The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-06-29
New Motor Law
 Effective July 1
Increase of Operators Bond Left to Insurance
 Companies

Important changes in the motol vehicle financial responsibility law which will affect all drivers and owners coming within its provisions and also those companies which provide proof of financial responsi- bility, were made by the 1891 gen. eral assembly. Under the new law effective July l, the state can nc longer require that bonding or in. surance companies increase the cost of bonds or insurance for those persons rated as poor risks by the state. The motor vehicle depart ment must, however, under the act still classify those persons whose violations of the laws or regulations make them subject to the provisions of the financial responsibility law Increases or decreases in the cost of bonds or insurance will be a mat. ter for decision by the company oi person supplying the proof of re- sponsibility.
 Insurance and bonding companies and others furnishing guaranty may request and receive from the com- missioner of motor vehicles a certi- fled abstract of the operators rec ord, as on file with the department. If there Is no record which brings the operator within the provisions of the financial responsibility law, the commissioner will so certify.
 With the exception of a certain type of operator, the commissioner of motor vehicles will no longer be required to decide when a person is subject to the financial law. Determ- ination is left with the commissioner in those cases where the record of operators on file with the depart ment is sufficiently poor to require evidence of financial responsibility for the reasonable protection of other persons.
 Other operators or owners will come within the provisions of the law by virtue of their records be- fore the courts of the state, as sub- mitted to the department. Con- victions and other court decisions on violations of certain motor vehicle laws will automatically bring opera tors under the necessity of furnish ing proof of responsibility. In the main, the Jurisdiction of the motor vehicle department will be narrowed to superintendence over cases passed upon by courts and coroners.
 The amount of bond or insurance will be the same as formerly, at least $10,000 to cover public liabil- ity. and $1.000 for damage to prop erty. If the person required to do so fails to supply such proof. the commissioner must suspend or re- yoke the license of such person. In- spectors of the motor vehicle depart ment have been included among off, ficers authorized to secure possess sion of an operators license or a certificate of registration, when this procedure is necessary.
 Four classifcations will be made by the state of those persons com ing within the law. as at present. The first will include the large num- Der of persons who have no record of serious accidents or of law viola tions. Under a new definition. this will be known as the ordinary class" The others are Glasses A, B and c.
 Under the proposed plan of group ing, Class A will include those per sons convicted of speeding. operat- ing without permission. and reckless driving when the fine Is less than $50.
 Class B will include those convict ed of perjury and reckless driving when the fine Is more than $50. and those declared criminally responsible in fatal accidents.
 Class c will include those con- victed of operating while under the influence of liquor. evading responsi- bility. and those with record of serious accidents and a conviction.