CIVIL TRAFFIC ORDINANCE

MANDATORY LIABILITY INSURANCE

8.30.010            Intent

8.30.020            Liability Insurance or Other Financial Responsibility Required

8.30.030            Providing False Evidence of Financial Responsibility

8.30.010            Intent

Operating a motor vehicle upon the highways of the Skokomish Indian Reservation is a privilege granted by the Tribe.  The Tribal Council recognizes the threat that uninsured drivers are to the people of the Tribe and to the public at large.  In order to alleviate the threat posed by uninsured drivers it is the intent of the Tribal Council to require that all persons driving vehicles on the Skokomish Reservation satisfy the financial responsibility requirements of this Chapter.  It is not the intent of the Council to modify, amend, or invalidate existing insurance contract terms, conditions, limitations, or exclusions or to preclude insurance companies from using similar terms, conditions, limitations, or exclusions in future contracts.

8.30.020            Liability Insurance or Other Financial Responsibility Required

(a)  Insurance/Financial Responsibility.

(1)  A person who drives a motor vehicle that is required to be registered in any state, including Washington, that requires drivers and owners of vehicles to maintain insurance or financial responsibility shall, when requested by a law enforcement officer, provide evidence of financial responsibility or insurance as is required by the laws of the state in which the vehicle is registered.

(2)  When asked to do so by a law enforcement officer, failure to display an insurance identification card as specified creates a presumption that the person does not have motor vehicle insurance.

(3)  Failure to provide proof of motor vehicle insurance is a traffic infraction.

(b)  If a person cited for a violation of subsection (a) of this section appears in person before the court and provides written evidence that at the time the person was cited, he or she was in compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the citation shall be dismissed.  In lieu of personal appearance, a person cited for a violation of subsection (a) of this section may, before the date scheduled for the person's appearance before the court, submit by mail to the court written evidence that at the time the person was cited, he or she was in compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of subsection (a) of this section, in which case the citation shall be dismissed without cost, except that the court may assess court administrative costs of twenty-five dollars at the time of dismissal.

(c)  The provisions of this chapter shall not govern:

(1) The operation of a motor vehicle registered as common or contract carriers; or

(2) The operation of a motorcycle, a motor-driven cycle, or a moped.

8.30.030            Providing False Evidence of Financial Responsibility

Any person who knowingly provides false evidence of financial responsibility to a law enforcement officer or to a court, including an expired or canceled insurance policy, bond, or certificate of deposit is guilty of a traffic infraction.