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R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-34-1

Proof of financial responsibility required

Applied in 3 court decisions — leading case Oliveira v. Lombardi (2002)

Most recently applied in Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. United Rentals (N. Am.), Inc. (March 2018)

P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 20, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 31-34-1; P.L. 1965, ch. 214, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 28, § 1.

How often courts cite this section

199020002010201810
citing decisions per year

Court decisions citing this, by year. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.

(a) It shall be unlawful for the owner of any motor vehicle or truck engaged in the business of renting motor vehicles or trucks without drivers to rent a motor vehicle without a driver otherwise than as a part of a bona fide transaction involving the sale of the motor vehicle or truck, unless the owner has previously notified the division of motor vehicles of the intention to so rent the vehicle and has given proof of financial responsibility, in the following amounts:

(1) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for property damage;

(2) Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for injury or death sustained by one person;

(3) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for all personal injuries or deaths resulting from one accident.

(b) The division of motor vehicles shall not register the vehicle unless and until the owner gives proof of financial responsibility as provided in this chapter. The division of motor vehicles shall cancel the registration of any motor vehicle or truck rented without a driver whenever the division of motor vehicles ascertains that the owner has failed or is unable to give and maintain proof of financial responsibility.

Official source: Rhode Island General Assembly. Reproduced from public-domain Rhode Island statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.