Bill Text: CT HB05135 | 2017 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

Connecticut House Bill 5135 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: An Act Concerning Electronic Proof Of Automobile Insurance Identification Cards.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-06-05 - Senate Calendar Number 592 [HB05135 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2017-HB05135-Comm_Sub.html


General Assembly		*Committee Bill No. 5135*
*January Session, 2017*		LCO No. 4561
		_____HB05135INS___030817____
Referred to Committee on INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE
Introduced by:
(INS)

AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTRONIC PROOF OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE IDENTIFICATION CARDS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 14-12b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(a) No motor vehicle registration shall be issued by the commissioner for any private passenger motor vehicle, as defined in subsection (e) of section 38a-363, or a vehicle with a commercial registration, as defined in section 14-1, unless (1) the application for registration is accompanied by a current automobile insurance identification card containing the information required in section 38a-364 or a copy of a current insurance policy or endorsement issued by a company licensed to issue such insurance in this state or an approved self-insurer or issued pursuant to the plan established under section 38a-329, verifying that the applicant has the required security coverage, and (2) the applicant signs and files with the commissioner, under penalty of false statement as provided for in section 53a-157b, a statement on a form approved by the commissioner that the owner of the vehicle has provided and will continuously maintain throughout the registration period the minimum security required by section 38a-371. In the case of an owner with a vehicle located outside of the United States or Canada, the commissioner may accept in lieu of the insurance identification card required to be presented for issuance of the registration, an affidavit, in such form as the commissioner shall require, executed by the owner and stating that the vehicle will not be operated in the United States or Canada. In the case of a special use registration issued pursuant to subsection (j) of section 14-12, the commissioner may, in lieu of proof of insurance as otherwise required by this section, accept proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, of substantially equivalent or similar insurance issued by an insurer licensed to transact business in the state in which the motor vehicle is to be registered. The commissioner may require an applicant for renewal of a motor vehicle registration for any private passenger motor vehicle or vehicle with a commercial registration to sign and file with the commissioner, under penalty of false statement as provided for in section 53a-157b, a statement on a form approved by the commissioner that the owner of the vehicle will continuously maintain throughout the registration period the minimum security required by said section 38a-371. Such form shall call for and contain the name of the applicant's insurance company and policy number.

(b) For the purposes of this title, the requirement that a person present an automobile insurance identification card to the commissioner or a law enforcement officer may be satisfied by electronic means, including by display of an electronic image on a cellular mobile telephone or other electronic device, except that if a person presents such insurance identification card by display of an electronic image on a cellular mobile telephone or other electronic device, the commissioner or law enforcement officer may not view, and offering such display shall not be construed to be consent for the commissioner or law enforcement officer to view, any content on such telephone or electronic device other than the insurance identification card.

[(b)] (c) For the purposes of this section and sections 14-12c, 14-213b, 14-217 and 38a-364, a false statement includes presentation of a false or fraudulent insurance identification card to the commissioner or to a law enforcement officer. For purposes of this section, the term "current automobile insurance identification card" includes a permanent card with a future effective date provided the word "renewal" appears in close proximity to the effective date on the card.

[(c)] (d) A person presenting an insurance identification card to the commissioner or to a law enforcement officer is deemed to have full knowledge and understanding that presentation of the card means the owner of the vehicle so registered has provided and will continuously maintain throughout the registration period the minimum security required by section 38a-371.

[(d)] (e) The commissioner shall, upon receiving prima facie evidence of a violation of this section, immediately forward the information to an appropriate prosecuting official of the state of Connecticut.