Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 815 - Division of Public Utilities and Carriers
Chapter 50 - Common Carriers
Subchapter 10 - Motor Carriers of Passengers
Part 3 - Rules and Regulations for Licensing Operators Transporting Passengers in Taxicabs, Limited Public Motor Vehicles and Public Motor Vehicles (815-RICR-50-10-3)
Section 815-RICR-50-10-3.10 - Penalties for Violations
Universal Citation: 815 RI Code of Rules 50 10 3.10
Current through September 18, 2024
A. State law provides the following penalties for violations of these Rules and Regulations Governing Operators Transporting Passengers in Taxicabs, Limited Public Motor Vehicles and Public Motor Vehicles:
1.
Criminal Penalties
a. Operation of Taxicabs
and Limited Public Motor Vehicles. Any operator of a taxicab or limited public
motor vehicle who violates any provision of these rules and regulations shall
be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisoned not more than
sixty (60) days or both, and his or her Taxi-LPMV-PMV Operator's License may be
revoked. The violation shall be a separate and distinct offense for each day
during which it shall continue. R.I. Gen. Laws §
39-14-11(a).
b. Operation of Public Motor Vehicles. Any
operator of a public motor vehicle subject to regulation by the Division who
shall be guilty of any violation of these rules and regulations shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not to
exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding
one year, or both, for each offense. R.I. Gen. Laws §
39-14.1-9(a).
2. Civil Penalties - The
Administrator of the Division may, in his or her discretion, impose upon any
operator of a taxicab, limited public motor vehicle, or public motor vehicle,
who violates any provision of these rules and regulations an administrative
civil penalty (fine) that shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per
each violation of a rule or regulation, and his or her Taxi-LPMV-PMV Operator's
License may be revoked. R.I. Gen. Laws §§
39-14-11(b) and
39-14.1-9(b).3.
3. Schedule of Fines for
Violations Admitted by the Driver. The Administrator has approved the following
schedule of fines for the specific violations enumerated below that will be
applied when the driver chooses not to contest the allegation that he or she
violated these rules. (Violation of any rule not specifically enumerated below
will result in an automatic hearing where the maximum penalty authorized by law
may be imposed.) The Division's Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers and
his/her designees may issue a Notice of Probable Violation ("NOPV") for the
offenses enumerated below setting out the specific fine authorized for that
offense. If the driver chooses to admit the violation, he may pay the fine by
money order or personal check made out to Division of Public Utilities and
Carriers in the amount indicated on the NOPV and delivered to the Clerk of the
Motor Carrier Section either in person or by U.S. Mail within ten (10) calendar
days of the date the NOPV was issued. (NOTE: Cash is not accepted for payment
of fines. Inspectors are not authorized to accept payment for fines in the
field. All payments must be made either in person at the Division or via U.S.
Mail.) A driver may always choose to contest the violation charged by
requesting a hearing rather than paying the fine amount on the citation.
Failure to pay the NOPV fine within ten (10) calendar days of the date the NOPV
is issued shall be treated as a request by the driver for a hearing. The
Division's Hearing Officer shall not be bound by this schedule of fines, but
may instead recommend whatever fine he or she feels is appropriate based on the
evidence taken at the hearing; the fine imposed at the hearing may be greater
than, or less than, the amount set out in this schedule.
4. The fine(s) prescribed for the violations
listed below shall be as follows to drivers of taxicabs and LPMVs:
a. First offense, twenty-five dollars ($25);
second offense, fifty dollars ($50); third offense, mandatory fitness hearing
for the following:
(1) Rate card not properly
displayed
(2) Active hackney
license not properly displayed
b. First offense, fifty dollars ($50); second
offense, one hundred dollars ($100), third offense, mandatory fitness hearing
for the following:
(1) Manifest (driver log)
not in compliance
(2) Receipts not
filled out properly
(3) Vehicle
overloaded
(4) Smoking in vehicle
(by either driver or passenger)
(5) Child restraint seat not utilized
(6) Driver not properly dressed
c. First offense, one
hundred dollars ($100); second offense, two hundred dollars ($200), third
offense, mandatory fitness hearing for the following:
(1) Disorderly conduct at a taxi stand and/or
while on duty as a cab driver. iv. Any rules infraction or violation of
applicable state law not outlined in subparagraphs §§
2.10(3)(a)(b)
and/or (c) of this part (above) shall result in a mandatory hearing before a
Division hearing officer.
5. The fine(s) prescribed for the violations
listed below shall be as follows to drivers of PMVs:
a. First offense, fifty dollars ($50); second
offense, one hundred dollars ($100); third offense, mandatory fitness hearing
for the following:
(1) Active "Blue Card" not
in driver's possession
(2) Failure
to provide appropriate receipts
(3) Child restraint seat not utilized
(4) Smoking in vehicle (by driver)
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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