R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-32-4 (2026)

Proof required under certain circumstances

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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(a) Whenever the license of any person is revoked pursuant to the provisions of § 31-11-6, and whenever the division of motor vehicles, pursuant to the provisions of § 31-11-7, suspends or revokes the license of an operator or chauffeur upon a showing by its records or other sufficient evidence that the licensee has committed an offense for which mandatory revocation of license is required upon conviction, the division of motor vehicles shall suspend the registration of all vehicles registered in the name of the person as owner.

(b) Whenever under any other law of this state the license of any person is suspended or revoked by reason of a conviction or a forfeiture of bail, the division of motor vehicles may suspend the registration of all vehicles registered in the name of the person as owner if the administrator of the division of motor vehicles finds that the public safety so requires; provided, that:

(1) If the owner has previously given or shall immediately give and maintain proof of financial responsibility for the future with respect to all vehicles registered by the person as the owner, the division of motor vehicles shall not suspend the registration unless otherwise required by law.

(2) If a conviction arose out of the operation, with permission, of a vehicle owned by or leased to the United States, this state, or a municipality of it, the division of motor vehicles shall suspend or revoke the license only with respect to the operation of vehicles not so owned or leased and shall not suspend the registration of any vehicle so owned or leased.

(c)(1) Whenever the license of any person is revoked pursuant to the provisions of § 31-11-6, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall require that person to maintain proof of financial responsibility for the future with respect to all vehicles registered by the person or owner.

(2) Whenever the license of any person shall have been suspended for having violated any provisions of the motor vehicle laws other than those enumerated in § 31-11-6, once within a period of twenty-four (24) calendar months, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles may in his or her discretion require the person to maintain proof of financial responsibility for the future with respect to all vehicles registered by the person as the owner. Whenever the license of any person shall have been suspended twice within a period of twenty-four (24) calendar months, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall require the person to maintain proof of financial responsibility for the future with respect to all vehicles registered by the person as the owner.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, whenever the license of any person is suspended pursuant to the provisions of § 31-27-2 or 31-27-2.1, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall require the person to maintain proof of financial responsibility for three (3) years.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 1993–2009 · leading case: Levesque v. Rhode Island Dep't of Transp., 626 A.2d 1286 (R.I. 1993).
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Levesque v. Rhode Island Dep't of Transp., 626 A.2d 1286 (R.I. 1993). · cites it 6× “1956 (1982 Reenactment) § 31-32-4, as amended by P.L.1988, ch. 377, § 1, upon the suspension of his or her license for refusal to submit to a chemical test for the presence of drugs or alcohol is a “penalty” about which the driver must be informed prior to his or her refusal.”
State v. Robinson, 972 A.2d 150 (R.I. 2009). · cites it 3× “In an attempt to distinguish the instant case from Levesque , petitioners maintain that in that case, the penalty about which the motorist was not informed — the potential loss of his automobile registrations — did *156 not arise from the refusal statute, but instead was found…”
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-32-4(C)(2): 1 case
Levesque v. Rhode Island Dep't of Transp., 626 A.2d 1286 (R.I. 1993). “1956 (1982 Reenactment) § 31-32-4, as amended by P.L.1988, ch. 377, § 1, upon the suspension of his or her license for refusal to submit to a chemical test for the presence of drugs or alcohol is a “penalty” about which the driver must be informed prior to his or her refusal.”
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