Section 280-RICR-30-10-3.7 - Notification ProceduresA. Notice Requirements 1. For each notice provided, the designated agent shall provide information relating to the owner's failure to provide proof of insurance in the database, and designate a final due date by which the owner must achieve compliance with the Requests for Insurance Verification, after which their information shall be transmitted to the Division of Motor Vehicles for the commencement of Revocation proceedings.B. Initial Request for Insurance Verification1. Should the comparison of data by the designated agent (as specified in § 3.5(B)(1) of this Part) show that a motor vehicle has not been insured for the time period set forth in R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47.4-4, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall direct that the designated agent issue notice to the owner of the motor vehicle that the owner must comply with request for insurance verification by the due date listed on the notice by providing to the designated agent one of the following forms of verification: a. Owners Proof of Insurance (1) The owner may have their insurance company/agent utilize the database secure website to electronically transmit their proof of insurance information regarding the vehicle listed on the request for insurance verification notice to the designated agent by providing the initial notice letter to the insurance company and having the Insurance company or agent utilize the database secure website to electronically transmit the vehicle owner's insurance information to the designated agent.b. Proof of Exemption from the Owners Insurance Requirements. The following constitute vehicles that are exempt from these regulations in accordance with the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 31-47.4: (1) Commercial exemption. In accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47.4-8, vehicles insured under commercial auto coverages shall not be subject to the requirements of this chapter. Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47.4-8 the term commercial auto coverage shall mean "any coverage provided to an insured, regardless of number of vehicles or entities covered, under a commercial coverage form and rated from a commercial manual approved by the commissioner of insurance. Should a vehicle owner who has commercial auto coverage receive a request for insurance verification they shall have their insurance company/agent utilize the database secure website to electronically transmit proof of their exempt status to the designated agent, or, should a company/agent be unwilling or unable to submit the compliance transactions, the customer can contact the designated agent's call center by phone or email and the call center will resolve the issue. Contact information for the call center shall be contained on the requests for insurance verification and on the Division of Motor Vehicles website at http://www.dmv.ri.gov.(2) Seasonal use, out of service exemption - Those vehicles that are not currently being operated shall be classified as a seasonal use, out of service vehicle under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-15.1 shall be exempt from the program. The owner shall have their insurance company/agent electronically transmit proof of their exempt status to the designated agent.(3) Active Military exemption - The requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 31-47.4 shall not apply to active military vehicles as defined under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-15.1. The owner shall have their insurance company/agent electronically transmit proof of their exempt status to the designated agent.(4) Rental vehicle exemption - Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47.4-9 "This chapter shall not apply to vehicles registered and used as rental vehicles pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5-33."(5) Vehicles Sold or Registered out of State - The requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 31-47.4 shall not apply to those persons where the vehicle in question has been sold or registered out of state prior to the request for insurance verification. Vehicle owners who have sold their vehicle or have registered it out of state should turn their plates in to the Division of Motor Vehicles or submit an affidavit for cancellation of registration for lost plates after which they may obtain a cancellation of registration receipt from the Division of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle owners may contact the Designated Agent's call center to ensure that an owner's vehicle has been removed from the database. Contact information for the call center shall be contained on the requests for insurance verification and on the Division of Motor Vehicle website at http://www.dmv.ri.gov.C. Issuance of Notice 1. Notice shall be mailed to the address that the vehicle owner currently has on file with the Division of Motor Vehicles at the time of comparison of insurance information.D. Determination of Owner's Address 1. Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-3 vehicle owners are required to submit address information at the time of vehicle registration. Any change in address information shall, in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-34, be updated with the Division of Motor Vehicles within ten (10) days of any address change by the vehicle owner.E. Failure to Receive Notice 1. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure the Division of Motor Vehicles has correct address information Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-3, and R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-34. Failure to receive notice due to inaccurate address information will not constitute a valid reason for non-compliance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapters 31-47 and 31-47.4 and this Part.F. Second Request for Insurance Verification 1. If an owner of a motor vehicle fails to provide satisfactory proof of insurance to the designated agent, after the initial request for insurance verification the designated agent shall: a. Provide a second Request for Insurance Verification to the owner of the motor vehicle which shall re-state a final due date by which the owner must comply with said Request by providing proof of owner's insurance or proof of exemption from the owner's insurance requirements;b. Compliance with these requirements may be achieved by following the same procedure outlined in § 3.7(B) of this Part.G. Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance/exemption after Second Notice 1. Failure of the vehicle owner to comply with the second notice by the due date listed on the Request for Insurance Verification will result in commencement of revocation procedures against the owner of the vehicle at issue.280 R.I. Code R. § 280-RICR-30-10-3.7
Adopted effective 12/31/2018