Senate Bill 20

This law became effective on April 20, 1995 and ensures the following requirements.

• Requires persons who submit an application for motor vehicle registration or a driver license to sign a form describing all the possible penalties to which a person could be subject for driving without proof of financial responsibility Insurance.

• Requires a law enforcement officer to request the owner or operator of a motor vehicle to produce proof of financial responsibility at the time of a traffic stop, at the scene of an accident, or at the time of a motor vehicle inspection.

Any person who fails to show proof of financial responsibility to a law officer, must submit proof to traffic violations bureau with any fine or to the court at any court appearance.

If offender fails to show proof to the court, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will mail a letter providing him/her 30 days to submit proof to the BMV before any suspension action will be taken.

The penalties imposed by this law include increased Noncompliance Suspension periods and reinstatement fees.

When required, proof of financial responsibility maybe shown by one of the following documents:

• Insurance policy;

• Insurance identification card;

• Section A (Insurance Information) of a State Crash Report;

• Surety bond of $30,000 issued by an authorized surety company;

• BMV bond secured by real estate having equity of at least $60,000;

• BMV certificate for money or government bonds in the amount of $30,000 on deposit with the Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray;

• BMV certificate of self insurance, available to companies or persons who own at least 26 vehicles.