House Bill hb0393
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 393
By Representative Simmons
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to motor vehicle financial
3 responsibility; amending s. 324.021, F.S.;
4 revising the definition of the term "motor
5 vehicle"; increasing financial responsibility
6 limits with respect to bodily injury or death
7 in a single accident; creating s. 324.023,
8 F.S.; requiring proof of financial
9 responsibility for bodily injury or death;
10 providing for a waiver of certain mandatory
11 financial responsibility requirements based
12 upon financial hardship; specifying criteria;
13 limiting the liability of insurers and
14 insurance agents under certain circumstances;
15 requiring the Department of Insurance to
16 develop affidavit forms and to adopt rules;
17 amending s. 324.031, F.S.; increasing limits
18 for proof of financial responsibility for
19 for-hire transportation vehicle certificates of
20 self-insurance; amending s. 324.161, F.S.;
21 increasing the amount required for a surety
22 bond or deposit for proof of financial
23 responsibility; amending s. 324.171, F.S.;
24 revising the required threshold limit for
25 self-insurers; amending ss. 316.646 and
26 627.733, F.S., to conform; providing an
27 effective date.
28
29 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
30
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1 Section 1. Subsection (1) and paragraphs (a) and (b)
2 of subsection (7) of section 324.021, Florida Statutes, are
3 amended to read:
4 324.021 Definitions; minimum insurance required.--The
5 following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall,
6 for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings
7 respectively ascribed to them in this section, except in those
8 instances where the context clearly indicates a different
9 meaning:
10 (1) MOTOR VEHICLE.--Every self-propelled vehicle which
11 is designed and required to be licensed for use upon a
12 highway, including trailers and semitrailers designed for use
13 with such vehicles, except traction engines, road rollers,
14 farm tractors, power shovels, and well drillers, and every
15 vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from
16 overhead wires but not operated upon rails, but not including
17 any bicycle or moped. However, the term "motor vehicle" shall
18 not include any motor vehicle as defined in s. 627.732(3) when
19 the owner of such vehicle has complied with the requirements
20 of ss. 627.730-627.7405, inclusive, unless the provisions of
21 s. 324.051 apply; and, in such case, the applicable proof of
22 insurance provisions of s. 320.02 apply.
23 (7) PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.--That proof of
24 ability to respond in damages for liability on account of
25 crashes arising out of the use of a motor vehicle:
26 (a) In the amount of $25,000 $10,000 because of bodily
27 injury to, or death of, one person in any one crash;
28 (b) Subject to such limits for one person, in the
29 amount of $50,000 $20,000 because of bodily injury to, or
30 death of, two or more persons in any one crash;
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 393
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1 (c) In the amount of $10,000 because of injury to, or
2 destruction of, property of others in any one crash; and
3 (d) With respect to commercial motor vehicles and
4 nonpublic sector buses, in the amounts specified in ss.
5 627.7415 and 627.742, respectively.
6 Section 2. Section 324.023, Florida Statutes, is
7 created to read:
8 324.023 Financial responsibility for bodily injury or
9 death.--
10 (1) Every owner of a motor vehicle that is required to
11 be registered in this state and every operator of any motor
12 vehicle located within this state shall, by one of the methods
13 established in s. 324.031, establish and maintain the ability
14 to respond in damages for liability on account of accidents
15 arising out of the use of the motor vehicle in the amounts
16 prescribed in s. 324.021(7)(a) and (b). This section does not
17 apply to any motor vehicle that has been continuously and
18 exclusively used for a commercial purpose since being acquired
19 by its current owner.
20 (2) If the owner of a motor vehicle that is required
21 to be registered in this state or the operator of any motor
22 vehicle located within this state signs an affidavit of
23 financial hardship on a form approved by the Department of
24 Insurance that complies with this subsection stating that it
25 would constitute a severe financial hardship for the owner or
26 operator to establish and maintain the ability to respond in
27 damages for liability on account of accidents arising out of
28 the use of the motor vehicle in the amounts prescribed in s.
29 324.021(7)(a) and (b), the requirement of subsection (1) to
30 establish and maintain such ability does not apply to such
31 owner or operator for a period of 1 year following the signing
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1 of such affidavit. An affidavit pursuant to this subsection
2 shall, at a minimum, state that the affiant is unable to
3 comply with subsection (1) because to do so would cause severe
4 financial hardship and that the affiant understands that he or
5 she remains fully personally liable for certain accidents
6 arising out of the use of the motor vehicle. The affidavit
7 described in this subsection shall be kept on file by the
8 insurer who has provided to the owner or operator the
9 insurance coverage required by s. 627.733.
10 (3) No insurer or insurance agent shall be liable in a
11 private civil action for the failure of the insurer, insurance
12 agent, or owner or operator of a motor vehicle to comply with
13 this section.
14 (4) The Department of Insurance shall prepare form
15 affidavits in accordance with this section and shall adopt
16 rules to enforce this section.
17 Section 3. Section 324.031, Florida Statutes, is
18 amended to read:
19 324.031 Manner of proving financial
20 responsibility.--The owner or operator of a taxicab,
21 limousine, jitney, or any other for-hire passenger
22 transportation vehicle may prove financial responsibility by
23 providing satisfactory evidence of holding a motor vehicle
24 liability policy as defined in s. 324.021(8) or s. 324.151,
25 which policy is issued by an insurance carrier which is a
26 member of the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association. The
27 operator or owner of any other vehicle may prove his or her
28 financial responsibility by:
29 (1) Furnishing satisfactory evidence of holding a
30 motor vehicle liability policy as defined in ss. 324.021(8)
31 and 324.151;
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1 (2) Posting with the department a satisfactory bond of
2 a surety company authorized to do business in this state,
3 conditioned for payment of the amount specified in s.
4 324.021(7);
5 (3) Furnishing a certificate of the department showing
6 a deposit of cash or securities in accordance with s. 324.161;
7 or
8 (4) Furnishing a certificate of self-insurance issued
9 by the department in accordance with s. 324.171.
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11 Any person, including any firm, partnership, association,
12 corporation, or other person, other than a natural person,
13 electing to use the method of proof specified in subsection
14 (2) or subsection (3) shall post a bond or deposit equal to
15 the number of vehicles owned times $60,000 $30,000, to a
16 maximum of $240,000 $120,000; in addition, any such person,
17 other than a natural person, shall maintain insurance
18 providing coverage in excess of limits of
19 $25,000/50,000/10,000 $10,000/20,000/10,000 or $60,000 $30,000
20 combined single limits, and such excess insurance shall
21 provide minimum limits of $125,000/250,000/50,000
22 $50,000/100,000/50,000 or $300,000 $150,000 combined single
23 limits.
24 Section 4. Section 324.161, Florida Statutes, is
25 amended to read:
26 324.161 Proof of financial responsibility; surety bond
27 or deposit.--The certificate of the department of a deposit
28 may be obtained by depositing with it $60,000 $30,000 cash or
29 securities such as may be legally purchased by savings banks
30 or for trust funds, of a market value of $60,000 $30,000 and
31 which deposit shall be held by the department to satisfy, in
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1 accordance with the provisions of this chapter, any execution
2 on a judgment issued against such person making the deposit,
3 for damages because of bodily injury to or death of any person
4 or for damages because of injury to or destruction of property
5 resulting from the use or operation of any motor vehicle
6 occurring after such deposit was made. Money or securities so
7 deposited shall not be subject to attachment or execution
8 unless such attachment or execution shall arise out of a suit
9 for damages as aforesaid.
10 Section 5. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
11 section 324.171, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
12 324.171 Self-insurer.--
13 (1) Any person may qualify as a self-insurer by
14 obtaining a certificate of self-insurance from the department
15 which may, in its discretion and upon application of such a
16 person, issue said certificate of self-insurance when such
17 person has satisfied the requirements of this section to
18 qualify as a self-insurer under this section:
19 (a) A private individual with private passenger
20 vehicles shall possess a net unencumbered worth of at least
21 $60,000 $40,000.
22 (b) A person, including any firm, partnership,
23 association, corporation, or other person, other than a
24 natural person, shall:
25 1. Possess a net unencumbered worth of at least
26 $60,000 $40,000 for the first motor vehicle and $50,000
27 $20,000 for each additional motor vehicle; or
28 2. Maintain sufficient net worth, as determined
29 annually by the department, pursuant to rules promulgated by
30 the department, with the assistance of the Department of
31 Insurance, to be financially responsible for potential losses.
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1 The rules shall take into consideration excess insurance
2 carried by the applicant. The department's determination
3 shall be based upon reasonable actuarial principles
4 considering the frequency, severity, and loss development of
5 claims incurred by casualty insurers writing coverage on the
6 type of motor vehicles for which a certificate of
7 self-insurance is desired.
8 (c) The owner of a commercial motor vehicle, as
9 defined in s. 207.002(2) or s. 320.01, may qualify as a
10 self-insurer subject to the standards provided for in
11 subparagraph (b)2.
12 Section 6. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 316.646,
13 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
14 316.646 Security required; proof of security and
15 display thereof; dismissal of cases.--
16 (1) Any person required by s. 627.733 to maintain
17 personal injury protection security on a motor vehicle or any
18 person required by s. 324.023 to maintain liability coverage
19 for bodily injury or death shall have in his or her immediate
20 possession at all times while operating such motor vehicle
21 proper proof of maintenance of the security required by ss. s.
22 627.733 and 324.023. Such proof shall be either a uniform
23 proof-of-insurance card in a form prescribed by the
24 department, a valid insurance policy, an insurance policy
25 binder, a certificate of insurance, or such other proof as may
26 be prescribed by the department.
27 (3) Any person who violates this section is guilty of
28 a nonmoving traffic infraction subject to the penalty provided
29 in chapter 318 and shall be required to furnish proof of
30 security as provided in this section. If any person charged
31 with a violation of this section fails to furnish proof, at or
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1 before the scheduled court appearance date, that security was
2 in effect at the time of the violation, the court may
3 immediately suspend the registration and driver's license of
4 such person. Such license and registration may only be
5 reinstated as provided in s. 627.733 or s. 324.023.
6 Section 7. Subsection (7) of section 627.733, Florida
7 Statutes, is amended to read:
8 627.733 Required security.--
9 (7) Any operator or owner whose driver's license or
10 registration has been suspended pursuant to this section or s.
11 316.646 may effect its reinstatement upon compliance with the
12 requirements of this section and upon payment to the
13 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of a
14 nonrefundable reinstatement fee of $150 for the first
15 reinstatement. Such reinstatement fee shall be $250 for the
16 second reinstatement and $500 for each subsequent
17 reinstatement during the 3 years following the first
18 reinstatement. Any person reinstating her or his insurance
19 under this subsection must also secure noncancelable coverage
20 as described in ss. s. 627.7275(2) and 324.021(8) and present
21 to the appropriate person proof that the coverage is in force
22 on a form promulgated by the Department of Highway Safety and
23 Motor Vehicles, such proof to be maintained for 2 years. If
24 the person does not have a second reinstatement within 3 years
25 after her or his initial reinstatement, the reinstatement fee
26 shall be $150 for the first reinstatement after that 3-year
27 period. In the event that a person's license and registration
28 are suspended pursuant to this section or s. 316.646, only one
29 reinstatement fee shall be paid to reinstate the license and
30 the registration. All fees shall be collected by the
31 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at the time of
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1 reinstatement. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor
2 Vehicles shall issue proper receipts for such fees and shall
3 promptly deposit those fees in the Highway Safety Operating
4 Trust Fund. One-third of the fee collected under this
5 subsection shall be distributed from the Highway Safety
6 Operating Trust Fund to the local government entity or state
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