Exempts certain vehicles that are not manufactured with the proper front registration plate bracket from the requirement that motor vehicles display a front facing registration plate.

Plain-English Summary

Currently, Rhode Island law requires most vehicles to display a license plate on both the front and rear of the vehicle. This bill would create an exception to that rule for vehicles that were not built with a front license plate bracket — meaning the manufacturer never included a mounting point for a front plate when the vehicle was designed and assembled.

Under this bill, if your car or truck rolled off the factory floor without a proper front bracket for attaching a license plate, you would not be required to display a front plate. You would still need to display a rear plate as normal. This would affect drivers whose vehicles — often certain sports cars, luxury vehicles, or newer models — simply weren't designed with a front plate mount, and who currently may have to drill into their bumper or use aftermarket attachments to comply with the law.

This bill is still in early stages. It was referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee, and a hearing has been scheduled. The committee has recommended holding it for further study, meaning lawmakers want more time to examine it before moving forward. It has not yet been passed into law.