Criminal Penalty Amendments

Reduced the penalty for speeding 21-29 mph in school zones from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction, and lowered the minimum fine for these offenses.

Changed the penalty for careless driving from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction.

Updated the list of acceptable documents to prove insurance to include digital copies and mobile app displays, allowing drivers to show proof on their phones.

Removed the requirement for drivers to physically display their insurance card upon demand if they are using a mobile device to show proof, provided the officer cannot see other content on the screen.

Simplified the definition of 'evidence of owner's or operator's security' by removing redundant cross-references and consolidating the list of acceptable documents.

Corrected numerous cross-references to other statutes and removed obsolete repealer sections to align the code with current laws.

Merged the offenses of operating a vehicle without insurance and failing to carry proof of insurance into a single consolidated offense.

Expanded acceptable proof of insurance to include rental agreements and digital formats such as mobile applications.

Added a new specific offense for knowingly providing false evidence of insurance to a peace officer.

Reduced the penalty for speeding 21-29 mph in school zones from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction.

Reduced the penalty for careless driving from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction.

Authorized law enforcement to seize vehicles without insurance that are involved in accidents or suspected of road rage events.

Repealed Section 41-12a-303.2, which was merged into the new consolidated insurance offense.

Reduced the penalty for speeding 21-29 mph in school zones from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction, but increased the minimum fine for this offense to $260.

Reduced the penalty for careless driving from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction.

Increased the minimum fine for operating a vehicle without insurance from $400 to $400 (first offense) and $1,000 (subsequent offenses), and added a waiver provision for up to $300 if insurance is obtained before sentencing.

Strengthened license suspension rules by requiring the department to refuse license applications for three years if an actor cancels their insurance certificate.

Updated the definition of acceptable proof of insurance to include electronic formats on mobile devices and information from the Uninsured Motorist Identification Database.

Clarified that insurance cards issued after July 1, 2014, cannot display the owner's address.

Set the effective date of the bill to May 6, 2026.

Clarified that courts must order compensatory service specifically as crossing guard duties for first and subsequent speeding offenses.

Added new misdemeanor penalties for providing false information regarding insurance security or falsely claiming security is in effect.

Mandated that the department suspend driver licenses for three years if security coverage is lost and refuse to reinstate licenses until proof of security is re-established.

Corrected a cross-reference to the specific section governing insurance security verification.

Reduced the penalty for speeding over 20 mph in school zones from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction, with specific minimum fines based on speed (e.g., $260 for 21-29 mph).

Reduced the penalty for careless driving from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction.

Expanded the circumstances under which police can seize vehicles, including those operated without insurance after an accident, and added specific provisions for seizing vehicles involved in 'road rage' events.

Clarified that failing to provide proof of insurance after an accident is a class B misdemeanor, increasing the severity of this specific violation.

Updated the definition of 'evidence of owner's or operator's security' to explicitly include digital formats, such as mobile applications and electronic database records, allowing drivers to show proof of insurance on their phones.

Added a new section prohibiting insurance cards from displaying the owner's address to protect privacy.

Set the effective date of the bill to May 6, 2026.

Merged the criminal offenses of operating a vehicle without insurance and failing to carry evidence of insurance into a single offense under Section 41-12a-302.

Added provisions allowing drivers to present evidence of insurance electronically on mobile devices, with protections preventing officers from viewing other content on the device.

Added a new offense for providing false evidence of insurance to a peace officer, punishable as a class B misdemeanor.

Increased the minimum fine for operating a vehicle without insurance from an infraction to a class C misdemeanor, with fines of at least $400 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent offenses.

Reduced the penalty for speeding 21-29 mph over the limit in school zones from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction, while increasing fines for speeds of 30 mph or more.

Reduced the penalty for careless driving from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction.

Expanded the circumstances under which vehicles can be seized if operated without insurance, including when the vehicle is involved in an accident.

Repealed the old standalone statute regarding carrying evidence of insurance and made technical updates to related sections.