R.I. Gen. Laws § 1-4-7

A required pilot€™s license, permit, or certificate shall be kept in the personal possession of the pilot while the pilot is operating an aircraft within this state. Required aircraft certificates shall be carried in the aircraft at all times and shall be conspicuously posted in clear view of passengers. A pilot€™s license, permit, or certificate and aircraft certificates shall be presented for inspection upon the demand of any passenger, any peace officer of this state, any authorized official or employee of the president and CEO, or the board, or any official, manager, or person in charge of any airport or landing field in this state upon which the pilot lands, or upon the reasonable request of any other person. In any criminal prosecution under any of the provisions of this chapter, a defendant who relies upon a license, permit, or certificate of any kind shall have the burden of proving that he or she is the possessor of a proper license, permit, or certificate. The fact of nonissuance of a license, permit, or certificate may be evidenced by a certificate signed by the official having power of issuance, or his or her deputy, under seal of office, stating that he or she has made diligent search in the records of his or her office and that from the records it appears that no license, permit, or certificate was issued.