MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Insurance
By: Representative Chism
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-16-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW PROOF OF INSURANCE TO BE PROVED BY INSURANCE CARD FOR PURPOSES OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION; TO REQUIRE RENEWAL NOTICES TO REASONABLY NOTIFY MOTOR VEHICLE OWNERS THAT PROOF OF INSURANCE IS REQUIRED FOR RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 63-16-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-16-9. (1) (a) Every owner of a motor vehicle in this state shall comply with the motor vehicle liability insurance coverage in at least the minimum amounts required under Section 63-15-3(j) before that owner may receive a registration for a motor vehicle or renew a registration. The owner must also maintain continuous coverage in at least the minimum amounts required under Section 63-15-3(j) throughout the registration period. The verification system shall be used at registration to determine compliance with this section and the response received from the system supersedes an insurance card produced by a motor vehicle owner or operator, and notwithstanding the display of an insurance card by the owner or operator, the owner shall be denied a registration for a motor vehicle or renewal of a registration based on the verification system's response of noncompliance. The Department of Revenue must make the verification system available to the tax collector through its title/registration network system. If the owner is applying for the initial registration of a motor vehicle, then the owner may be granted a registration notwithstanding the response received from the verification system.
(b) Until the verification system is implemented in accordance with this chapter, proof of insurance for purposes of compliance with this section shall be made by producing an insurance card, either in person or by mail for renewals, that shows the motor vehicle owner has motor vehicle liability insurance in at least the minimum amounts required under Section 63-15-3(j).
(2) If a notice of renewal is sent to a motor vehicle owner for purposes of renewing their motor vehicle registration, the notice of renewal must include language which reasonably notifies the motor vehicle owner that proof of insurance, in a manner provided by this section, shall be required before that owner may renew a motor vehicle registration.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.