Rhode Island law allows special plates for a heritage award group

The law authorizes the motor vehicle division to make special plates available for the Dominican Independence and Heritage Award Committee of RI. The plates are for the Dominican Independence and Heritage Award Committee of RI. They replace a vehicle's regular plates but keep its registration number, and the driver must carry the registration certificate. The committee designs the plates with the division, and Rhode Island State Police must approve the design. The division may issue plates only after minimum prepaid orders for each plate type are met and the required payment and paperwork are submitted. Drivers pay the regular registration fee plus a $40 issuance surcharge. Half goes to the state general fund, and half goes to the committee; later renewals carry a $10 surcharge for the committee. The committee must use Rhode Island-sourced funds to benefit Rhode Island charities and submit an annual accounting before money is distributed. Early cancellation does not qualify for a refund. The law takes effect six months after passage. The annual accounting is due before money is distributed, and the renewal surcharge applies at later registrations.