HB 2286 -- Uninsured Motorists

Sponsor:  Yates

This bill establishes the Uninsured Motorist Stipulation of
Benefits Act of 2008.  An uninsured motorist involved in an
accident with a complying policyholder will waive any right to
recover damages for a non-economic loss and punitive damages.
Recovery will be limited to only economic losses.  The waiver
will not apply if it can be proven that the insured motorist
caused the accident while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
or if the insured motorist is convicted of vehicular assault or
homicide.  Passengers in the uninsured motor vehicle will not be
subject to the waiver.  The bill will not apply to a motorist
whose insurance policy was terminated for failure to pay the
premium unless notice of termination for failure to pay was
provided by the insurer at least 30 days prior to the accident.

If a motor vehicle owner fails to maintain financial
responsibility as required in Section 303.160, RSMo, the owner
will be guilty of a class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a
class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent violation and will
have his or her motor vehicle impounded and driver's license
suspended.  Upon reinstatement of a suspended license, the driver
will be issued a restricted driver's license and special license
plates indicating that the vehicle owner is a repeat offender of
the motor vehicle responsibility laws.  The first-time
reinstatement fee for a suspended driver's license due to the
owner not maintaining financial responsibility on a motor vehicle
is increased from $20 to $100.

Beginning September 1, 2008, all insurance companies offering
motor vehicle financial responsibility policies must provide the
Department of Revenue a monthly report of anyone terminating
coverage.  The department will verify whether or not the person
has insurance.  Insurers must also provide policyholders with a
proof of insurance card that is resistant to duplication.

If the motorist insurance identification database indicates that
the owner of a registered motor vehicle has failed to maintain
financial responsibility for two consecutive months, the
department director will suspend the owner's vehicle registration
and impose the following administrative penalties:

(1)  $4 per day for the first through the thirtieth day;

(2)  $5 per day for the thirty-first through the sixtieth day;
and

(3)  $6 per day for the sixty-first through the ninetieth day.

All licensed motor vehicle dealers must report monthly to the
department on all sales of vehicles for the purpose of verifying
the payment of property taxes owed on each vehicle.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm