Kortz proposes change to driving without insurance law
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
State Rep. Bill Kortz has introduced a bill to allow for a civil penalty for driving without insurance.
House Bill 2478 would allow vehicle owners to pay a fine rather than face license suspension for driving without insurance.
Kortz, D-Dravosburg, said passage of the bill would ensure that “accidental lapses” in insurance do not hinder a person’s ability to drive and earn a living.
“Today, vehicle owners in Pennsylvania are required to have and maintain auto insurance with penalties including a three-month registration suspension, and if the vehicle was operated without insurance, a three-month license suspension,” Kortz said in a memo attached to the bill. “It is not uncommon for lapses in auto insurance to occur for accidental reasons such as application errors, processing errors, notification errors or just honest mistakes.
“Current law takes this into account by allowing owners to pay a $500 civil penalty instead of serving the three-month registration suspension if the owner can show proof of current insurance. Unfortunately, if the vehicle was operated without insurance, there is no similar option to pay a civil penalty instead of serving the three-month license suspension.”
The state representative said passage of the bill “will fix this problem by allowing owners to pay a $500 civil penalty in lieu of the three-month license suspension if they can show proof of current insurance.”
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