§ 24-12-26. Power to collect tolls and charges - Gasoline and service concessions. (a) The authority is hereby authorized, subject to the provisions of this chapter, to fix, revise, charge and collect tolls for the use of the Newport Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, the turnpike and the different parts or sections thereof, and for the use of any additional facility and the different parts or sections thereof, and to contract with any person, partnership, association or corporation for placing on any project telephone, telegraph, electric light or power lines, gas stations, garages, and restaurants if deemed necessary by the authority in connection with the project, or for the use of any project or part thereof, including the right-of-way adjoining the paved portion of the turnpike or of any additional facility or for any other purposes and to fix the terms, conditions, rents and rates of charges for such use; provided, that the authority shall construct any gasoline service facilities which it may determine are needed on the project, and provided, further, that, to afford users of the project a reasonable choice of motor fuels of different brands, each gasoline service station shall be separately offered for lease upon sealed bids and, after notice of the offer has been published once a week in three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the state, and, in the event an acceptable bid shall be received in the judgment of the authority, each lease shall be awarded to the highest responsible bidder therefor, but no person shall be awarded or have the use of, nor shall motor fuel identified by the trade-marks, trade names, or brands of any one supplier, distributor, or retailer of such fuel be sold at more than one service station if they would constitute more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the service stations on the project. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, members of the town of Jamestown police and fire department and ambulance service personnel of the town of Jamestown and Jamestown school department who, in the course of their duty, are required to pay a toll for use of the Newport Bridge, shall, upon the presentment of receipts for the payment of the toll to the town of Jamestown, be reimbursed for all charges on an annual basis by the town of Jamestown who in turn shall be reimbursed for all payments made by the state. The town of Jamestown shall submit a request for reimbursement to the division of municipal finance for the previous fiscal year (ending June 30th) no later than September 30th of the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which reimbursement is being requested. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, members of the city of Newport police and fire department and rescue personnel who, in the course of their duty, are required to pay a toll for use of the Newport Bridge, shall, upon the presentment of receipts for the payment of the toll to the city of Newport, be reimbursed for all charges on an annual basis by the city of Newport who in turn shall be reimbursed for all payments made by the state. The city of Newport shall submit a request for reimbursement to the division of municipal finance for the previous fiscal year (ending June 30th) no later than September 30th of the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which reimbursement is being requested.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, members of the police and fire department and rescue personnel of any city or town in this state who, in the course of their duty, are required to pay a toll for use of the Mount Hope Bridge or the Sakonnet River Bridge, if any, shall, upon the presentment of receipts for the payment of the toll to their town or city, be reimbursed for all such charges on an annual basis by the town or city, who in turn shall be reimbursed for all payments made by the state. Any city or town shall submit a request for reimbursement to the division of municipal finance for the previous fiscal year (ending June 30th) no later than September 30th of the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which reimbursement is being requested.

History of Section. (P.L. 1954, ch. 3390, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 24-12-26; P.L. 1960, ch. 219, §§ 1, 16; P.L. 1963, ch. 165, § 14; P.L. 1985, ch. 200, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 500, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 332, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 413, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 241, art. 20, § 3; P.L. 2014, ch. 145, art. 21, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 8, § 1.)