Rhode Island drivers can get plates supporting veterans’ trips

The law allows the motor vehicles administrator to make special plates for the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub available. The plates must refer to the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub and be the same size as regular plates. The plates must be designed by the Hub with the motor vehicles division, and the Rhode Island State Police must approve the design. The plates cannot be issued until minimum order requirements are met and the Hub submits the required paperwork and payments. The law takes effect six months after passage.

The law sets surcharges for issuing and renewing these plates and directs how the money is used. These surcharges apply to Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates. The $40 issuance surcharge is added to the regular registration fee. Half goes to the state general fund, and half goes to the Hub each year for its mission of offering World War II and Korean War veterans free trips to Washington, DC memorials. The $10 surcharge for later renewals goes to the Hub. The Hub must use Rhode Island sourced funds to benefit Rhode Island based charitable organizations and submit an annual accounting before the money is distributed. The law takes effect six months after passage.

The law requires the motor vehicles administrator to set up prepayment procedures and bars refunds for early cancellation. The procedures and refund rule concern Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates. The no refund rule applies when a driver cancels Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates early. The law takes effect six months after passage.