(REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)

                                                                                 SECOND REPRINT    S.B. 303

 

Senate Bill No. 303–Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

March 9, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Transportation

 

SUMMARY—Makes various changes relating to insurance for motor vehicles. (BDR 43‑109)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                             Effect on the State: No.

 

~

 

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to insurance for motor vehicles; specifying that any information except the name of the owner of a motor vehicle may be used to verify that a motor vehicle is insured; repealing the provisions permitting the issuance of an operator’s policy of liability insurance; allowing the release of information related to insurance policies under certain circumstances; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. NRS 482.215 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2    482.215  1.  All applications for registration, except applications for

1-3  renewal of registration, must be made as provided in this section.

1-4    2.  Applications for all registrations, except renewals of registration,

1-5  must be made in person, if practicable, to any office or agent of the

1-6  department or to a registered dealer.

1-7    3.  Each application must be made upon the appropriate form furnished

1-8  by the department and contain:

1-9    (a) The signature of the owner.

1-10  (b) His residential address.

1-11  (c) His declaration of the county where he intends the vehicle to be

1-12  based, unless the vehicle is deemed to have no base. The department shall

1-13  use this declaration to determine the county to which the governmental

1-14  services tax is to be paid.

1-15  (d) A brief description of the vehicle to be registered, including the

1-16  name of the maker, the engine, identification or serial number, whether

1-17  new or used, and the last license number, if known, and the state in which

1-18  it was issued, and upon the registration of a new vehicle, the date of sale by

1-19  the manufacturer or franchised and licensed dealer in this state for the


2-1  make to be registered to the person first purchasing or operating the

2-2  vehicle.

2-3    (e) Proof satisfactory to the department or registered dealer that the

2-4  applicant has provided the insurance required by NRS 485.185 and his

2-5  signed declaration that he will maintain the insurance during the period of

2-6  registration.

2-7    (f) If the insurance is provided by a contract of insurance, evidence of

2-8  that insurance provided by the insurer in the form of:

2-9       (1) A certificate of insurance on a form approved by the

2-10  commissioner of insurance; or

2-11      (2) A card issued pursuant to NRS 690B.023 which identifies the

2-12  vehicle and indicates, at the time of application for registration, coverage

2-13  which meets the requirements of NRS 485.185.

2-14  The department may file that evidence, return it to the applicant or

2-15  otherwise dispose of it.

2-16  (g) If required, evidence of the applicant’s compliance with controls

2-17  over emission.

2-18  4.  The application must contain such other information as is required

2-19  by the department or registered dealer, and must be accompanied by proof

2-20  of ownership satisfactory to the department.

2-21  5.  For purposes of the proof, declaration and evidence required by

2-22  paragraphs (e) and (f) of subsection 3:

2-23  (a) Vehicles which are subject to the fee for a license and the

2-24  requirements of registration of the Interstate Highway User Fee

2-25  Apportionment Act, and which are based in this state, may be declared as a

2-26  fleet by the registered owner thereof, on his original application for or

2-27  application for renewal of a proportional registration. The owner may file a

2-28  single certificate of insurance covering that fleet.

2-29  (b) Other fleets composed of 10 or more vehicles based in this state or

2-30  vehicles insured under a blanket policy which does not identify individual

2-31  vehicles may each be declared annually as a fleet by the registered owner

2-32  thereof for the purposes of an application for his original or any renewed

2-33  registration. The owner may file a single certificate of insurance covering

2-34  that fleet.

2-35  (c) A person who qualifies as a self-insurer pursuant to the provisions of

2-36  NRS 485.380 may file a copy of his certificate of self-insurance.

2-37  [(d) A person who qualifies for an operator’s policy of liability

2-38  insurance pursuant to the provisions of NRS 485.186 and 485.3091 may

2-39  file evidence of that insurance.]

2-40    Sec. 2.  NRS 482.480 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-41    482.480  There must be paid to the department for the registration or

2-42  the transfer or reinstatement of the registration of motor vehicles, trailers

2-43  and semitrailers, fees according to the following schedule:

2-44    1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, for each stock

2-45  passenger car and each reconstructed or specially constructed passenger car

2-46  registered to a person, regardless of weight or number of passenger

2-47  capacity, a fee for registration of $33.

2-48    2.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3:


3-1    (a) For each of the fifth and sixth such cars registered to a person, a fee

3-2  for registration of $16.50.

3-3    (b) For each of the seventh and eighth such cars registered to a person, a

3-4  fee for registration of $12.

3-5    (c) For each of the ninth or more such cars registered to a person, a fee

3-6  for registration of $8.

3-7    3.  The fees specified in subsection 2 do not apply:

3-8    (a) Unless the person registering the cars presents to the department at

3-9  the time of registration the registrations of all of the cars registered to him.

3-10    (b) To cars that are part of a fleet.

3-11    4.  For every motorcycle, a fee for registration of $33 and for each

3-12  motorcycle other than a trimobile, an additional fee of $6 for motorcycle

3-13  safety. The additional fee must be deposited in the state highway fund for

3-14  credit to the account for the program for the education of motorcycle

3-15  riders.

3-16    5.  For each transfer of registration, a fee of $6 in addition to any other

3-17  fees.

3-18    6.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection [8] 9 of NRS 485.317,

3-19  to reinstate the registration of a motor vehicle suspended pursuant to that

3-20  section:

3-21    (a) A fee of $250 for a registered owner who failed to have insurance on

3-22  the date specified in the form for verification that was mailed by the

3-23  department pursuant to subsection [2] 3 of NRS 485.317; or

3-24    (b) A fee of $50 for a registered owner of a dormant vehicle who

3-25  canceled the insurance coverage for that vehicle or allowed the insurance

3-26  coverage for that vehicle to expire without first canceling the registration

3-27  for the vehicle in accordance with subsection 3 of

3-28  NRS 485.320,

3-29  both of which must be deposited in the account for verification of

3-30  insurance which is hereby created in the state highway fund. The money in

3-31  the account must be used to carry out the provisions of NRS 485.313 to

3-32  485.318, inclusive.

3-33    7.  For every travel trailer, a fee for registration of $27.

3-34    8.  For every permit for the operation of a golf cart, an annual fee of

3-35  $10.

3-36    9.  For every low-speed vehicle, as that term is defined in

3-37  NRS 484.527, a fee for registration of $33.

3-38    10.  To reinstate the registration of a motor vehicle that is suspended

3-39  pursuant to NRS 482.451, a fee of $33.

3-40  Sec. 3.  NRS 485.055 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-41  485.055  1.  “Motor vehicle liability policy” means an owner’s policy

3-42  of liability insurance [or an operator’s policy of liability insurance] issued

3-43  by an insurer authorized to transact business in this state, to or for the

3-44  benefit of the person named therein as insured.

3-45  2.  With respect to a policy which grants excess or additional coverage

3-46  over that required by NRS 485.3091, the term “motor vehicle liability

3-47  policy” applies only to that part of the coverage which is required by NRS

3-48  485.3091.

 


4-1    Sec. 4.  NRS 485.185 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-2    485.185  1.  Every owner of a motor vehicle [which] that is registered

4-3  or required to be registered in this state shall continuously provide, while

4-4  the motor vehicle is present or registered in this state, insurance as

4-5  required by subsection 2.

4-6    2.  Every motor vehicle that is registered or required to be registered

4-7  in this state must continuously be covered, while the motor vehicle is

4-8  present or registered in this state, by insurance:

4-9    [1.] (a) In the amount of $15,000 for bodily injury to or death of one

4-10  person in any one accident;

4-11    [2.] (b) Subject to the limit for one person, in the amount of $30,000 for

4-12  bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident; and

4-13    [3.] (c) In the amount of $10,000 for injury to or destruction of property

4-14  of others in any one accident,

4-15  for the payment of tort liabilities arising from the maintenance or use of the

4-16  motor vehicle.

4-17  Sec. 5.  NRS 485.187 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-18  485.187  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, the owner

4-19  of a motor vehicle shall not:

4-20  (a) Operate the motor vehicle, if it is registered or required to be

4-21  registered in this state, without having insurance as required by NRS

4-22  485.185.

4-23  (b) Operate or knowingly permit the operation of the motor vehicle

4-24  without having evidence of insurance of the operator or the vehicle in the

4-25  vehicle.

4-26  (c) Fail or refuse to surrender, upon demand, to a peace officer or to an

4-27  authorized representative of the department the evidence of insurance.

4-28  [(d) Knowingly permit the operation of the motor vehicle in violation of

4-29  subsection 3 of NRS 485.186.]

4-30  2.  A person shall not operate the motor vehicle of another person

4-31  unless:

4-32  (a) He first ensures that the required evidence of insurance is present in

4-33  the motor vehicle; or

4-34  (b) He has his own evidence of insurance which covers him as the

4-35  operator of the motor vehicle.

4-36  3.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, any person who

4-37  violates subsection 1 or 2 is guilty of a misdemeanor. Except as otherwise

4-38  provided in this subsection, in addition to any other penalty, a person

4-39  sentenced pursuant to this subsection shall be punished by a fine of not less

4-40  than $600 nor more than $1,000 for each violation. The fine must be

4-41  reduced to $100 for the first violation if the person obtains a motor vehicle

4-42  liability policy by the time of sentencing, unless:

4-43  (a) The person has registered the vehicle as part of a fleet of vehicles

4-44  pursuant to subsection 5 of NRS 482.215; or

4-45  (b) The person has been issued a certificate of self-insurance pursuant to

4-46  NRS 485.380.

4-47  4.  A court:

4-48  (a) Shall not find a person guilty or fine a person for a violation of

4-49  paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection 1 or for a violation of subsection 2 if


5-1  he presents evidence to the court that the insurance required by NRS

5-2  485.185 was in effect at the time demand was made for it.

5-3    (b) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a), may impose a fine of

5-4  not more than $1,000 for a violation of paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of

5-5  subsection 1, and suspend the balance of the fine on the condition that the

5-6  person presents proof to the court each month for 12 months that the

5-7  insurance required by NRS 485.185 is currently in effect.

5-8    5.  The provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection 1 do not

5-9  apply if the motor vehicle in question displays a valid permit issued by the

5-10  department pursuant to subsection 1 or 2 of NRS 482.3955, or NRS

5-11  482.396, 482.3965, 482.423 or 482.424 authorizing the movement or

5-12  operation of that vehicle within the state for a limited time.

5-13  Sec. 6.  NRS 485.308 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-14  485.308  1.  Proof of financial responsibility may be furnished by

5-15  filing with the motor vehicles branch of the department the written

5-16  certificate of any insurance carrier authorized to do business in this state

5-17  certifying that there is in effect a motor vehicle liability policy for the

5-18  benefit of the person required to furnish proof of financial responsibility.

5-19  The certificate must specify [its] the effective date of the policy and [:

5-20  (a) If the policy is an owner’s policy of liability insurance,] designate by

5-21  appropriate reference all motor vehicles covered by [it; or

5-22  (b) If] the policy . [is an operator’s policy of liability insurance,

5-23  designate the person covered.]

5-24  2.  The department may authorize the filing of the certificates described

5-25  in subsection 1 by electronic transmission or any other means deemed

5-26  appropriate by the department.

5-27  3.  An insurance carrier that certifies the existence of a motor vehicle

5-28  liability policy pursuant to subsection 1, must notify the motor vehicles

5-29  branch of the department at least 10 days before the cancellation or

5-30  termination of the policy.

5-31  Sec. 7.  NRS 485.3091 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-32  485.3091  1.  An owner’s policy of liability insurance must:

5-33  (a) Designate by explicit description or by appropriate reference all

5-34  motor vehicles with respect to which coverage is thereby to be granted; and

5-35  (b) Insure the person named therein and any other person, as insured,

5-36  using any such motor vehicle with the express or implied permission of the

5-37  named insured, against loss from the liability imposed by law for damages

5-38  arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of such motor vehicle

5-39  within the United States of America or the Dominion of Canada, subject to

5-40  limits exclusive of interest and costs, with respect to each such motor

5-41  vehicle, as follows:

5-42      (1) Because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one

5-43  accident, $15,000;

5-44      (2) Subject to the limit for one person, because of bodily injury to or

5-45  death of two or more persons in any one accident, $30,000; and

5-46      (3) Because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any

5-47  one accident, $10,000.

5-48  2.  [An operator’s policy of liability insurance must insure the person

5-49  named as insured therein against loss from the liability imposed upon him


6-1  by law for damages arising out of the use by him of any motor vehicle

6-2  within the same territorial limits and subject to the same limits of liability

6-3  as are set forth in paragraph (b) of subsection 1.

6-4    3.] A motor vehicle liability policy must state the name and address of

6-5  the named insured, the coverage afforded by the policy, the premium

6-6  charged therefor, the period of effectiveness and the limits of liability, and

6-7  must contain an agreement or be endorsed that insurance is provided

6-8  thereunder in accordance with the coverage defined in this chapter as

6-9  respects bodily injury and death or property damage, or both, and is subject

6-10  to all the provisions of this chapter.

6-11  [4.] 3.  A motor vehicle liability policy need not insure any liability

6-12  under any workmen’s compensation law nor any liability on account of

6-13  bodily injury to or death of an employee of the insured while engaged in

6-14  the employment, other than domestic, of the insured, or while engaged in

6-15  the operation, maintenance or repair of any motor vehicle owned by the

6-16  insured nor any liability for damage to property owned by, rented to, in

6-17  charge of or transported by the insured.

6-18  [5.] 4.  Every motor vehicle liability policy is subject to the following

6-19  provisions which need not be contained therein:

6-20  (a) The liability of the insurance carrier with respect to the insurance

6-21  required by this chapter becomes absolute whenever injury or damage

6-22  covered by the policy occurs. The policy may not be canceled or annulled

6-23  as to such liability by any agreement between the insurance carrier and the

6-24  insured after the occurrence of the injury or damage. No statement made by

6-25  the insured or on his behalf and no violation of the policy defeats or voids

6-26  the policy.

6-27  (b) The satisfaction by the insured of a judgment for injury or damage is

6-28  not a condition precedent to the right or duty of the insurance carrier to

6-29  make payment on account of the injury or damage.

6-30  (c) The insurance carrier may settle any claim covered by the policy,

6-31  and if such a settlement is made in good faith, the amount thereof is

6-32  deductible from the limits of liability specified in paragraph (b) of

6-33  subsection 1.

6-34  (d) The policy, the written application therefor, if any, and any rider or

6-35  endorsement which does not conflict with the provisions of this chapter

6-36  constitute the entire contract between the parties.

6-37  [6.] 5.  Any policy which grants the coverage required for a motor

6-38  vehicle liability policy may also grant any lawful coverage in excess of or

6-39  in addition to the coverage specified for a motor vehicle liability policy,

6-40  and the excess or additional coverage is not subject to the provisions of this

6-41  chapter.

6-42  [7.] 6.  Any motor vehicle liability policy may provide for the

6-43  prorating of the insurance thereunder with other valid and collectible

6-44  insurance.

6-45  [8.] 7.  The requirements for a motor vehicle liability policy may be

6-46  fulfilled by the policies of one or more insurance carriers, which policies

6-47  together meet those requirements.

6-48  [9.] 8.  Any binder issued pending the issuance of a motor vehicle

6-49  liability policy shall be deemed to fulfill the requirements for such a policy.


7-1    Sec. 8.  NRS 485.313 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-2    485.313  1.  [The] Pursuant to the limitations set forth in

7-3  NRS 485.317, the department shall create a system for verifying that [the

7-4  owners of motor vehicles maintain the insurance] each motor vehicle

7-5  registered in this state is covered by a policy of liability insurance as

7-6  required by subsection 2 of NRS 485.185.

7-7    2.  As used in this section, “motor vehicle” does not include:

7-8    (a) A golf cart, as that term is defined in NRS 482.044.

7-9    (b) A motortruck, truck tractor, bus or other vehicle that is registered

7-10  pursuant to paragraph (e) of subsection 1 of NRS 482.482 or NRS 706.801

7-11  to 706.861, inclusive.

7-12    Sec. 9.  NRS 485.316 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-13    485.316  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3,

7-14  information which is maintained in the database created pursuant to

7-15  NRS 485.313 is confidential.

7-16    2.  The department may only disclose information which is maintained

7-17  in the database, upon request, to a state or local governmental agency for

7-18  the purpose of enforcing NRS 485.185, including investigating or litigating

7-19  a violation or alleged violation.

7-20    3.  The department may only disclose information retrieved from the

7-21  database to:

7-22    (a) A person who requests information regarding his own status;

7-23    (b) The parent or legal guardian of the person about whom the

7-24  information is requested if the person is an unemancipated minor or legally

7-25  incapacitated;

7-26    (c) A person who has a power of attorney from the person about whom

7-27  the information is requested;

7-28    (d) A person who submits a notarized release from the person about

7-29  whom the information is requested which is dated no more than 90 days

7-30  before the date of the request; or

7-31    (e) A person who has suffered a loss or injury in an accident involving a

7-32  motor vehicle , or his authorized insurer or a representative of his

7-33  authorized insurer, who requests [information] :

7-34      (1) Information for use in the accident report[.] ; and

7-35      (2) For each motor vehicle involved in the accident:

7-36         (I) The name and address of each registered owner;

7-37         (II) The name of the insurer; and

7-38         (III) The number of the policy of liability insurance.

7-39    4.  A person who knowingly violates the provisions of this section is

7-40  guilty of a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in

7-41  NRS 193.130.

7-42    5.  As used in this section, “authorized insurer” has the meaning

7-43  ascribed to it in NRS 679A.030.

7-44    Sec. 10.  NRS 485.317 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-45    485.317  1.  [The] Subject to the limitations set forth in this

7-46  subsection and subsection 2, the department shall, at least monthly,

7-47  compare the current registrations of motor vehicles to the information in

7-48  the database created pursuant to NRS 485.313 to verify that each motor

7-49  vehicle:


8-1    (a) Which is newly registered in this state; or

8-2    (b) For which a policy of liability insurance has been issued, amended

8-3  or terminated,

8-4  is covered by a policy of liability insurance as required by subsection 2 of

8-5  NRS 485.185. In identifying a motor vehicle for verification pursuant to

8-6  this subsection, the department [shall,] may, if the motor vehicle was

8-7  manufactured during or after 1981, use only the last eight digits of the

8-8  vehicle identification number . [, in whole or in part.] In comparing the

8-9  vehicle identification number of a motor vehicle to the vehicle

8-10  identification number in a policy of liability insurance, to determine if

8-11  the two vehicle identification numbers match, the department may find

8-12  that the two vehicle identification numbers match if no fewer than seven

8-13  of the last eight digits of the two vehicle identification numbers match.

8-14  2.  [The] Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the

8-15  department may use any information to verify, pursuant to subsection 1,

8-16  whether the motor vehicle is covered by a policy of liability insurance as

8-17  required by subsection 2 of NRS 485.185. The department may not use

8-18  the name of the owner of a motor vehicle as the primary means of

8-19  verifying that a motor vehicle is covered by a policy of liability insurance.

8-20    3.  If, pursuant to subsection 1, the department determines that a

8-21  motor vehicle is not covered by a policy of liability insurance as required

8-22  by subsection 2 of NRS 485.185, the department shall send a form for

8-23  verification by first-class mail to each registered owner [that it determines

8-24  has not maintained the insurance required by NRS 485.185.] of the motor

8-25  vehicle. The owner shall complete the form with all the information which

8-26  is requested by the department, including whether he carries an owner’s [or

8-27  operator’s] policy of liability insurance or a certificate of self-insurance,

8-28  and return the completed form within 20 days after the date on which the

8-29  form was mailed by the department. If the department does not receive the

8-30  completed form within 20 days after it mailed the form to the owner, the

8-31  department shall send to the owner a second form for verification by

8-32  certified mail. The owner shall complete the form and return it to the

8-33  department within 15 days after the date on which it was sent by the

8-34  department. This subsection does not prohibit an authorized agent of the

8-35  owner from providing to the department:

8-36    (a) The information requested by the department pursuant to this

8-37  subsection.

8-38    (b) Additional information to amend or correct information already

8-39  submitted to the department pursuant to this subsection.

8-40    [3.] 4.  When the department receives a completed form for

8-41  verification , it shall verify the information on the form.

8-42    [4.] 5.  The department shall suspend the registration and require the

8-43  return to the department of the license plates of any vehicle for which:

8-44    (a) Neither of the forms for verification set forth in subsection [2] 3 is

8-45  returned to the department by the registered owner or his authorized agent

8-46  within the period specified in that subsection;

8-47    (b) Either of the forms for verification set forth in subsection [2] 3 is

8-48  returned to the department by the registered owner or his authorized agent

8-49  and the department is not able to verify the information on the form; or


9-1    (c) Either of the forms for verification set forth in subsection [2] 3 is

9-2  returned by the registered owner or his authorized agent with an admission

9-3  of having no insurance or without indicating an insurer or the number of a

9-4  motor vehicle liability policy or a certificate of self-insurance.

9-5    [5.] 6.  If the department suspends a registration pursuant to subsection

9-6  [4] 5 because:

9-7    (a) Neither the owner nor his authorized agent returned a form for

9-8  verification within the specified period or the owner or his authorized agent

9-9  returned a form for verification that was not completed sufficiently, and the

9-10  owner or his authorized agent, thereafter:

9-11      (1) Proves to the satisfaction of the department that there was a

9-12  justifiable cause for his failure to do so;

9-13      (2) Submits a completed form regarding his insurance on the date

9-14  stated in the form mailed by the department pursuant to subsection [2;] 3;

9-15  and

9-16      (3) Presents evidence of current insurance; or

9-17    (b) The owner or his authorized agent submitted to the department a

9-18  form for verification containing information that the department was

9-19  unable to verify and, thereafter, the owner or his authorized agent presents

9-20  to the department:

9-21      (1) A corrected form or otherwise verifiable evidence setting forth

9-22  that the owner possessed insurance on the date stated in the form; and

9-23      (2) Evidence of current insurance,

9-24  the department shall rescind its suspension of the registration if it is able to

9-25  verify the information on the form or the other evidence presented. The

9-26  department shall not charge a fee to reinstate a registration, the suspension

9-27  of which was rescinded pursuant to this subsection. For the purposes of this

9-28  subsection, “justifiable cause” may include, but is not limited to, the fact

9-29  that the owner did not receive the form mailed by the department pursuant

9-30  to subsection [2.] 3.

9-31    [6.] 7.  Except as otherwise provided in [subsection 7,] subsections 8

9-32  and 9, if a registered owner whose registration is suspended pursuant to

9-33  subsection [4,] 5, failed to have insurance on the date specified in the form

9-34  for verification, the department shall reinstate the registration of the vehicle

9-35  and reissue the license plates only upon filing by the registered owner of

9-36  evidence of current insurance and payment of the fee for reinstatement of

9-37  registration prescribed in paragraph (a) of subsection 6 of NRS 482.480.

9-38    [7.] 8.  If a registered owner proves to the satisfaction of the department

9-39  that his vehicle was a dormant vehicle during the period in which the

9-40  information provided pursuant to NRS 485.314 indicated that there was no

9-41  insurance for the vehicle, the department shall reinstate his registration and,

9-42  if applicable, reissue his license plates. If such an owner of a dormant

9-43  vehicle failed to cancel the registration for the vehicle in accordance with

9-44  subsection 3 of NRS 485.320, the department shall not reinstate his

9-45  registration or reissue his license plates unless the owner pays the fee set

9-46  forth in paragraph (b) of subsection 6 of NRS 482.480.

9-47  [8.] 9.  If the department suspends the registration of a motor vehicle

9-48  pursuant to subsection 4 because the registered owner of the motor vehicle

9-49  failed to have insurance on the date specified in the form for verification,


10-1  and if the registered owner, in accordance with regulations adopted by the

10-2  department, proves to the satisfaction of the department that he was unable

10-3  to comply with the provisions of NRS 485.185 on that date because of

10-4  extenuating circumstances, the department may:

10-5  (a) Reinstate the registration of the motor vehicle and reissue the license

10-6  plates upon payment by the registered owner of a fee of $50, which must

10-7  be deposited in the account for verification of insurance created by

10-8  subsection 6 of NRS 482.480; or

10-9  (b) Rescind the suspension of the registration without the payment of a

10-10  fee.

10-11  The department shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this

10-12  subsection.

10-13  10.  For the purposes of verification of insurance by the department

10-14  pursuant to this section, a [registered owner shall not] motor vehicle shall

10-15  be deemed to [have failed to maintain] be covered by liability insurance

10-16  [for a motor vehicle] unless the motor vehicle is without coverage for a

10-17  period of more than 7 days.

10-18  Sec. 11.  NRS 690B.020 is hereby amended to read as follows:

10-19  690B.020  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section , [and NRS

10-20  690B.035,] no policy insuring against liability arising out of the ownership,

10-21  maintenance or use of any motor vehicle may be delivered or issued for

10-22  delivery in this state unless coverage is provided therein or supplemental

10-23  thereto for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally

10-24  entitled to recover damages, from owners or operators of uninsured or hit-

10-25  and-run motor vehicles, for bodily injury, sickness or disease, including

10-26  death, resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of the uninsured

10-27  or hit-and-run motor vehicle. No such coverage is required in or

10-28  supplemental to a policy issued to the State of Nevada or any political

10-29  subdivision thereof, or where rejected in writing, on a form furnished by

10-30  the insurer describing the coverage being rejected, by an insured named

10-31  therein, or upon any renewal of such a policy unless the coverage is then

10-32  requested in writing by the named insured. The coverage required in this

10-33  section may be referred to as “uninsured vehicle coverage.”

10-34  2.  The amount of coverage to be provided must be not less than the

10-35  minimum limits for liability insurance for bodily injury provided for under

10-36  chapter 485 of NRS, but may be in an amount not to exceed the coverage

10-37  for bodily injury purchased by the policyholder.

10-38  3.  For the purposes of this section , the term “uninsured motor vehicle”

10-39  means a motor vehicle:

10-40  (a) With respect to which there is not available at the department of

10-41  motor vehicles and public safety evidence of financial responsibility as

10-42  required by chapter 485 of NRS;

10-43  (b) With respect to the ownership, maintenance or use of which there is

10-44  no liability insurance for bodily injury or bond applicable at the time of the

10-45  accident [,] or, to the extent of such deficiency, any liability insurance for

10-46  bodily injury or bond in force is less than the amount required by NRS

10-47  485.210;


11-1  (c) With respect to the ownership, maintenance or use of which the

11-2  company writing any applicable liability insurance for bodily injury or

11-3  bond denies coverage or is insolvent;

11-4  (d) Used without the permission of its owner if there is no liability

11-5  insurance for bodily injury or bond applicable to the operator;

11-6  (e) Used with the permission of its owner who has insurance which does

11-7  not provide coverage for the operation of the motor vehicle by any person

11-8  other than the owner if there is no liability insurance for bodily injury or

11-9  bond applicable to the operator; or

11-10  (f) The owner or operator of which is unknown or after reasonable

11-11  diligence cannot be found if:

11-12     (1) The bodily injury or death has resulted from physical contact of

11-13  the automobile with the named insured or the person claiming under him or

11-14  with an automobile which the named insured or such a person is

11-15  occupying; and

11-16     (2) The named insured or someone on his behalf has reported the

11-17  accident within the time required by NRS 484.223, 484.225 or 484.227 to

11-18  the police department of the city where it occurred, or if it occurred in an

11-19  unincorporated area, to the sheriff of the county or to the Nevada highway

11-20  patrol.

11-21  4.  For the purposes of this section , the term “uninsured motor vehicle”

11-22  also includes, subject to the terms and conditions of coverage, an insured

11-23  other motor vehicle where:

11-24  (a) The liability insurer of the other motor vehicle is unable because of

11-25  its insolvency to make payment with respect to the legal liability of its

11-26  insured within the limits specified in its policy;

11-27  (b) The occurrence out of which legal liability arose took place while

11-28  the uninsured vehicle coverage required under paragraph (a) was in effect;

11-29  and

11-30  (c) The insolvency of the liability insurer of the other motor vehicle

11-31  existed at the time of, or within 2 years after, the occurrence.

11-32  Nothing contained in this subsection prevents any insurer from providing

11-33  protection from insolvency to its insureds under more favorable terms.

11-34  5.  If payment is made to any person under uninsured vehicle coverage,

11-35  and subject to the terms of the coverage [,] to the extent of such payment ,

11-36  the insurer is entitled to the proceeds of any settlement or recovery from

11-37  any person legally responsible for the bodily injury as to which payment

11-38  was made, and to amounts recoverable from the assets of the insolvent

11-39  insurer of the other motor vehicle.

11-40  6.  A vehicle involved in a collision which results in bodily injury or

11-41  death shall be presumed to be an uninsured motor vehicle if no evidence of

11-42  financial responsibility is supplied to the department of motor vehicles and

11-43  public safety in the manner required by chapter 485 of NRS within 60 days

11-44  after the collision occurs.

11-45  Sec. 12.  NRS 485.186 and 690B.035 are hereby repealed.

11-46  Sec. 13.  1.  This section and sections 4 and 9 of this act become

11-47  effective on July 1, 2001.

11-48  2.  Sections 1, 2, 3, 5 to 8, inclusive, 10, 11 and 12 of this act become

11-49  effective on January 1, 2002.


 

 

12-1  TEXT OF REPEALED SECTIONS

 

 

12-2    485.186  Natural person may obtain operator’s policy of liability

12-3   insurance; exceptions.

12-4    1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, any natural person

12-5   may satisfy the requirements of NRS 485.185 by obtaining, in lieu of an

12-6   owner’s policy of liability insurance, an operator’s policy of liability

12-7   insurance which meets the requirements of this section and NRS

12-8   485.3091.

12-9    2.  An operator’s policy of liability insurance must state, in addition to

12-10   the requirements of NRS 485.3091, that:

12-11  (a) The insurer is only liable under the policy for liability incurred by

12-12   the insured while the named insured is the operator of a motor vehicle or

12-13   while a motor vehicle owned by the insured is not being operated by any

12-14   person;

12-15  (b) The policy does not provide coverage for any vicarious liability

12-16   imposed on the owner of the motor vehicle as a result of the operation by

12-17   another person of a motor vehicle owned by the insured or for any liability

12-18   imposed by NRS 41.440 or 483.300; and

12-19  (c) The coverage provided by the policy may not meet the requirements

12-20   of the financial responsibility laws of other states,

12-21  unless such extended coverage is expressly included in the policy. No

12-22   operator’s policy of liability insurance may be delivered or issued for

12-23   delivery in this state unless the insured has signed an endorsement stating

12-24   that he has read and understood the policy and its limitations.

12-25  3.  An owner of a motor vehicle which is registered or required to be

12-26   registered in this state and who holds an operator’s policy of liability

12-27   insurance shall not permit another person to operate his motor vehicle if

12-28   the owner knows or should have known that the person does not have

12-29   liability insurance to cover his own operation of that motor vehicle.

12-30  4.  An operator’s policy of liability insurance must not provide

12-31   coverage for damages incurred while a person other than the named

12-32   insured is operating a motor vehicle.

12-33  5.  An operator’s policy of liability insurance must provide coverage

12-34   for liability incurred by the insured while a motor vehicle owned by the

12-35   insured is not being operated by any person.

12-36  6.  This section does not apply to a lessor, dealer, manufacturer,

12-37   rebuilder or distributor of a motor vehicle, an owner of a fleet, a common,

12-38   contract or private motor carrier or any other employer who owns a motor

12-39   vehicle for use in his business.

12-40  690B.035  Policy covering damage to one or more of operator’s

12-41   vehicles.  An insurer may issue to a holder of an operator’s policy of

12-42   liability insurance a policy covering damage to one or more of the

12-43   operator’s vehicles. The policy is not required to provide liability

12-44   insurance or uninsured vehicle coverage.

 

12-45  H