§ 31-3-31. Registration of farm vehicles. (a) Farm vehicles, as defined in § 31-1-8, equipped with rubber tires while being used in farming and operated on highways shall be registered on a form furnished by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles and shall be assigned a special number plate with a suitable symbol or letter indicating the usage of the farm vehicle.

(b) The director of the department of revenue shall promulgate rules and regulations for the inspection of farm vehicles.

(c) Farm plates may not be utilized on: (1) Vehicles eligible for registration as private passenger automobiles; provided, however, that any vehicle eligible for registration as a private passenger and registered with farm plates prior to July 1, 2002, may continue to be registered with farm plates by the owner to whom the farm plates were issued; or (2) On any vehicle that is not a farm vehicle as defined in § 31-1-8.

(d) Farm plates may be displayed on vehicles used in the delivery of agricultural products produced by the farmer; however, farm plates shall not be displayed on vehicles used for deliveries by persons, as defined in § 31-1-17(g), that do not raise agricultural products.

(e) Any farm vehicle, as defined in § 31-1-8, that is not required to be registered and that is covered by an insurance policy applicable to farm property and operations and that includes liability coverage, shall be deemed to have liability insurance as required by § 31-3-3(c) and to meet liability insurance requirements set forth in this title as long as such a policy is in effect. Documentation of such insurance, including the name of the carrier, policy, number, and effective date, may be required by the division for the registration of said vehicle and for the renewal of such registration.

History of Section. (P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 11, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 31-3-31; P.L. 1984, ch. 287, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 404, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 98, § 4; P.L. 2008, ch. 145, § 4; P.L. 2014, ch. 66, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 72, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 387, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 399, § 1.)