Rhode Island General Laws Title 31. Motor and Other Vehicles § 31-10.3-13. Requirements--Commercial

(a)License required -- requirements. Every person applying for an original or renewal of a commercial license shall be required to comply with and be issued a commercial license meeting the requirements of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (see now 49 U.S.C. § 31101 et seq.) and the implementing regulations in 49 CFR 383 and 384, as may be amended from time to time.

(b) No person, except those expressly exempted in this chapter, shall drive any commercial motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless that person has a valid commercial license under the provisions of this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being driven.

(c) No person, except those expressly exempted in this chapter, shall steer or, while within the passenger compartment of a vehicle, exercise any degree of physical control of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless that person has a valid commercial license under the provisions of this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being towed.

(d) No person shall receive a commercial license unless and until he or she surrenders to the department all valid licenses in his or her possession issued to him or her by this or any other jurisdiction. All surrendered licenses issued by another jurisdiction shall be returned to it, together with information that the person is licensed in this state. No person holding a commercial license shall be permitted to have more than one license at any time.

(e) Any person licensed as a commercial driver pursuant to this chapter may exercise that privilege granted upon all streets and highways in this state, and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise that privilege by any municipal, local board, or other body having authority to adopt local police regulations.