TITLE 31

Motor and Other vehicles

CHAPTER 31-2

Division of Motor Vehicles

SECTION 31-2-11



   § 31-2-11  Records open for inspection

– Admissibility of certified copies of records as evidence. –

(a) All records of the division of motor vehicles, other than those declared by

law to be confidential for the use of the division of motor vehicles, shall be

open to public inspection during office hours. Any copies or photostatic copies

of any records, books, papers, documents, and rulings of the division of motor

vehicles when certified to be correct by an employee of the division of motor

vehicles who is designated for this purpose by the administrator of the

division of motor vehicles shall be acceptable as evidence in the courts of

this state with the same force and effect as the originals, in all cases where

such original records, books, papers, documents, and rulings would be admitted

in evidence.



   (b) Whenever any subpoena duces tecum is issued to the

administrator of the division of motor vehicles for the production in court of

the records, books, papers, documents, or rulings of the division of motor

vehicles it shall not be necessary for the administrator of the division of

motor vehicles to whom the subpoena is issued to appear personally, and a copy

or photostat duly certified under the seal of the department by the

administrator of the division of motor vehicles of the records, books, papers,

documents, or rulings of the division of motor vehicles submitted as described

in this section shall be full compliance with the subpoena. Under the

application to the court and for good cause shown, the court may compel the

attendance of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles or the

supervisor or an assistant who is charged with the care and custody of the

official records or any investigator of the division of motor vehicles to

answer the subpoena duces tecum.



   (c) For the purposes outlined in this section, the person

designated by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall be the

official "keeper of records" for the division.



History of Section.

(P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 2, § 7; G.L. 1956, § 31-2-11; P.L. 1968,

ch. 155, § 1; P.L. 1969, ch. 133, § 1.)