Bill > S3774

Introduced Session

This bill, entitled the "Motor Vehicle Insurance Verification Act," requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to establish a system for the online verification of evidence of motor vehicle insurance, to assist in the identification of uninsured motorists. The bill also requires motor vehicle insurers to provide policy information for the online insurance verification system and to otherwise cooperate with the commission in establishing the system. The bill specifies certain requirements for the verification system, including that: (1) the online insurance verification system comply with certain standards of the Insurance Industry Committee on Motor Vehicle Administration (IICMVA); (2) the system be accessible to all law enforcement officers for the purpose of enforcing the mandatory motor vehicle insurance requirements of section 1 of P.L.1972, c.197 (C.39:6B-1) through capabilities for real-time verification of compliance with mandatory insurance requirements at traffic stops and other appropriate events; (3) the system include information to enable the commission to make inquiries to insurers about evidence of insurance; and (4) the commission may adopt rules and regulations to provide insurers who write a minimum number of policies, to be determined by the commission, the authority to use an alternative method for reporting insurance policy data. The bill also requires the commission to take other actions with respect to the verification system, including maintaining the system in a manner that allows it to be responsive to requestors, consulting with the insurance industry and private service providers, and maintaining a contact person. The bill also requires motor vehicle insurers authorized to do business in the State to cooperate with the commission in establishing and maintaining the system, to verify evidence of insurance for every motor vehicle insured by that company, and to maintain certain records regarding system data. The bill provides that when the commission has reason to believe that a motor vehicle has been or is currently being operated without insurance, the commission may suspend or revoke the owner's motor vehicle registration. The registration shall not be reinstated and a new registration shall not be issued unless evidence of insurance has been provided to the commission and any applicable reinstatement fees as prescribed by the commission have been paid. These fees shall be in addition to any other applicable fines, penalties, and fees. The bill also provides that not more than two years after the establishment of the online insurance verification system, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, after consultation with representatives of the motor vehicle insurance industry, shall report to the Governor and to the Legislature as to the costs for the system incurred by the commission, insurers and the public, and the effectiveness of the system in reducing the number of uninsured motor vehicles in the State. The bill requires the commission to establish a pilot program for a period of at least nine months during which the online insurance verification system shall be tested. The commission shall ensure that the pilot program is successfully tested and the verification system is fully operational within one year of the effective date of the bill. The bill provides that no enforcement action that is based on the system shall be taken until the commission has determined that the pilot program has been successfully completed. The bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, to adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill, including provisions for imposing appropriate civil penalties for any violation of the bill. The bill provides that it becomes effective on the 90th day next following enactment, but the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of the bill's provisions.

Committee Categories

Troy Singleton (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee (on 10/10/2024)

Official Document