SECTION 31-7-2

   § 31-7-2  Vehicles transporting persons orproperty for compensation. – A nonresident owner of a foreign vehicle operated within this state for thetransportation of persons or property for compensation or for thetransportation of merchandise, either regularly according to a schedule or fora consecutive period exceeding thirty (30) days, shall register the vehicle andpay the same fees for it as is required for like vehicles owned by residents ofthis state.