R.I. Gen. Laws § 1-6-9
Any operator who is not a resident of this state shall, as a condition precedent to engaging in the transient parking business and by engaging in that business, does consent that any process issued in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter may be served upon the director of business regulation as agent of that person. The process may be served by leaving a copy of the process in the hands of the director of business regulation or in the director's office with someone in charge of the office. The service is sufficient service upon the person; provided, that notice of the service and a copy of the process, at least fifteen (15) days before the return day of the process, is sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, by the tax administrator or the tax administrator's attorney of record, to the person's last known address, and the sender's registered or certified mail receipt of sending and the tax administrator's or the administrator's attorney's affidavit of compliance are appended to the process and entered with the declaration. Service of process in the manner provided for in this section, under the circumstances specified in this section, is of the same force and validity as if served upon the operator personally within this state. Nothing in this section limits or affects the right to serve process upon a person not a resident of this state within this state in any other manner now or hereafter permitted by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 1-6-9