R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-33-16: Examination of vehicles and licenses on highways.

The division of motor vehicles may cause an examination to be made of all motor vehicles which at the time of the examination shall be found upon the public highways, and of the licenses of the operators in charge of the motor vehicles, and may verify numbers upon the engines of the motor vehicles as well as the numbers of the manufacturers thereon, and do and perform any other acts and demand and receive any other information that it may deem necessary to establish the ownership of the motor vehicles and the authority to operate the motor vehicles. For these purposes the division of motor vehicles may request the assistance of the division of state police or police authorities of any city or town.