HB 2094 Text

Introduced Version « House Bill 2094 History

Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

H. B. 2094

(By Delegate Talbott)
[Introduced January 9, 2008; referred to the
Committee on Roads and Transportation then the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend and reenact §17D-2A-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to affixing the certificate of insurance to motor vehicle windshields; criminal penalties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §17D-2A-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 2A. SECURITY UPON MOTOR VEHICLES.

§17D-2A-4. Certificate of insurance.

(a) All insurance carriers transacting insurance in this state shall supply a certificate to the insured or to any person subject to the registration provisions of article three, chapter seventeen-a of this code, certifying that there is in effect a motor vehicle liability policy upon such motor vehicle in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter seventeen-a of this code. The certificate shall give its effective date and the effective date of the policy and, unless the policy is issued to a person who is not the owner of a motor vehicle, must designate by explicit description, in such detail as the commissioner of the division of motor vehicles shall by rule require, all motor vehicles covered and all replacement vehicles of similar classification: ~~Provided,~~ That on and after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred eighty-four, insurance companies shall supply a certificate of insurance in duplicate for each policy term and for each vehicle included in a policy, except for those listed in a fleet policy. Each such certificate of insurance shall list the name of the policyholder and the name of the vehicle owner if different from the policyholder.
The certificate must specify for each vehicle listed therein, that there is a minimum liability insurance coverage not less than the requirements of section two, article four, chapter seventeen-d of this code.
(b) The certificate provided pursuant to the provisions of this section or other proof of insurance shall be carried by the insured in the appropriate vehicle for use as proof of security, and must be presented at the time of vehicle inspection as required by article sixteen, chapter seventeen-c of this code: Any person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars; and upon a second or subsequent conviction, shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or confined in the county or regional jail for not less than fifteen days nor more than one year, or both: ~~Provided,~~ That an insured shall not be guilty of a violation of this subsection (b) if he or she furnishes proof that such insurance was in effect within seven days of being cited for not carrying such certificate or other proof in such vehicle.
(C) As used in this section, proof of insurance means a certificate of insurance, an insurance policy, a mechanically reproduced copy of an insurance policy or a certificate of self-insurance, or copy of the current registration issued to a motor carrier by the public service commission: (1) through the single state registration system established pursuant to section fourteen, article six-a of this code; or (2) pursuant to the provisions of section four, article six, chapter twenty-four-a of this code. The certificate of insurance shall be a decal to be affixed to the windshield of a motor vehicle and shall contain the serial number and make and model of the insured vehicle, and a number, one through twelve, which identifies the month of purchase of liability insurance. The certificate of insurance shall be color coded to identify the length of purchase of insurance coverage with the color red to identify insurance coverage purchased for a period of three months, the color blue to identify insurance coverage purchased for a period of six months and the color green to identify insurance coverage purchased for a period of one year. A certificate of insurance mandated by this article shall be provided for each vehicle insured.
(b) All certificates of insurance issued pursuant to this section shall be the property of the state and shall be affixed by the owner of the vehicle covered by the required security only during such time as such security which it represents remains in full force and effect. Every vehicle owner shall immediately remove from such vehicle any certificate of insurance representing security which he or she knows has been terminated, canceled, impaired or is otherwise ineffective to serve as security for such vehicle.
(c) Every vehicle owner meeting the security requirements of this article through the purchase of a contract of insurance shall obtain within thirty days a certificate of insurance evidencing such security from the authorized insurance company or its authorized agent with which he or she has contracted for such security. The commissioner shall furnish or authorize for each insurer sufficient quantities of such certificates of insurance as they may require for each vehicle which such insurer reasonably expects to insure during each period for which its policies of insurance are expected to be in force.
(d) Every authorized insurance company which cancels or refuses to renew any contract of insurance on any vehicle insured by it for any vehicle owner prior to the normal expiration date of the certificate of insurance which it has furnished such owner for such vehicle shall notify such owner of the date which the certificate of insurance will no longer be in full force and effect and should be removed from the vehicle.
(e) Every authorized insurance company which cancels any contract of insurance shall provide the insured, as well as the Superintendent of the Division of Public Safety, notice of such cancellation.
(f) Every authorized insurance company shall provide notice of cancellation to the Superintendent of the Division of Public Safety within thirty days following the voluntary cancellation of a policy of insurance by a policyholder during the policy period.
(g) Every authorized insurer shall, upon the request of the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles, furnish to the commissioner with regard to any numbered certificate of insurance furnished by it, the name of the owner for whom the security was provided, the vehicle insured by such security and the beginning and ending dates during which the security was in full force and effect.
(h) Upon complaint by any person filed with the commissioner on a form to be prescribed by him or her alleging that any certificate of insurance was improperly affixed to any vehicle because the security therefor was not then in full force and effect, the commissioner shall determine the probable validity of said complaint by inquiry pursuant to subsection (g) of this section and shall certify the results of his or her findings to the complainant and, if the security was not in full force and effect on the date alleged, shall send a copy thereof to the Superintendent of the Division of Public Safety, who shall enforce the penalties provided in this section.
(i) The commissioner may, by rule, provide for:
(1) A temporary certificate of insurance which may be displayed in lieu of the original or permanent decal or certificate of insurance required by this section for a period not to exceed thirty days, during which time the owner of such vehicle shall secure the permanent decal or certificate of insurance required by this section; or
(2) Every motor vehicle dealer or owner of more than five motor vehicles providing the required security under an insurance policy that provides automatic coverage for all owned vehicles may be furnished a supply sufficient for his or her needs of certificates of insurance or other evidence of such security by his or her insurer. A certificate of insurance evidencing coverage by a motor vehicle dealer shall not expire until that dealer ceases to own the vehicle or ceases to maintain insurance coverage.
(j) All state, city and county police officers shall issue a citation for violation of this section to the owner or operator of any vehicle which has neither a current certificate of insurance affixed thereto or a temporary certificate of insurance as required by this section.
(k) The owner of any vehicle who fails to have in full force and effect security required by this section and who does not have any certificate of insurance affixed to the vehicle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars and shall have the license plates thereof suspended for a period of thirty days or until such time thereafter as proof, in a form satisfactory to the commissioner, is furnished that such security is then and will remain in effect.
(l) The owner of any vehicle who fails to have in full force and effect the security required by this section and who has affixed to the vehicle a certificate of insurance which he or she knows is not in full force and effect, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars and shall have the license plates of such vehicle suspended for a period of ninety days or until such time thereafter as proof, in a form satisfactory to the commissioner, is furnished that such security is then and will remain in effect.
(m) The owner of any vehicle who fails to have in full force and effect the security required by this section and who has affixed to the vehicle a certificate of insurance which he or she knows is fraudulent or counterfeit is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars and shall have the license plates of such vehicle suspended for a period of one year or until such time thereafter as proof, in a form satisfactory to the commissioner, is furnished that such security is then and will remain in effect.
(n) Any person who fraudulently distributes any certificate of insurance or temporary certificate of insurance or who knowingly distributes a counterfeit certificate of insurance to any person for any vehicle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or confined to the jail for a period not to exceed thirty days or both fined and confined.
(o) An insured is not guilty of a violation of this section if, within seven days of being cited for the violation, he or she furnishes proof that such insurance was in full force and effect at the time of the citation. As used in this section, proof of insurance means a decal, an insurance policy, a mechanically reproduced copy of an insurance policy or a certificate of self insurance.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require color coded certificates of insurance to be placed on the windshield of the insured motor vehicle and to provide penalties for violations of this section.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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