User Fees at State Beaches, Parks, and Recreational Areas (250-RICR-100-00-3)

The purpose of this Regulation is to provide a schedule of fees for State Beaches, Campgrounds, Parks and other facilities at Recreational Areas under the control and management of the Department of Environmental Management.

These fees are adopted pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-17.1-9.1 and in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-35.

A.“Camping tiers” means as follows:

1.Tier 1 – campsites with waterfront views and/or electric, sewer, and water and/or drive through trailer access

2.Tier 2 – campsites with electric, water and/or drive through trailer access

3.Tier 3 – campsites without any hookups, including sites at the Charlestown Breachway Campground

B.“Non-resident vehicle” means any vehicle registered in another State or country.

C.“Persons with disabilities” means any individual who has a physical or mental impairment and is receiving:

1.Social security disability insurance benefits (SSDI);

2.Supplemental security income benefits (SSI);

3.Veterans’ benefits and who shall be determined under applicable federal law by the Federal Department of Veterans’ Affairs to be one hundred percent (100%) disabled through a service-connected disability.

D.“Resident vehicle” means any vehicle registered in Rhode Island.

E.“Senior citizen” means any person who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older.

F.“Vehicle” means any street legal equipment, motorized or non-motorized, properly registered for over the road travel.

For the purposes of administering these fees, resident and non-resident vehicle fees shall be based solely upon the State of vehicle registration.

A.Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 32-1-17, “Persons with Disabilities.”

1.No fee shall be charged to any person with a disability regardless of age, or to automobiles transporting a non-driver with a disability, at any recreational facility owned and operated by the State; provided, however, proper identification is presented as prescribed by the Department of Environmental Management.

2.For the purpose of this section, “fees” means all fees for parking, admittance, or other user fees for playing golf. The term “fees” shall not include licensing fees, camping fees, picnic table fees, or specialized facility use fees, including, but not limited to, fees for the use of equestrian areas, performing arts centers, game fields, and mule shed.

B.Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 32-1-18, “Senior citizens.”

No entrance fee shall be charged to any person who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older and who is eligible to participate in the Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Assistance to the elderly program, and an entrance fee not exceeding one half (1/2) of the established and posted rates shall be charged to any other person who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older at any recreational facility owned and operated exclusively by the State, excepting docking slips; provided, however, proper identification is presented as prescribed by the Department of Environmental Management.

C.The Director of the Department of Environmental Management, with the approval of the Governor, may, from time to time, waive user fees at State beaches and State parks on any legal holiday recognized by the State of Rhode Island.