ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
vehicle accidents; financial responsibility verification
Purpose
Specifies that a person must prove a vehicle was sold before an accident occurred, rather than before the date of the accident, in order to avoid license suspension for failure to maintain insurance on the vehicle involved in the accident.
Background
If a motor vehicle is involved in an accident, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) may conduct a financial responsibility verification to ensure the owner of the vehicle has all necessary insurance information on file, and that the insurance was in effect on the date of the accident. If an insurer or other applicable party denies that there is insurance information on file for a vehicle, the owner of the vehicle must provide evidence of financial responsibility to ADOT. If evidence of financial responsibility cannot be verified, the owner's license will be suspended for 15 days after notice is provided by ADOT. However, if an person appearing as the registered owner of a vehicle can provide proof that that the vehicle was sold before the date of the accident, the person's license will not be suspended (A.R.S. 28-4143).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Specifies that, if a person appearing as the registered owner of a vehicle involved in an accident can prove that the vehicle was sold before the accident occurred, rather than sold before the date of the accident, the person is not subject to license suspension for failing to maintain insurance for the vehicle.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 28, 2021
ZD/kja