(a) The owner or operator of a motor vehicle who operates or permits its operation upon the highways of this State shall produce, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, upon the request of any peace officer, evidence that the vehicle is an insured motor vehicle.
(b) An owner or operator of a motor vehicle who fails to produce evidence when requested to do so or within seventy-two (72) hours thereafter is guilty of a civil infraction. A certificate of insurance, if issued by an insurance company, stating that there is in force a liability policy meeting the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act of the State, shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of insurance being in force until the expiration date shown on the certificate. The certificate shall state the name of each person named on the policy, policy declarations or declaration certificate whose operation of the vehicle causes the liability coverage to become void.
(c) Every owner or operator of a motor vehicle who knowingly produces false evidence under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition, his operator’s or chauffeur’s license or motor vehicle registration, or both, may be suspended by the Secretary of State for a period of not more than one year.
(d) Where the owner or operator of a motor vehicle is convicted under this section, the license plates and registrations shall be forwarded by the Court to the Department of State for cancellation unless he produces evidence that there was in force a liability policy meeting the minimum requirements of the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act of this State with respect to the operation of the motor vehicle at the time the offense was committed.
(e) This section does not apply to the owner or operator of a motor vehicle that is registered in a County, State or province other than this State.
(Ord. 2237, passed 11-16-1970; Ord. 2671, passed 10-23-1978; Ord. 3207, passed 6-8-1992)
Statutory reference:
Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act, see MCLA 257.1101 et seq.