Rental companies may use lease records to contest toll liability

A rental company may show a written rental or lease agreement to establish that the renter was driving and contest responsibility for tolls, fees, and fines. This applies to rental companies that own the vehicle involved in the toll violation. The rental or lease agreement must be provided to the Rhode Island traffic tribunal. The agreement is initial evidence that the renter or lessee operated the vehicle. The rental company must follow the notice and information rules for rented or leased vehicles. The act states that these provisions take effect upon passage.

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority may report a person with certain unpaid out-of-state toll charges to the Division of Motor Vehicles, which may block license and registration transactions. This covers out-of-state toll violations under a reciprocal agreement with Rhode Island and applies to the vehicle’s actual registered owner. The authority must independently review the violation, including visual evidence, and notify the registered owner. The owner has 10 days after the notice date to provide information or evidence disputing the requested action. The authority may report the owner only if the charges were properly imposed and the owner could have been reported for comparable in-state toll violations. The hold ends when the charges are paid or the person enters and follows a repayment agreement. Rental-company vehicles are excluded from this provision. After receiving notice of payment or a current repayment agreement, the authority must notify the Division of Motor Vehicles within five business days, and the division must act within five business days after receiving that notice.