HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 75
(By Delegates Perry, Shook, Cann, Frazier, Hartman Hunt,
Hutchins, Iaquinta, Louisos, Mahan, Manchin, Michael, Moore,
Reynolds, Shaver, Skaff, Walker, T., Wooton, Andes, Ashley,
Azinger, Carmichael, Miller, J., Schoen, and Walters)
(Originating in the Committee on Banking and Insurance)
(February 24, 2010)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the
feasibility of authorizing the Division of Motor Vehicles to
adopt a program to utilize electronic verification of
insurance coverage to identify uninsured motor vehicles.
Whereas
, According to the Insurance Industry Institute, at
least 8% of all of the vehicles on the road in West Virginia are
not insured or otherwise lack proper security as required in
Chapter 17D of the Code of West Virginia; and
Whereas
, The current provisions in the West Virginia Code
providing for proof of verification of insurance on registered
vehicles do not provide adequate means to enable the Division of
Motor Vehicles to verify that every vehicle registered in this
state has insurance; and
Whereas
, There is little question that uninsured motorists cause increased costs in this state for insurance premiums
including uninsured and underinsured motor vehicle insurance
coverage; and
Whereas
, a form of electronic insurance verification system is
used in 34 states including most of our border states and would be
a very beneficial means to verify that state residents are
complying with the law of required vehicle insurance; and
Whereas
, There is no electronic insurance verification system
in place to insure that every vehicle in this state has insurance;
and
Whereas
, An electronic insurance verification system would
allow electronic verification of current insurance coverage at the
time of vehicle renewal, at scheduled times during the registration
year, and at the time of a traffic stop or crash investigation; and
Whereas
, The Insurance industry, through the Insurance Industry
Committee on Motor Vehicle Administration (IICMVA) has devised a
model program of electronic insurance verification for use in all
states, which is in place in several states and is being pilot
tested in several other states; and
Whereas
, An electronic insurance verification system would
allow the division of motor vehicles, law enforcement, and the
courts to verify current insurance coverage in real time;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the feasibility of authorizing the Division of
Motor Vehicles to adopt a program to utilize electronic
verification of insurance coverage to identify uninsured motor
vehicles; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular
session,
two thousand eleven, on its findings, conclusions and
recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to
effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.