Rhode Island may offer special plates honoring Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub

The motor vehicles administrator may make special plates available for the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub. The plates are for vehicles registered in Rhode Island and replace the regular plates on those vehicles. The Hub designs the plate with the Division of Motor Vehicles, and the Rhode Island State Police must approve the design. The plates cannot be issued until the minimum prepaid orders are met and the required paperwork is submitted. The law takes effect six months after passage.

The law sets surcharges for the special plates and directs how the money is used. These charges apply to people who obtain or renew the special plates. The regular registration fee still applies, along with a $40 initial plate surcharge and a $10 surcharge for each later renewal. Half of the initial surcharge goes to the state general fund; the other half and renewal surcharges go to the Hub. The Hub must report each year before receiving the money and must use Rhode Island-sourced funds to benefit Rhode Island-based charitable organizations. The surcharge rules take effect six months after passage.

The law bars refunds when a driver cancels special plates early. The rule applies to Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates. The rule takes effect six months after passage.