Antecedentes

UNINSURED VEHICLE PROGRAM

Tennessee relies on the Financial Responsibility Law to encourage vehicle owners to obtain and maintain financial protection for themselves and other highway users. The Financial Responsibility Law was enacted in 1977. Requiring financial responsibility resulting from unsatisfied judgements, conviction of certain violations and accidents if claims are not satisfied enforces this law.

Minimum Liability Amounts - $25,000 to cover bodily injury to or death of any one person in any one motor vehicle accident and, $50,000 to cover two persons, and $10,000 to cover property damages. Insurance is required for the Vehicle only under the Compulsory Law.

Insurance information is placed on a form and is sent to insurance company to verify. Insurance is required for both vehicle and driver.

REGISTRATION

Vehicles are not required to be insured.

A vehicle does not have to be registered if the vehicle is inoperable.

Individuals, who submit fraudulent insurance documents for registration, are subject to court actions. Upon the determination of a fraudulent document, the insurance company is not contacted but law enforcement is notified.

REPORTING PROGRAMS

Tennessee does not have a compulsory insurance electronic program.

The reporting media accepted for reporting Compulsory Insurance consists of paper. The department does not have an insurance database that links driver licensing or vehicle registration.

UNINSURED MOTORIST CRASHES

In Tennessee motorists involved in crashes are not required to produce evidence of insurance at the scene

A reportable crash is defined through the incurrence of more than $400.00 worth damages to property or any injury or death. An individual would be exempted from reporting an accident if the crash does not meet the definition of a reportable crash. Avenues available to insured motorist involved in a crash with an uninsured motorist are the uninsured driver license and registration may be suspended or revoked if the uninsured motorist does not compensate victim.

When an uninsured out-of-state motorist is involved in a crash the driving privilege is suspended until the victim is compensated. Additionally, the driver will be required to show proof of SR-22/certificate of insurance filing and pay a $140.00 reinstatement fee.

Uninsured motorists, involved in crashes, are required to file proof of Financial Responsibility in the form of an SR22 Certificate for 3 years.

ENFORCEMENT / IDENTIFICATION PROGRAMS

Effective January 1, 2002, a driver charged with a moving violation or involved in a motor vehicle crash is required to produce evidence of financial responsibility to the officer. If the driver is unable to produce such proof, a separate citation is issued for failure to provide proof of financial responsibility. If convicted, the driver is subject to a fine of not more than $100 and suspension of the driver’s license. Police Officers are not authorized to stop motorists solely to check for proof of insurance

CONTACT INFORMATION

Name: Kenneth W. Birdwell

Title: Manager, Financial Responsibility Address: Department of Safety

Financial Responsibility Section P.O. Box 945

Nashville, TN 37202 Phone: 615-741-3954

TEXAS

UNINSURED VEHICLE PROGRAM

Texas relies on the Compulsory Liability Insurance Law and the Financial Responsibility Law to encourage vehicle owners to obtain and maintain financial protection for themselves and other highway users. The Financial Responsibility Law has been in effect since 1952. Through the Compulsory Insurance Law, all vehicle owners are required to carry liability insurance. The Compulsory Insurance Law was enacted in 1982. This law is enforced by showing proof at time of registration, proof upon traffic stop, proof required in vehicle at all times, and after accidents.

Minimum Liability Amounts - $20,000 to cover bodily injury to or death of any one person in any one motor vehicle accident and, $40,000 to cover two persons, and $15,000 to cover property damages. Insurance is required for the Vehicle only under the Compulsory Law.

Proof of insurance is acceptable in the form of Insurance ID Cards.

REGISTRATION

The Texas Department of Transportation handles motor vehicle registration. Reporting Programs

Texas does not currently have a compulsory insurance electronic reporting program but plans to develop one. SR-22, Insurance Certifications are filed by paper.

UNINSURED MOTORIST CRASHES

Motorists involved in crashes are required to produce evidence of insurance at the scene. Acceptable evidence includes Insurance Card.

If driver is unable to submit proof of insurance at the time of the crash, payment of a fine, driving and registration suspension until compliance, and SR22 filing are required.

A reportable crash is defined by damages to property and/or injury or death.

Avenues available to insured motorist involved in a crash with an uninsured motorist include the judgment process. The Department of Public Safety will also suspend/revoke the driving privileges if an uninsured motorist does not compensate victim.

ENFORCEMENT / IDENTIFICATION PROGRAMS

Evidence of Financial Responsibility is required in Texas upon request of law enforcement. Police Officers ask for proof of insurance during a roadside traffic stop; however, they are not authorized to stop motorists solely to check for proof of insurance

CONTACT INFORMATION

Name: Kim Smith

Title: Manager, Safety Responsibility Address: Safety Responsibility Bureau

P. O. Box 4087 Austin, TX 78773 (512) 424-5937

UTAH

UNINSURED MOTORIST PROGRAMS

Utah relies on the Motor Vehicle Insurance Law and the Financial Responsibility Law to tackle the uninsured motorist problem.

Motor Vehicle Insurance Law – was enacted in 1953. Every policy of motor vehicle insurance or combination of policies purchased to satisfy the owner’s or operator’s security requirements shall include vehicle liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and under insured motorist coverage.

Minimum Liability Amounts - $25,000 to cover bodily injury to or death of any one person in any one motor vehicle accident; $50,000 to cover two persons or more in any one motor vehicle accident; and $15,000 to cover injury to, or destruction of, property of others in any one motor vehicle accident; or $65,000 in any one accident to cover bodily injury to or the death of others, or from destruction of, or damage to, the property of others.

Financial Responsibility Law – was enacted in 1953. Utah's financial responsibility requires every resident owner of a motor vehicle must maintain owner’s or operator’s security in effect at any time that the motor vehicle is operated on a highway within the state.

The Financial Responsibility law is enforced by showing proof of insurance upon a traffic stop, as it must be carried at all times in the vehicle.

Proof of insurance is acceptable in the form of an insurance policy, insurance policy declaration page, binders notice, renewal notice or ID Card issued by the insurance company.

REGISTRATION

Information for Registration is handled by the Motor Vehicle Division. The phone number is 801-297-3550.

REPORTING PROGRAMS

Utah has an Uninsured Motorist Identification Database Program to verify compliance with motor vehicle owner’s or operator’s security requirements. This program assists in reducing the number of uninsured motor vehicles on the highways and assists in 8increasing compliance with motor vehicle registration and sales and use tax laws.

The database is linked to the vehicle registration and the driver license systems. The database receives active vehicle liability insurance policies from insurance companies each month. This data is matched to all registered vehicles in the state. Registered vehicles that are identified as possibly not being insured are sent notifications letters. Non compliance to these letters can result in the revocation to the owner’s registration by the Motor Vehicle Division. Utah law enforcement officers and Driver License Financial Responsibility personnel use the database to enforce the uninsured motorist laws.

The reporting media consists of paper (alternative for companies who cannot comply), also, magnetic tape, online batch, online via direct line connection, online via www, file transfer protocol (FTP) and online— TCP-IP Socket. The formats used in Utah include: State- specific (developed by state and by vendor).

There is a Random Sampling Program. The program is paper based and pulled from database of vehicle registrations, insurance filings and cross check of vehicle registrations and insurance filings. Also, records are randomly selected to review, as well as audits from independent state auditor. The program has a function that allows selected criteria.

UNINSURED MOTORIST CRASHES

In Utah motorists involved in crashes are required to produce evidence of insurance at the scene. Evidence acceptable in the form of an insurance policy, insurance policy declaration page, binders notice, renewal notice or ID card issued by the insurance company.

Failure to provide evidence of insurance will result in the officer citing the driver. If the motorist does not have evidence of insurance in effect at the time of accident, the license will be suspended and the driver will be required to submit an SR 22/ certificate of Insurance.

Uninsured Motorists involved in crashes will lose their driving privilege for the following reasons:

1. Registered owners of motor vehicle who operate or allow their vehicle to be operated without the required security.

2. Drivers determined to have a probability of liability in an at fault accident who has not insured.

4. Owners or drivers of uninsured vehicles who receive a court conviction for not having proof of insurance in the vehicle they are driving.

When an uninsured at-fault out-of-state motorist is involved in a crash, the driving privilege is suspended until the victim is compensated or one year lapses from the date of the crash.

Uninsured motorists involved in crashes are required to file proof of Financial Responsibility in the form of an SR22 Certificate. Cancellation of the SR22 will result in an immediate driver’s license suspension for the same time with a reinstatement fee of $25.00. No restricted driving permit is available during the FR Suspension.

ENFORCEMENT / IDENTIFICATION PROGRAMS

Evidence of Financial Responsibility is required in Utah, upon request of law enforcement. Officers ask for proof of insurance during a roadside traffic stop, however, they are not authorized to stop motorists solely to check for proof of insurance

The enforcement alternative available to a police officer roadside, when determining that motorist is uninsured is to issue a citation.

If a driver fails to show evidence of FR to law enforcement, the following penalty will apply to first offenders: A fine of $400.00; second offenders will incur a $1,000.00 fine.