Provisions of Act 115; Notice No. 1996-17 [26 Pa.B. 4697] Act 115 of 1996, recently signed into law, contains certain provisions relevant to the Insurance Department. The law provides for temporary motor vehicle registration cards, requires proof of insurance for snowmobile operators and establishes a blood alcohol level of 0.02% for minors to prove a violation of driving under the influence. This notice describes the pertinent provisions of this new law.
Policyholders can now lower their insurance premiums on cars which they only use during part of the year. The Department of Transportation now offers a seasonal registration, whereby a consumer can obtain a registration for less than 12 months (for example, summer months only). The consumer is then obligated to insure the vehicle only for the months during which the registration is active. No insurance coverage is applicable during the part of the year in which the vehicle is not registered.
Operators of snowmobiles must now have proof of insurance available if they operate a snowmobile which is required to be registered. Only insurance offered by admitted carriers can satisfy this requirement. The insurance must be carried on the operator's person or posted on the snowmobile. Snowmobile owners cannot permit the vehicle to be operated without having in effect the required liability coverage.
Finally, a noteworthy provision of Act 115 provides that minors commit the violation of driving under the influence if their blood alcohol is 0.02% or greater. The former standard was 0.10%, which limit is still applicable to adults.
Questions regarding the provisions of Act 115 may be directed to Carolyn Montgomery, Director, Bureau ofConsumer Services, 1321 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120, (717) 783-2153.
LINDA S. KAISER,
Insurance Commissioner[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-1650. Filed for public inspection September 27, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]
