Zanni

Q. Several months ago, several readers inquired if they could use regular passenger plates on pickup trucks. Your answer was no. This morning I was at a Dunkin’ Donuts drive thru behind a newer Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck that displayed “War Veteran” plates. I have also observed numerous times since this article, pickup trucks (mostly extended cab/double cab pickups) being driven around with regular and in one case vanity plates! I am seeing this frequently. Has this policy changed on requiring pickup trucks commercial plates or can we now register with regular passenger plates?

A. The answer is still the same — a passenger plate is not allowable on any type of pickup vehicle. If the vehicle has an open bed — even a small bed such as on the Chevy Avalanche — it must be registered with a commercial or combination plate. If you believe you have seen an improperly registered vehicle, you can call our Enforcement section at (401) 462-5736.

However, two of the plates you cite are exceptions.

Veteran and disabled veteran plates can be registered to either passenger or commercial vehicles. A commercial vehicle cannot weigh over 9,000 pounds GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) in order to display a veteran or disabled veteran plate. In our computer system, two codes indicating plate type and vehicle type will differentiate between the vehicles.

We also now offer commercial vanity plates. Commercial vanity plates can be ordered at any branch or AAA office (if you are a member) or online by going to http://www.dmv.ri.gov/ onlineservices/. For a commercial vehicle, a vanity plate is any combination of five (5) letters and numbers that is not already registered to a passenger vehicle. The vehicle cannot weigh over 9,000 pounds GVW. The fees to order commercial vanity plates are the same as those for ordering passenger plates. Commercial plates with all digits are not considered vanity plates and cannot be ordered as vanity.

Legal window tint

Q. Because of my husband’s eye problems, his eye doctor has suggested printing up a form from the DMV’s Web site that he then can sign/approve so that window tint can be applied to the front side windows (not windshield) of my husband’s vehicle. I have checked the DMV’s Web site and do not see any such form. What do you know about this? Maybe it is on one of our other state Web sites?

A. The law does provide for exemptions to the regulations regarding window tint, and RIGL 31-23.3-4 Exemptions, states, “(7)A motor vehicle registered in this state in the name of a person, or the person’s legal guardian, who has an affidavit signed by a physician or an optometrist licensed to practice in this state that states that the person has a physical condition that makes it necessary to equip the motor vehicle with a sunscreening device which may exceed federal standards. The division of motor vehicles, upon application of the individual, which shall include the affidavit, shall issue a sticker to be applied to the driver’s side window to identify this exemption.”

The DMV’s division of Operator Control accepts applications for exceptions to this statute. The application must be signed by a physician and the medical condition requiring the exemption must be listed. This application is then approved or denied by the Medical Review Board, which meets once a month. A letter will be sent to the applicant advising of the Medical Board’s decision.

Gina Antonucci Zanni, chief of communications for the State Division of Motor Vehicles, has agreed to answer questions of general interest posed by Journal readers about state motor vehicle laws and procedures. To ask a question that would also be of interest to other readers, send a letter to Ask projoCars, Features Department, The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI, 02902. You can e-mail your question to projocars@projo.com. Please put “Ask projoCars” in the subject field. Questions or complaints of a specific nature should be posed to the DMV directly and will not be answered in this column.