Put Accountability into the Financial Responsibility Law
SB0648 / HB0606 By Ketron / Lamberth, McManus
As introduced, enacts the "James Lee Atwood, JR. Law". To develop and implement an efficient insurance verification program that utilizes the online verification system, standards, specifications, model and guide of the Insurance Industry Committee on Motor Vehicle Administration (IICMVA) or a full book of business, in order to verify whether the Financial Responsibility requirements of this chapter have been met with a vehicle liability policy.
The PIA of TN has been very active in lobbying the Legislative Leaders to pass this important legislation. We have over a 20% uninsured motorist rate in Tennessee because we do not have a procedure in place to determine who does not have insurance on their vehicle. This law would put in place monthly audits to identify those that do not have coverage, and give them 90 days to correct the situation. If not addressed, the driver will be sent another letter informing them that the County Clerk is revoking the registration on the vehicle.
We believe that this is the first step in raising the awareness of this issue, and correcting a problem that has plagued Tennessee for far too long. We would like to see additional actions added to this legislation, to further lower the number of uninsured drives on our streets.