a publishing agent for one or more certified common or contract carriers under power of attorney issued by the carrier.

E. "Applicant" means person or persons filing an application.

F. "Certificated Tower" means a carrier possessing a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Administrator, Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, for the purpose of transporting vehicles by the tow-away method.

G. "Classification" means a tariff containing a list of articles or commodities and the class ratings to which they are assigned for the purpose of applying class rates.

H. "Class Rates" means a rate which applies on one or more various articles according to the class ratings to which they are assigned.

I. "Commodity Rate" means a rate published to apply to a commodity specifically named or described.

J. "Common Carrier" means any person who or which undertakes, whether directly or by any other arrangement to transport property, or any class or classes or property, by motor vehicle, between points within this state, for the general public, for compensation, over the publicly used highways of this state, whether over regular or irregular routes.

K. "Contract Carrier" means any person who or which engages in transportation by motor vehicle of property in intrastate commerce, for compensation (other than transportation referred to in the preceding paragraph), under continuing contracts with one (1) person or an unlimited number of persons for the furnishing of transportation services of a special and individual nature required by the shipper and not generally provided by common carriers.

L. "Division" means Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.

M. "Intervenor and/or Protestant" means a person permitted to intervene in a proceeding to protect an alleged interest.

N. "Legal Owner" means the person who has obtained the ownership of a vehicle by any legal means but has not caused the vehicle to be registered with the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

O. "Lessee" means the Motor Carrier leasing the vehicle.

P. "Lessor" means the individual or party owning the vehicle to be leased by the motor carrier.

Q. "Police Department" means the police department of a city or town, or the Rhode Island state Police

R. "Possessory Lien" means the right to maintain possession of a vehicle and motor vehicle registration plates against all claims of the owner and/or security lien or until all charges are paid for recovery, towing, and storage in accordance with the certificated towers tariff.

S. "Private Trespass" means the unattended presence of a vehicle on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control thereof.

T. "Registered Owner" means the person recorded in the Registry of Motor Vehicles as being the one to whom the registration of the vehicle was issued

U. "Tariff" means a publication containing rates, charges, classifications, or ratings.

V. "Tow Truck" means any motor vehicle designated, and/or ordinarily used for the purpose of towing or removing vehicles assisting disabled motor vehicles.

W. "Transferee" means a person who seeks to acquire a certificate or permit from a transferor.

X. "Transferor" means a person who seeks to sell or assign a certificate or permit.

Y. "Unattended Vehicle" means any vehicle other than an "abandoned vehicle" or "abandoned vehicle of no value" that meets one of the following criteria:

1. A vehicle left unoccupied in a place or for a period of time prohibited by law or municipal ordinance or so as to cause traffic congestion or hazard; or,

2. A vehicle from which the operator or owner thereof has been removed by any member of a police department in the performance of his or her official duties; or,

3. A vehicle left on public or private property without the consent of the owner or person in control thereof, or own having exclusive right to the use thereof.

Z. "Vehicle or Motor Vehicle" means any vehicle, machine, truck, tractor-trailer, or semi-trailer propelled or drawn by any mechanical power and use upon the highways in the transportation of property, but does not include any vehicle or car operated on a rail or rails wither on or off the publicly used highways.

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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