Whenever the owner or keeper of hay scales or balances shall apply to the mayor of the city or president of the town council, as the case may be, or to any person by him or her appointed for that purpose, in any town or city in which the office of sealer of weights and measures shall from any cause be vacant, to try the scales or balances, and to seal the scales or balances if found correct, the mayor, president, or person so appointed shall try the scales or balances and seal the scales or balances if found correct; and in case of his or her neglect to do so, the owner or keeper shall be exempt from the fine prescribed in § 47-6-2.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 47-6-3