(a)  The owner, or person having custody and control as authorized by the owner, of any motor vehicle which is towed away from any public roadway because it is in violation of a state law or city or town ordinance, or which is towed from the scene of an accident or breakdown, or which is towed as the result of the lawful detention of an unlicensed operator, including those operating after denial, suspension, or revocation of license, shall be liable for the cost of towing, storage, and other incidental expenses in connection with the towing.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 31-22-14

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Motor vehicle: means any vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power for use on the public streets, roads, and highways;

    (2)  "Odometer" means an instrument for measuring and recording the actual distance a motor vehicle travels while in operation;

    (3)  "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or business trust including, but not limited to, private individuals and motor vehicle dealers, both wholesale and retail, whether the private individual or dealer is a dealer in the ordinary course of business or not;

    (4)  "Repair and replacement" means to restore to a sound working condition by replacing the instrument or any part thereof or by correcting what is inoperative;

    (5)  "Transfer" means to acquire ownership by purchase, gift, bequest, or any other means. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-23.2-2

  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9

(b)  The owner or operator of this section shall be responsible for the towing, storage and incidental expenses and for the towing or transportation fees to a demolisher or crusher and any crushing preparation fees associated with gas tanks, auto fluff, and battery acid and tire removal which exceed the salvage value of the vehicle.

(c)  Any owner or operator who should fail to pay the costs and expenses set forth in this section within thirty (30) days of the receipt of written notice from the tow company, police department or demolisher shall be punished by a fine upon conviction not in excess of two hundred dollars ($200).

History of Section.
P.L. 1968, ch. 161, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 445, § 1.