Rhode Island General Laws Title 31. Motor and Other Vehicles § 31-36.1-17. Penalties

(a) Any motor carrier failing to secure or display upon demand the license or identification device required in § 31-36.1-3, or under the International Fuel Tax Agreement shall be guilty of a civil violation and subject to a fine not exceeding: (1) eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for the first offense and (2) not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for subsequent offenses. Any motor carrier willfully violating any other provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a civil violation and subject to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense and not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for subsequent offenses.

(b)Filing of a false statement to obtain credit or refund. Any person who willfully and knowingly makes a false statement orally, in writing, or in the form of a receipt for the sale of motor fuel, for the purpose of obtaining, attempting to obtain, or to assist any other person, partnership, or corporation to obtain or attempt to obtain a credit or refund or reduction of liability for taxes under this chapter, shall be fined not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or be imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(c)Failure to file return or pay tax. When any motor carrier fails to file a return within the time prescribed by this chapter for the filing of it or fails to pay the amount of taxes due when they are payable, a penalty of ten percent (10%) or fifty dollars ($50.00), whichever is greater, shall be added to the amount of the tax due, and the penalty shall immediately accrue, and the tax shall bear interest at the annual rate provided by § 44-1-7, as amended, until the tax is paid. The tax administrator may waive all or part of the penalties provided in this chapter when it is proved to the tax administrator's satisfaction that the failure to file the return or pay the taxes on time was due to reasonable cause.