Department verification program; rules

The Department of Transportation shall establish by rule a program to verify compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of operating a motor vehicle in this state. The program established under this section shall comply with all of the following: (1) The department may select vehicles registered in this state for verification when the department considers the selection necessary or appropriate. The department may emphasize verification of vehicles registered to individuals who: (a) Have been convicted of violating ORS 806.010; (b) Have provided proof of compliance with financial responsibility requirements that has been previously found to be not correct; or (c) The department has reasonable grounds to believe are not in compliance with financial responsibility requirements. (2) When a vehicle is selected for verification under this section, the department shall provide a notice of verification to the registered owner of the vehicle. The notice of verification must: (a) Inform the owner that the vehicle has been selected for verification; and (b) Require the owner to provide proof of compliance with financial responsibility requirements within the time specified by the department by rule. (3) After the department receives proof of compliance from a registered owner as required under subsection (2) of this section, the department shall forward the proof of compliance to the listed insurer, or use other means, to determine whether the proof of compliance is correct. An insurer shall notify the department if the proof of compliance is not correct within the time specified by the department by rule. (4) Civil liability does not accrue to the insurer or any of its employees for reports made to the department under this section when the reports are made in good faith based on the most recent information available to the insurer.