Rhode Island General Laws Title 39. Public Utilities and Carriers § 39-14-14.1. Taximeter requirement

(a) Every motor vehicle used in the transportation of passengers for compensation in a taxicab service over the publicly used highways of this state shall be equipped with a taximeter. Any motor carrier or operator who shall knowingly and willfully cause a motor vehicle to be operated as a taxicab that is not equipped with a taximeter, or when so equipped the taximeter is not in a recording position for the purpose of registering charges at the time the service is rendered, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense; and, upon conviction for a second offense, shall be fined not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) and shall have his or her certificate suspended for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days; and, upon conviction for a third offense, shall be fined not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) and shall have his or her certificate suspended for a period not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days.

(b) A certificate holder authorized to provide taxicab services is not required to utilize the vehicle's taximeter for registering charges when the transportation services are being coordinated by, and paid for by, a state department, authority, or agency on behalf of clients of the state department, authority, or agency, provided, the alternative method for registering or calculating charges is approved by the division.