1. A.

   1. 1. The owner of a motor vehicle registered in this state shall carry in such vehicle at all times a current owner’s security verification form listing the vehicle or an equivalent form which has been issued by the Department of Public Safety and shall produce such form upon request for inspection by any law enforcement officer or representative of the Department and, in case of a collision, the form shall be shown upon request to any person affected by the collision.

   2. 2.

      1. a. Every person registering a motor vehicle in this state, except a motor vehicle which is not being used upon the public highways or public streets, or a manufactured home while on a permanent foundation, at the time of registration of such vehicle, shall certify the existence of security with respect to such vehicle by surrendering to a motor license agent or other registering agency a current owner’s security verification form or an equivalent form issued by the Department. A motor license agent or other registering agency shall require the surrender of such form prior to processing an application for registration or renewal.
      2. b. Effective upon implementation of the online verification system for motor vehicle insurance or bond provided for in Section 1 of this act, online verification shall replace the procedure provided for in subparagraph a of this paragraph and every motor license agent or other registering agency shall use the online verification system unless the online verification system is not online or the required information is otherwise not available. In such a case, the license agent or other registering agency may accept verification as provided in subparagraph a of this paragraph to certify the existence of the required insurance or bond prior to processing any application for motor vehicle registration.

   3. 3. Fleet vehicles operating under the authority of the Corporation Commission, the Federal Highway Administration, or vehicles registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 1120 of this title, shall certify the existence of security with respect to such vehicle at the time of registration by submitting one of the following:

      1. a. a current owner’s security verification form verifying the existence of security as required by Section 7-600 et seq. of this title, or
      2. b. a permit number verified by the Corporation Commission indicating the existence of a current liability insurance policy. Provided, in the event the Corporation Commission is unable to verify the existence of such insurance as provided herein in a prompt and timely fashion, the Corporation Commission may accept a current single state registration form issued by the Corporation Commission or any other regulating entity with which the Corporation Commission has entered into a reciprocal compact or agreement regarding the regulation of motor vehicles engaged in interstate or foreign commerce upon and over the public highways.

   4. 4. The following shall not be required to carry an owner’s or operator’s security verification form or an equivalent form from the Department during operation of the vehicle and shall not be required to surrender such form for vehicle registration purposes:

      1. a. any vehicle owned or leased by the federal or state government, or any agency or political subdivision thereof,
      2. b. any vehicle bearing the name, symbol, or logo of a business, corporation or utility on the exterior and which is in compliance with the provisions of Sections 7-600 through 7-610 of this title according to records of the Department of Public Safety which reflect a deposit, bond, self-insurance, or fleet policy,
      3. c. fleet vehicles maintaining current vehicle liability insurance as required by the Corporation Commission or any other regulating entity,
      4. d. any licensed taxicab, and
      5. e. any vehicle owned by a licensed used motor vehicle dealer.
   5. 5. Any person who knowingly issues or promulgates false or fraudulent information in connection with either an owner’s or operator’s security verification form or an equivalent form which has been issued by the Department of Public Safety shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
2. B. Each motor license agent is authorized to charge a fee of One Dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) to each person to whom the agent issues a certificate of registration and who is required to surrender proof of financial responsibility, or for whom the motor license agent certifies the existence of financial responsibility through an authorized online certification system, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 7-600 through 7-609 of this title. The fee may be retained by the agent as compensation for services in processing the proof of financial responsibility and for processing the driver’s license information, insurance verification information, and other additional information furnished to the agent pursuant to Section 1112 of this title, if such agent does not receive the maximum compensation as authorized by law.

Laws 1976, SB 269, c. 176, § 2, eff. December 11, 1976; Amended by Laws 1980, HB 1746, c. 235, § 8, eff. January 1, 1981; Amended by Laws 1982, HB 1759, c. 355, § 6, emerg. eff. July 1, 1982; Amended by Laws 1983, HB 1406, c. 49, § 1; Amended by Laws 1990, HB 2155, c. 298, § 1; Amended by Laws 1999, SB 319, c. 232, § 4, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2004, SB 141, c. 522, § 5, emerg. eff. July 1, 2004 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2006, HB 3115, c. 322, § 2, emerg. eff. July 1, 2006 (superseded document available).