An Act to promote safe driving, to eliminate the reckless and financially irresponsible driver from the highways, and to provide for the giving of security and proof of financial responsibility by persons driving or owning vehicles of a type subject to re
PL 83-365 (S.2305), enacted 05/25/1954

120 
PUBLIC LAW 36&-MAY 25, 1954 
[68 S T A T . 
Applicability. 
SEC, 1602. If the assessing authority of the District believes that the 
collection of any tax imposed by any law applicable to the District 
Government (except real property taxes) will be jeopardized by delay, 
the assessing authority shall, whether or not the time otherwise pre-
scribed by law for making return and paying such tax has expired, 
immediately assess such tax (together with all the interest and penal-
ties the assessment of which is provided for by law). Such tax, 
penalties, and interest, shall thereupon become immediately due and 
payable, and immediate notice and demand shall be made by the 
Collector of Taxes for the District for the payment thereof. 
Upon 
failure or refusal to pay such tax, penalty, and interest, collection 
thereof by distraint shall be lawful. For the purposes of this section 
the word "assessing authority" means the Assessor, the Board of 
Personal Tax Appraisers or any member thereof, and any other official 
or officials of the Districtj or their duly authorized representatives, 
having the duty to assess District taxes. 
SEC. 1603. This title shall be applicable with respect to taxes assessed 
within three years prior to the date of the approval of this Act. 
T I T L E XVII—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 1701. REGULATIONS.—^The Commissioners are authorized to 
make rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 1702. SEPAEABUJTY CLAUSE.—^If any provision of this Act or 
the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, 
the remainder of the Act, and the application of such provision to other 
persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby. 
Approved May 18, 1954. 
May 25, 1954 
[S. 2305] 
Public Law 365 
CHAPTER 222 
AN ACT 
To promote safe driving, to eliminate the reckless and financially irresponsible 
driver from the highways, and to provide for the giving of security and proof 
of financial responsibility by persons driving or owning vehicles of a type sub-
ject to registration under the laws of the District of Columbia. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
sJf'et^y' Responiit United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act may 
bUity Act of the 
fog 
cited as the "Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act of the Dis-
District of Colunr 
. • , 
a r> i 
^ • 
ii 
bia. 
trict oi Columbia. 
ARTICLE I 
WORDS AND PHRASES DEFINED 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.—The following words and phrases used in 
this Act shall, for the purpose of this Act, have the meanings respec-
tively ascribed to them in this article except in those instances where 
the context clearly indicates a different meaning. 
(a) 
COMMISSIONERS.—The Board of Commissioners of the Dis-
trict of Columbia, or their designated agent or agents. 
(b) DRIVER OR OPERATOR.—Every person who drives or is in 
actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a public highway 
or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being pushed 
or towed by a motor vehicle upon a public highway. 
(c) LICENSE.—Any operator's permit or any other license or permit 
to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of the District of 
Columbia including— 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
121 
(1) any temporary or learner's permit; 
(2) the privilege of any person to drive a motor vehicle whether 
or not such person holds a valid license; and 
(3) any nonresident's operating privilege as defined herein. 
(d) MOTOR VEHICLE.—Every vehicle which is self-propelled and 
every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from 
over-head trolley wires, but not operated upon rails. 
(e) NONRESIDENT.—Every person who is not a resident of the Dis-
trict of Columbia. 
(f) NONRESIDENT'S OPERATING PRIVILEGE.—^The privilege con-
ferred upon a nonresident by the laws of the District of Columbia per-
taining to the operation by such person of a motor vehicle, or the use 
of a vehicle owned by such person, in the District of Columbia. 
(g) OWNER.—A person who holds the legal title of a vehicle, or 
in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional 
sale or lease thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of 
the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right 
of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event 
a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then such conditional 
vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the pur-
pose of this Act. 
(h) PERSON.—Every natural person, firm, copartnership, associ-
ation, or corporation. 
(i) PUBLIC HIGHWAY.—Any street, road, or public thoroughfare. 
(j) REGISTRATION.—The registration plates issued under the laws 
of the District of Columbia pertaining to the registration of vehicles. 
(k) VEHICLE.—Every device in, upon, or by which any person or 
property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except 
devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary 
rails or tracks. 
ARTICLE I I 
ADMINISTRATION OF ACT 
SEC. 3. COMMISSIONERS TO ADMINISTER Aor.—(a) The Commission-
ers shall administer and enforce the provisions of this Act, and may 
make rules and regulations necessary for its administration. 
(b) The Commissioners shall receive and consider any pertinent 
information upon request of persons aggrieved by their orders or acts 
under any of tTie provisions of this Act. 
(c) The Commissioners shall prescribe and provide suitable forms 
requisite or deemed necessary for the purpose of this Act. 
SEC. 4. COMMISSIONERS TO REVIEW ORDER OR ACT OF AGENT.—Any 
order or act of any agent of the Commissioners under the provisions 
of this Act shall be subject to review by the Commissioners. 
Applica-
tion for review of any such order or act shall be in writing and filed 
with the Commissioners within five days after the issuance of the order 
or occurrence of the act in question. If upon review the Commission-
ers shall sustain such order or act, the same shall become effective 
immediately. 
Any person whose license or motor-vehicle registration shall be 
denied, suspended, or revoked by the Commissioners under the pro-
visions of this Act may, within thirty days after such denial, revocation, 
or suspension has been reviewed by the Commissioners and sustained 
by them, file in the Municipal Court of Appeals for the District of 
Columbia an application for the allowance of an appeal from the order 
or decision of the Commissioners. If a majority of the court are of the 
opinion that the appeal should be allowed, the appeal shall be recorded 
Definition. 
122 
PUBLIC LiAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
[68 S T A T . 
as granted and the case set down for hearing on appeal. If a majority 
of the court shall be of the opinion that the appeal should be denied 
such denial shall stand as an affirmance of the order appealed from. 
Said court is authorized to prescribe fees and promulgate rules gov-
erning the application for the allowance of an appeal and the record 
and proceedings on appeal, and the said court shall have power to 
affirm, modify, or reverse the order or decision of the Commissioners, 
where the appeal is allowed pursuant hereto; and the decision of said 
court whether in denying an application for allowance of appeal or 
in deciding an appeal after it has been granted shall be final. The 
application to said court for the allowance of an appeal shall not 
operate as a stay of such order of the Commissioners, unless the ap-
plicant shall have deposited with the Commissioners, under protest 
and subject to the decision of the court, security in the amount re-
quired by the Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of this 
Act, or a bond in an amount equal to the amount of security required 
by the Commissioners, guaranteeing that the applicant, in the event 
the order appealed from is sustained or modified by the court, will 
comply fully therewith. In the event said order of the Commission-
ers shall be ordered vacated, either by the court or the Commissioners, 
the security deposited under protest shall be returned to the depositor 
or the bond shall be canceled. 
For the purposes of this section, the phrase "review by the Commis-
sioners" shall mean a review by the Board of Commissioners of the 
District of Columbia or a review by any board of review established 
by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to review the order 
or act of any agent of the Commissioners pursuant to the provisions of 
this Act. No member of such board of review established by the 
Commissioners shall review any of his own orders or acts. 
SEC. 5. COMMISSIONERS T O FURNISH OPERATING RECORD.—(a) The 
Commissioners shall upon request furnish any person a certified 
abstract of the District of Columbia operating record of any person 
subject to the provisions of this Act, which abstract shall include 
enumeration of any motor-vehicle accidents in which such person has 
been involved and reference to any convictions of said person for 
violation of the motor-vehicle laws as reported to the Commissioners 
and a record of any vehicles registered in the name of such person. 
The Commissioners shall collect for each abstract the sum of $2. 
(b) The Commissioners shall upon request furnish any person an 
uncertified abstract of the District operating record of any person 
subject to the provisions of this Act, which abstract shall include 
enumeration of any motor vehicle accidents in which such person has 
been involved and reference to any convictions of said person for 
violation of the motor vehicle laws, as reported to the Commissioners. 
The Commissioners shall collect for each such uncertified abstract a 
sum equal to the cost to the District of furnishing such abstract, as such 
cost may be determined by the Commissioners from time to time. 
SEC. 6. COMMISSIONERS To 
FURNISH 
INFORMATION REGARDING 
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITT.—The Commissioners shall furnish to any 
person who may be injured in person or property by any motor vehicle, 
upon written request, a statement that the owner or operator of any 
motor vehicle has furnished evidence of his ability to respond in 
damages in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and if such 
owner or operator shall have furnished evidence of having had in 
effect at the time of such injury or damage a motor-vehicle liability 
policy, the name and address of the insurance carrier writing such 
policy. The Commissioners shall collect for each abstract the sum 
of $2. 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
123 
SEC. 7. SERVICE OF PROCESS ON NONRESIDENT.—The operation by a 
nonresident or by his agent of a motor vehicle on any public highway 
of the District of Columbia shall be deemed equivalent to an appoint-
ment by such nonresident of the Commissioners or their successors in 
office to be his true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all 
lawful processes in any action or proceedings against such nonresident 
growing out of any accident or collision in which said nonresident 
or his agent may be involved while operating a motor vehicle on any 
such public highway, and said operation shall be a signification of 
his agreement that any such process against him, which is so served, 
shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon him 
personally in the District of Columbia. Service of such process shall 
be made by leaving a copy of the process with a fee of $2 in the hands 
of the Commissioners or in their office, and such service shall be suf-
ficient service upon the said nonresident: Provided^ That the plaintiff 
in such action shall first file in the court in which said action is com-
menced an undertaking in form and amount, and with one or more 
sureties, approved by said court, to reimburse the defendant, on the 
failure of the plaintiff to prevail in the action, for the expenses neces-
sarily incurred by the defendant, including a reasonable attorney's fee 
in an amount to be fixed by the said court in defending the action 
in the District of Columbia: And provided further^ That notice of 
such service and a copy of the process are forthwith sent by registered 
mail by the plaintiff, or his attorney, to the defendant, and the defend-
ant's return receipt appended to the writ and entered with the declara-
tion, or such notice of such service and a copy of the process may be 
served upon the defendant in the manner provided by section 105 of 
the Code of Laws for the District of Columbia (31 Stat. 1206, as 
amended; § 13-108, D. C. Code, 1951 edition). The court in which 
the action is pending may order such continuances as may be necessary 
to afford the defendant a reasonable opportunity to defend the action, 
and no judgment by default in any such action shall be granted until 
at least twenty days shall have elapsed after service upon the defend-
ant, as hereinabove provided, of a copy of the process and notice of 
service of said i)rocess upon the Commissioners. 
For the purposes of this section, the term "nonresident" shall include 
every person who is not a resident of the District of Columbia and any 
person who was a resident of the District of Columbia at the time he 
was involved in an accident or collision in said District, but who, 
subsequent to such accident or collision, became a nonresident of the 
District and remains a nonresident at the time the said process is sought 
to be served on him. 
SEC. 8. OPERATOR DEEMED TO BE AGENT OF OWNERS.—Whenever any 
motor vehicle, after the passage of this Act, shall be operated upon 
the public highways of the District of Columbia by any person other 
than the owner, with the consent of the owner, express or implied, 
the operator thereof shall in case of accident, be deemed to be the 
agent of the owner of such motor vehicle, and the proof of the owner-
ship of said motor vehicle shall be prima facie evidence that such 
person operated said motor vehicle with the consent of the owner. 
SEC. 9. ESTABLISHMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE OWNERS' AND OPERATORS' 
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FUND, D . C.— (a) There is hereby created 
in the Treasury of the United States a special fund which shall be 
known as the Motor Vehicle Owners' and Operators' Financial Respon-
sibility Fund, D. C., to which shall be deposited any funds paid to the 
Commissioners as security or proof in accordance with the provisions 
of this Act. 
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PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
[68 STAT-
(b) Said Motor Vehicle Owners' and Operators' Financial Respon-
sibility Fund, D. C , is available to the Commissioners for disburse-
ments required under the provisions of this Act, such disbursements 
to be made in the same manner as other disbursements for the District 
of Columbia are made. 
ARTICLE I I I 
ACCIDENT REPORTS 
SEC. 10. REPORT OF ACCIDENT REQUIRED.—The driver of a vehicle 
of a type subject to registration under the motor vehicle laws of the 
District of Columbia which is in any manner involved in an accident 
within the District of Columbia, which accident has resulted in 
damage to the property of any one person in excess of $100 or in bodily 
injury to or in the death of any person shall within five days after 
such accident report the accident on a form approved by the Com-
missioners to the office of the Commissioners subject to the following 
exceptions in this article. 
SEC. 11. FORM OF REPORT.—The form of accident report prescribed 
by the Commissioners shall contain information sufficient to enable 
the Commissioners to determine whether the requirements for the 
deposit of security under this Act are inapplicable by reason of the 
existence of insurance or other exceptions specified in this Act. 
SEO. 12. INCAPACITY OF DRIVER-OWNER TO REPORT.—(a) An acci-
dent report is not required under this article from any person who is 
physically incapable of making report during the period of such 
incapacity. 
(b) If any driver be physically incapable of making a required 
accident report and is not the owner of the vehicle involved in such 
accident, then the owner of such vehicle shall within five days after 
he learns of the accident make such report not made by the driver. 
SEC. 13. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.—The driver or the owner of the 
vehicle involved in the accident shall furnish such additional relevant 
information as the Commissioners may require. 
SEC. 14. SUSPENSIONS FOR FAILURE TO REPORT.—The Commissioners 
are authorized, in their discretion, to suspend the license of any per-
son who fails to report as required by the Commissioners until such 
report has been filed and for such further period, not to exceed thirty 
days, as the Commissioners may determine. 
SEC. 15. ACCIDENT REPORTS CONFIDENTIAL.—Accident reports and 
supplemental information in connection therewith required under this 
article may be examined by any person named in such report or his 
representative designated in writing, but shall not be open to public 
inspection, nor shall copying of lists of such repoi'ts be permitted. 
ARTICLE IV 
SECURITY FOLLOWING ACCIDENT 
SEC. 16. APPLICATION.—The provisions of this Act, requiring deposit 
of security and suspensions for failure to deposit security, subject to 
certain exemptions, shall apply to the driver and owner of any vehicle 
of a type subject to registration under the motor vehicle laws of the 
District of Columbia which is in any manner involved in an accident 
within the District of Columbia, which accident has resulted in bodily 
injury to or death of any person or damage to the property of any 
one person in excess of $100. 
68 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
125 
SEC. 17. 
COMMISSIONERS TO DETERMINE AMOUNT OF SECURITY 
REQUIRED; NOTICES.—(a) The Commissioners, not less than twenty 
days after receipt of a report of an accident as described in the pre-
ceding article, shall determine the amount of security which shall 
be sufficient in their judgment to satisfy any judgment or judgments 
for damages resulting from such accident as may be recovered against 
each driver or owner. 
Such determination shall not be made with 
respect to drivers or owners who are exempt under succeeding sections 
of this Act from the requirements as to security and suspension. 
(b) The Commissioners shall determine the amount of security 
deposit required of any person upon the basis of the reports or other 
information submitted. 
In the event a person involved in an accident 
as described in this Act fails to make a report or submit information 
indicating the extent of his injuries or the damage to his property 
within fifty days after the accident and the Commissioners do not 
have sufficient information on which to base an evaluation of such 
injuries or damage, then the Commissioners after reasonable notice to 
such person, if it is possible to give such notice, otherwise without such 
notice, shall not require any deposit of security for the benefit or 
protection of such person. 
(c) The Commissioners within fifty days after receipt of report of 
any accident referred to herein and upon determining the amount of 
security to be required of any person involved in such accident or to be 
required of the owner of any vehicle involved in such accident shall 
give written notice to every such person of the amount of security 
required to be deposited by him and that an order of suspension will 
be made as hereinafter provided upon the expiration of ten days after 
the sending of such notice unless within said time security be deposited 
as required by said notice. 
SEC. 18. EXCEPTIONS TO REQUIREMENT OF SECURITY.—The require-
ments as to security and suspension in this article shall not apply— 
(1) to the driver or owner if the owner had in effect at the time 
of the accident an automobile liability policy or bond with respect 
to the vehicle involved in the accident, except that a driver shall 
not be exempt under this paragraph if at the time of the ac(;ident 
the vehicle was being operated without the owner's permission, 
express or implied; 
(2) to the driver, if not the owner of the vehicle involved in 
the accident, if there was in effect at the time of the accident an 
automobile liability policy or bond with respect to his driving of 
vehicles not owned by him; 
(3) to a driver or owner whose liability for damages resulting 
from the accident is, in the judgement of the Commissioners, 
covered by any other form of liability insurance policy or bond; 
(4) to any person qualifying as a self-insurer under section 79 
or to any person operating a vehicle for such self-insurer; 
(5) to the driver or the owner of a vehicle involved in an acci-
dent wherein no injury or damage was caused to the person or 
property of anyone other than such driver or owner; 
(6) to the driver or owner of a vehicle which at the time of the 
accident was parked, unless such vehicle was parked at a place 
where parking was at the time of the accident prohibited under 
any applicable law or ordinance; 
(7) to the owner of a vehicle if at the time of the accident the 
vehicle was being operated without his permission, express or im-
plied, or was parked by a person who had been operating such 
vehicle without such permission; 
126 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
[68 STAT. 
(8) to the owner of a vehicle involved in an accident if at the 
time of the accident such vehicle was owned by or leased to the 
United States, a State or any political subdivision thereof, the 
District of Columbia, or to the driver of such vehicle if operating 
such vehicle with permission; or 
(9) to the driver or the owner of a vehicle in the event at the 
time of the accident the vehicle was being operated by or under 
the direction of a police officer who, in the performance of his 
duties, shall have assumed custody of such vehicle. 
SEC. 19. REQUIREMENTS AS TO POLICY OR BOND.—(a) No policy or 
bond shall be effective under section 18 unless issued by an insurance 
company or surety company authorized to do business in the District 
of Columbia, except as provided in subdivision (b) of this section, 
nor unless such policy or bond is subject, if the accident has resulted in 
bodily injury or death, to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of 
not less than $10,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person 
in any one accident and, subject to said limit for one person, to a 
limit of not less than $20,000 because of bodily injury to or death of 
two or more persons in any one accident, and if the accident has 
resulted in injury to, or destruction of property, to a limit of not less 
than $5,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others 
in any one accident. 
(b) No policy or bond shall be effective under section 18 with respect 
to any vehicle which was not registered in the District of Columbia 
or a vehicle which was registered elsewhere than in the District of 
Columbia at the effective date of the policy or bond or the most recent 
renewal thereof unless the insurance company or surety company issu-
ing such policy^ or bond is authorized to do business in the District of 
Columbia, or if said company is not authorized to do business in the 
District of Columbia, unless it shall execute a power of attorney author-
izing the Commissioners to accept service on its behalf of notice or 
process in any action upon such policy or bond arising out of such 
accident. 
(c) The Commissioners may rely upon the accuracy of the informa-
tion in a required report of an accident as to the existence of insurance 
or a bond unless and until the Commissioners have reason to believe 
that the information is erroneous. 
SEC. 20. FORM AND AMOUNT or SECURITY.—(a) The security required 
under this article shall be in such form and in such amount as the 
Commissioners may require, but in no case in excess of the limits 
specified in section 19 in reference to the acceptable limits of a policy 
or bond. 
(b) Every depositor of security shall designate in writing every 
person in whose name such deposit is made, but any single deposit of 
security shall be applicable only on behalf of persons required to fur-
nish security because of the same accident. 
SEC. 21. FAILURE To DEPOSIT SECURITY ; SUSPENSIONS,—^In the event 
that any person required to deposit security under this article fails 
to deposit such security within ten days after the Commissioners have 
sent the notice as hereinbefore provided, the Commissioners shall there-
upon suspend— 
(1) the license of each driver in any manner involved in the 
accident; 
(2) the registration of all vehicles owned by the owner of each 
vehicle of a type subject to registration under the laws of the 
District of Columbia involved in such accident; 
(3) if the driver is a nonresident, the privilege of operating, 
within the District of Columbia, a vehicle of a type subject to 
registration under the laws of the District of Columbia; and 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
12T 
(4) if such owner is a nonresident, the privilege of such owner 
to operate or permit the operation within the District of Columbia 
of a vehicle of a type subject to registration under the laws of the 
District of Columbia. 
Such suspensions shall be made in respect to persons not otherwise 
exempt under this Act who are required by the Commissioners to 
deposit security and who fail to deposit such security, except as other-
wise provided under this Act. 
SEC. 22. RELEASE FROM LiABnjxY.—(a) A person shall be relieved 
from the requirement for deposit of security for the benefit or protec-
tion of another person injured or damaged in the accident in the event 
he is released from liability by such other person. 
(b) A covenant not to sue shall relieve the parties thereto as to each 
other from the security requirements of this article. 
(c) In the event the Commissioners have evaluated the injuries or 
damage to any minor in an amount not more than $200 the Commis-
sioners may accept, for the purpose of this article only, evidence of a 
release from liability executed by a natural guardian or a legal 
guardian on behalf of such minor without the approval of any court. 
SEC. 23. ADJUDICATION OF NONLIABILITY.—A person shall be relieved 
from the requirement for deposit of security in respect to a claim for 
injury or damage arising out of the accident in the event such person 
has been finally adjudicated not to be liable in respect to such claim. 
SEC. 24. AGREEMENTS FOR PAYMENT or DAMAGES.—(a) Any two or 
more of the persons involved in or affected by an accident as described 
in section 16 may at any time enter into a written agreement for the 
payment of an agreed amount with respect to all claims of any such 
persons because of bodily injury to or death or property damage 
arising from such accident, which agreement may provide for pay-
ment in installments, and may file a signed copy thereof with the 
Commissioners. 
(b) The Commissioners, to the extent provided by any such written 
agreement filed with them, shall not require the deposit of security and 
shall terminate any prior order of suspension, or if security has pre-
viously been deposited, the Commissioners shall return such security to 
the depositor or his personal representative, or pay such security to the 
depositor's assignee, as the case may be, when all payments required by 
such agreement have been made in full, when an amount equal to such 
security has been paid in accordance with such agreement, or when 
such security is assigned to the person injured or damaged as a result 
of said accident. 
(c) In the event of a default in any payment under such agreement 
and upon notice of such default the Commissioners shall take action 
suspending the license or registration of such person in default as 
would be appropriate in the event of failure of such person to deposit 
security when required under this Act. 
(d) Such suspension shall remain in effect and such license or regis-
tration shall not be restored unless and until the person in default has 
paid all payments then in default. 
SEC. 25. PAYMENT UPON JUDGMENT.—The payment of a judgment 
arising out of an accident or the payment upon such judgment of an 
amount equal to the maximum amount which could be required for 
deposit under this article shall, for the purposes of this article, release 
the judgment debtor from the liability evidenced by such judgment. 
SEC. 26. TERMINATION OF SECURITY REQUIREMENT.—The Commis-
sioners, if satisfied as to the existence of any fact which under sections 
22,23,24, and 25 would entitle a person to be relieved from the security 
requirements of this article, shall not require the deposit of security 
128 
PUBLIC LAW 36&-MAY 25, 1954 
[68 STAT-
by the person so relieved from such requirement and shall terminate 
any prior order of suspension in respect to such person, or if security 
has previously been deposited by such person, the Commissioners shall 
immediately return such deposit to such person or to his personal 
representative. 
SEC. 27. DURATION OF SUSPENSION.—Unless a suspension is termi-
nated under other provisions of this article, any order of suspension 
by the Commissioners under this article shall remain in effect and no 
license shall be renewed for or issued to any person whose license is 
so suspended and no registration shall be renewed for or issued to any 
person whose vehicle registration is so suspended until— 
(1) such person shall deposit or there shall be deposited on his 
behalf the security required under this article; or 
(2) one year shall have elapsed following the date of such 
suspension and evidence satisfactory to the Commissioners has 
been filed with them that during such period no action for dam-
ages arising out of the accident resulting in such suspension has 
been instituted. 
An affidavit of the applicant that no action at law or damages arising 
out of the accident has been filed against him or, if filed, that it is not 
still pending shall be prima facie evidence of that fact. The Commis-
sioners may take whatever steps are necessary to verify the statement 
set forth in any said affidavit. 
SEC, 28. 
APPLICATION TO NONRESIDENTS, UNLICENSED DRIVERS, 
UNREGISTERED VEHICLES AND ACCIDENTS IN OTHER STATES.—(a) In 
case the driver or the owner of a vehicle of a type subject to registra-
tion under the laws of the District of Columbia involved in an acci-
dent within the District of Columbia has no license or registration in 
the District of Columbia, then such driver shall not be allowed a 
license, nor shall such owner be allowed to register any vehicle in 
the District of Columbia, until he has complied with the requirements 
of this article to the same extent that would be necessary if, at the 
time of the accident, he had held a license or been the owner of a 
vehicle registered in the District of Columbia. 
(b) "When a nonresident's operating privilege is suspended pur-
suant to section 21, the Commissioners shall transmit a certified copy 
of the record of such action to the official in charge of the issuance 
of licenses and registration certificates in the State in which such 
nonresident resides. 
(c) Upon receipt of certification that the operating privilege of a 
resident of the District of Columbia has been suspended or revoked 
in any State pursuant to a law providing for its suspension or revoca-
tion for failure to deposit security for the payment of judgments aris-
ing out of a motor vehicle accident, under circumstances which would 
require the Commissioners to suspend a nonresident's operating priv-
ilege had the accident occurred in the District of Columbia, the Com-
missioners shall suspend the license of such resident if he was the 
driver, and all of his registrations if he was the owner of a motor 
vehicle involved in such accident. 
Such suspension shall continue 
until such resident furnishes evidence of his compliance with the law 
of such State relating to the deposit of such security. 
The provisions of this subsection shall be applicable only to a certi-
fication from a State which by its laws has made provision for the sus-
pension or revocation of the license and all registrations of a resident 
of such State for failure to deposit security for the payment of any 
judgment arising out of a motor vehicle accident in the District of 
Columbia, or for failure to make payment of an agreed amount with 
respect to all claims arising from such accident, in accordance with 
the provisions of this Act. 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
129 
SEC. 29. AUTHORITY OF COMMISSIONERS TO DECREASE AMOUNT OF 
SECURITY.—The Commissioners may reduce the amount of security 
ordered in any case within six months after the date of the accident 
if in their judgment the amount ordered is excessive. In case the 
security originally ordered has been deposited, the excess deposit over 
the reduced amount ordered shall be returned to the depositor or his 
personal representative forthwith. 
SEC. 30. CORRECTION OF ACTION OF COMMISSIONERS.—Wlienever the 
Commissioners have taken any action or have failed to take any action 
under this article by reason of having received erroneous information 
or by reason of having received no information, then upon receiving 
correct information within one year after the date of an accident the 
Commissioners shall take appropriate action to carry out the purposes 
and effect of this Act. 
The foregoing shall not, however, be deemed 
to require the Commissioners to reevaluate the amount of any deposit 
required under this article. 
SEC. 31. DISPOSITION OF SECURITY.—(a) Such security shall be ap-
plicable and available only— 
(1) for the payment of any settlement agreement covering any 
claim arising out of the accident upon instruction of the person 
who made the deposit; or 
(2) for the payment of a judgment or judgments, rendered 
against the person required to make the deposit for damages 
arising out of the accident in an action at law begun not later 
than one year after the deposit of such security. 
(b) ETvery distribution of funds from the security deposits shall 
be subject to the limits of the Commissioners' evaluation on behalf 
of a claimant. 
SEC. 32. RETURN OF DEPOSIT.—Upon the expiration of one year from 
the date of any deposit of security any security remaining or deposit 
shall be returned to the person who made such deposit or to his 
personal representative if an affidavit or other evidence satisfactory 
to the Commissioners has been filed with them stating— 
(1) that no action for damages arising out of the accident for 
which deposit was made is pending against any person on whose 
behalf the deposit was made, and 
(2) that there does not exist any unpaid judgment rendered 
against any such person in such an action. 
The foregoing provisions of this section shall not be construed to 
limit the return of any deposit of security under any other provision 
of this article authorizing such return. 
SEC. 33. MATTERS NOT To B E EVIDENCE IN CIVIL SUITS.—The report 
required following an accident, the action taken by the Commissioners 
pursuant to this article, the findings, if any, of the Commissioners 
upon which such action is based, and the security filed as provided in 
this article, shall not be referred to in any way, and shall not be any 
evidence of the negligence or due care of either party, at the trial of 
any action at law to recover damages. 
ARTICLE V 
PROOF OF F I N A N C I A L RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE 
SEC. 34. APPLICATION.—The provisions of this Act requiring the 
deposit of proof of financial responsibility for the future, subject to 
certain exemptions, shall apply with respect to persons who have 
been convicted of or forfeited bail for certain offenses under motor 
vehicle laws or who liaA'e failed to pay judgments upon causes of 
30777 O—55—pt. 1 
11 
130 
PUBLIC LAW 36&-MAY 25, 1954 
[68 STAT. 
action arising out of ownership, maintenance, or use of vehicles of a 
type subject to registration under the laws of the District of Columbia. 
SEC. 35. MEANING OF "PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 
FUTURE".—^The term "proof of financial responsibility for the future" 
as used in this Act shall mean: Proof of ability to respond in damages 
for liability, on account of accidents occurring subsequent to the effec-
tive date of said proof, arising out of the ownership, maintenance, 
or use of a vehicle of a type subject to registration under the laws of 
the District of Columbia in the amount of $10,000 because of bodily 
injury to or death of one person in any one accident, and, subject to 
said limit for one person, in the amount of $20,000 because of bodily 
injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and 
in the amount of $5,000 because of injury to or destruction of property 
of others in any one accident. Wherever used in this Act the term 
"proof of financial responsibility" or "proof" shall be synonymous 
with the term "proof of financial responsibility for the future". 
SEC. 36. MEANING OF "JUDGMENT" AND "STATE".—The following 
words and phrases when used in this article shall, for the purpose 
of this article, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this 
section. 
(a) The term "judgment" shall mean: Any judgment which shall 
have become final by expiration without appeal of the time within 
which an appeal might have been perfected, or by final affirmation on 
appeal, rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction of any State, the 
District of Columbia, or of the United States, upon a cause of action 
arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of any vehicle of a 
type subject to registration under the laws of the District of Columbia, 
for damages, including damages for care and loss of services, because of 
bodily injury to or death of any person, or for damages because of 
injury to or destruction of property including the loss of use thereof, 
or upon a cause of action on an agreement of settlement for such 
damages. 
(b) The term "State" shall mean: Any State, Territory, or posses-
sion of the United States, or any province of the Dominion of Canada. 
SEC. 37. PROOF REQUIRED UPON CERTAIN CONVICTIONS.—^Whenever, 
under the law of the District of Columbia, the license of any person is 
suspended or revoked by reason of a conviction or forfeiture of bail in 
any of the following oiftenses: 
(1) Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of any 
intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug; 
(2) Any homicide committed by means of a motor vehicle; 
' 
(3) Leaving the scene of an accident in which the motor vehicle 
driven by him was involved and in which there is personal injury, 
without giving assistance or making known his identity and 
address and the identity and address of the owner of said vehicle; 
(4) Reckless driving involving personal injury; or 
(5) Any felony in uie commission of which a motor vehicle is 
used; 
the Commissioners shall suspend the registration of all vehicles regis-
tered in the name of such person as owner, except that (a) if such 
owner has previously given or shall immediately give and thereafter 
maintains proof of financial responsibility for the future with respect 
to all such vehicles registered by such person as the owner, the Com-
missioners shall not suspend such registration unless otherwise required 
or permitted by law, and (b) if a conviction arose out of the operation, 
with permission, of a vehicle owned by or leased to the United States, 
a State, or a political subdivision of a State or a municipality thereof, 
68 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
131 
or the District of Columbia or any political subdivision thereof, the 
Commissioners shall not suspend the registration of any vehicle so 
owned or leased. 
SEC. 38. SUSPENSION UNTIL PROOF FURNISHED.—The suspension or 
revocation hereinbefore required shall remain in effect and the Com-
missioners shall not issue to such person any new or renewal of license 
or register or reregister in the name of such person as owner of any 
such vehicle until permitted under the motor vehicle laws of the Dis-
trict of Columbia and not then unless and until such person shall give 
and thereafter maintain proof of financial responsibility for the 
future. 
SEC. 39. ACTION IN RESPECT TO UNLICENSED PERSON.—If a person 
has no license, but by final order or judgment is convicted of or forfeits 
any bail or collateral deposited to secure an appearance for trial for 
any offense requiring the suspension or revocation of license, or for 
driving a motor vehicle upon the highways without being licensed to 
do so, or for driving an unregistered vehicle upon the highways, no 
license shall be thereafter issued to such person and no such vehicle 
shall continue to be registered or thereafter be registered in the name 
of such person as owner unless he shall give and thereafter maintain 
proof of financial responsibility for the future. 
SEC. 40. ACTION IN RESPECT TO NONRESIDENTS.—^Wlienever the Com-
missioners suspend or revoke a nonresident's operating privilege by 
reason of a conviction or forfeiture of bail, such privilege shall remain 
so suspended or revoked unless such person shall have previously given 
or shall immediately give and thereafter maintain proof of financial 
responsibility for the future. 
SEC. 41. W H E N COURTS To REPORT NONPAYMENT or JUDGMENTS.— 
Whenever any person fails within thirty days to satisfy any judgment, 
then upon the written request of the judgment creditor or his attorney 
it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court in which any such judg-
ment is rendered within the District of Columbia to forward to the 
Commissioners immediately upon such request a certified cop^ of such 
judgment, which said certified copy shall be prima facie evidence of 
the facts therein stated. 
SEC. 42. FURTHER ACTION W I T H RESPECT TO NONRESIDENTS.—If the 
defendant named in any certified copy of a judgment reported to the 
Commissioners is a nonresident, the Commissioners shall transmit a 
certified copy of the judgment to the official in charge of the issuance 
of licenses and registrations of the State of which the defendant is a 
resident. 
SEC. 43. SUSPENSION FOR NONPAYMENT OF JUDGMENTS.—The Com-
missioners upon receipt of a certified copy of a judgment and a certifi-
cate of facts relative to such judgment, on a form provided by the 
Commissioners, shall forthwith suspend the license and registration 
and any nonresident's operating privilege of any person against 
whom such judgment was rendered, except as hereinafter otherwise 
provided in this Act. 
SEC. 44. EXCEPTION IN RELATION TO GOVERNMENT VEHICLES.—^The 
provisions of section 43 shall not apply with respect to any such 
judgment arising out of an accident caused by the ownership or op-
eration with permission, of a vehicle owned by or leased to the United 
States, a State or any political subdivision thereof, the District of 
Columbia or any political subdivision of the District of Columbia. 
SEC. 45. EXCEPTION W H E N CONSENT GRANTED BY JUDGMENT CREDI-
TOR.—If the judgment creditor consents in writing, in such form as the 
Commissioners may prescribe, that the judgment debtor be allowed 
license and registration or nonresident's operating privilege, the same 
132 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
[68 S T 
A T . 
may be allowed by the Commissioners, in their discretion, for six 
months from the date of such consent and thereafter until such consent 
is revoked in writing, notwithstanding default in the payment of such 
judgment, or of any installments thereof prescribed m section 50, 
provided 
the judgment 
debtor 
furnishes 
proof 
of 
financial 
responsibility. 
SEC. 46. EXCEPTION W H E N INSURER LIABLE.—No license, registration, 
or nonresident's operating privilege of any person shall be suspended 
under the provisions of this article if the Commissioners shall find that 
an insurer was obligated to pay the judgment upon which suspension 
is based, at least to the extent and for the amounts required in this 
Act, but has not paid such judgment for any reason. A finding by 
the Commissioners that an insurer is obligated to pay a judgment 
shall not be binding upon such insurer and shall have no legal effect 
whatever except for the purpose of administering this section. When-
ever in any judicial proceedings it shall be determined by any final 
judgment, decree or order that an insurer is not obligated to pay any 
such judgment, the Commissioners, notwithstanding any contrary 
finding theretofore made by them shall forthwith suspend the license 
and registration and any nonresident's operating privilege of any 
person against whom such judgment was rendered, as provided in 
section 43. 
SEC. 47. SUSPENSION To CONTINUE UNTIL, JUDGMENTS PAID AND 
PROOF GIVEN.—Such license, registration and nonresident's operating 
privilege shall remain so suspended and shall not be renewed, nor 
shall any such license or registration be thereafter issued in the name 
of such person, including any such person not previously licensed, 
unless and until every such judgment is stayed, satisfied in full or to 
the extent hereinafter provided and until the said person gives proof 
of financial responsibility subject to the exemptions stated in sections 
45,46, and 50 of this Act. 
SEC. 48. DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY.—A discharge in bankruptcy 
following the rendering of any such judgment shall not relieve the 
judgment debtor from any of the requirements of this Act. 
SEC. 49. PAYMENTS SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY REQUIREMENTS.—(a) 
Judgments herein referred to shall, for the purpose of this Act only, 
be deemed satisfied— 
(1) when $10,000 has been credited upon any judgment or 
judgments rendered in excess of that amount because of bodily 
injury to or death of one person as the result of any one accident; 
or 
(2) when, subject to such limit of $10,000 because of bodily 
injury to or death of one person, the sum of $20,000 has been 
credited upon any judgment or judgments rendered in excess of 
that amount because of bodily injury to or death of two or more 
persons as the result of any one accident; or 
(3) when $5,000 has been credited upon any judgment or judg-
ments rendered in excess of that amount because of injury to or 
destruction of property of others as a result of any one accident. 
(b) Payments made in settlements of any claims because of bodily 
injury, death, or property damage arising from such accident shall 
be credited in reduction of the amounts provided for in this section. 
SEC. 50. INSTALLMENT PAYMENT OF JUDGMENTS; DEFAULT.— (a) 
A judgment debtor upon due notice to the judgment creditor may 
apply to the court in which such judgment was rendered for the 
privilege of paying such judgment in installments and the court, in 
its discretion and without prejudice to any other legal remedies which 
the judgment creditor may have, may so order and fix the amounts 
and times of payment of the installments. 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
133 
(b) The Commissioners shall not suspend a license, registration, 
or nonresident's operating privilege, and shall restore any license, 
registration, or nonresident's operating privilege suspended following 
nonpayment of a judgment, when the judgment debtor gives proof 
of financial responsibility and obtains such an order permitting the 
payment of such judgment in installments, and w^liile the payment of 
any said installments is not in default. 
SEC. 51. ACTION IF BREACH or AGREEMENT.—In the event the judg-
ment debtor fails to pay any installment as specified by such order, 
then upon notice of such deiFault, the Commissioners shall forthwith 
suspend the license, registration, or nonresident's operating privilege 
of the judgment debtor until such judgment is satisfied, as provided in 
this Act. 
SEC. 52. PROOF To B E FURNISHED FOR EACH KEGISTERED VEHICLE.— 
No vehicle shall be or continue to be registered in the name of any 
person required to file proof of financial responsibility for the future 
unless such proof shall be furnished for such vehicle. 
SEC. 53. ALTERNATE METHODS or GIVING PROOF.—Proof of financial 
responsibility when required under this Act, with respect to such a 
vehicle or with respect to a person who is not the owner of such a 
vehicle, may be given by filing— 
(1) a certificate of insurance as provided in section 54 or sec-
tion 55; or 
(2) a bond as provided in section 60; or 
(3) a certificate of deposit of money or securities as provided 
in section 63; or 
(4) a certificate of self-insurance, as provided in section 79; 
supplemented by an agreement by the self-insurer that, with re-
spect to accidents occurring while the certificate is in force, he 
will pay the same amounts that an insurer would have been 
obliged to pay under an owner's motor vehicle liability policy if 
it had issued such a policy to said self-insurer. 
SEC. 54. CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE AS PROOF.—Proof of 
financial 
responsibility for the future may be furnished by filing with the Com-
missioners the written certificate of any insurance carrier duly author-
ized to do business in the District of Columbia certifying that there is 
in effect a motor-vehicle liability policy for the benefit of the person 
required to furnish proof of financial responsibility. 
Such certificate 
shall give the effective date of such motor-vehicle liability policy, 
which date shall be the same as the effective date of the certificate, and 
shall designate by explicit description or by appropriate reference all 
vehicles covered thereby unless the policy is issued to a person who is 
not the owner of a motor vehicle. 
SEC. 55. CERTIFICATE FURNISHED BY NONRESIDENT AS PROOF.—A non-
resident may give proof of financial responsibility by filing with the 
Commissioners a w^ritten certificate or certificates of an insurance car-
rier authorized to transact business in the State in which the vehicle, or 
vehicles, owned by such nonresident is registered, or in the State in 
which such nonresident resides, if he does not own a vehicle, provided 
such certificate otlierwise conforms with the provisions of this Act, 
and the Commissioners shall accept the same upon condition that said 
insurance carrier complies with the following provisions with respect 
to the policies so certified: 
(1) Said insurance carrier shall execute a power of attorney 
authorizing the Commissioners to accept service on its behalf of 
notice or process in any action arising out of a motor-vehicle 
accident in the District of Columbia; 
134 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
[68 S T A T . 
,$$' 
(2) Said insurance carrier shall agree in writing that such 
policies shall be deemed to conform with the laws of the District 
of Columbia relating to the terms of motor-vehicle liability policies 
issued therein. 
SEC. 56. DEFAULT BY NONRESIDENT INSURER,—If any insurance car-
rier not authorized to transact business in the District of Columbia, 
which has qualified to furnish proof of financial responsibility, defaults 
in any said undertakings or agreements, the Commissioners shall not 
thereafter accept as proof any certificate of said carrier whether there-
tofore filed or thereafter tendered as proof, so long as such default 
continues. 
SEC. 57. "MOTOR-VEHICLE LIABILITY POLICY*' DEFINED—(a) CERTI-
FICATION.—A "motor-vehicle liability policy" as said term is used in 
this Act shall mean an "owner's policy" or an "operators policy" of 
liability insurance, certified as provided in section 54 or section 55 as 
proof of financial responsibility for the future, and issued, except as 
otherwise provided in section 55, by an insurance carrier duly author-
ized to transact business in the District of Columbia to or for the bene-
fit of the person named therein as insured. 
(b) OWNER'S POLICY.—Such owner's policy of liability insurance—• 
1. shall designate by explicit description or by appropriate 
reference all vehicles with respect to which coverage is thereby 
to be granted; and 
2. shall insure the person named therein and any other person 
as insured, using any such vehicle or vehicles with the express or 
implied permission of such named insured, against loss from the 
liability imposed by law for damages arising out of the ownership, 
maintenance, or use of such vehicle or vehicles within the United 
States of America or the Dominion of Canada, subject to limits 
exclusive of interest and costs, with respect to each such vehicle, 
as follows: $10,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one 
person in any one accident and, subject to said limit for one per-
son, $20,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more 
persons in any one accident, and $5,000 because of injury to or 
destruction of property of others in any one accident. 
(c) OPERATOR'S POLICY.—Such operator's policy of liability insur-
ance shall insure the person named as insured therein against loss 
from the liability imposed upon him by law for damages arising out 
of the use by him of any motor vehicle not owned by him, within the 
same territorial limits and subject to the same limits of liability as are 
set forth above with respect to an owner's policy of liability insurance. 
(d) REQUIRED STATEMENTS IX POLICIES.—Such motor vehicle liability 
policy shall state the name and address of the named insured, the 
coverage afforded by the policy, the premium charged therefor, the 
policy period, and the limits of liability, and shall contain an agree-
ment or be endorsed that insurance is provided thereunder in accord-
ance with the coverage defined in this act as respects bodily injury and 
death or property damage, or both, and is subject to all the provisions 
of this Act. 
(e) POLICY NEED NOT INSURE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION, ETC.—Such 
motor-vehicle liability policy need not insure any liability under any 
workmen's compensation law nor any liability on account of bodily 
injury to or death of an employee of the insured while engaged in 
the employment, other than domestic, of the insured, or while engaged 
in the operation, maintenance, or repair of any such vehicle nor any 
liability for damage to property owned by, rented to, in charge of, 
or transported by the insured. 
68 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
135 
(f) PROVISIONS INCORPORATED IN POLICY.—Every motor vehicle lia-
bility policy shall be subject to the following provisions which need not 
be contained therein: 
1. The liability of the insurance carrier with respect to the insurance 
required by this act shall become absolute whenever injury or damage 
covered by said motor-vehicle liability policy occurs; said policy may 
not be canceled or annulled as to such liability by any agreement 
between the insurance carrier and the insured after the occurrence of 
the injury or damage; no statement made by the insured or on his 
behalf and no violation of said policy shall defeat or void said policy. 
2. The satisfaction by the insured of a judgment for such injury or 
damage shall not be a condition precedent to the right or duty of the 
insurance carrier to make payment on account of such injury or 
damage. 
3. The insurance carrier shall have the right to settle any claim 
covered by the policy, and if such settlement is made in good faith, the 
amount thereof shall be deductible from the limits of liability specified 
in subdivision 2 of subsection (b) of this section. 
4. The policy, the written application therefor, if any and any rider 
or endorsement which does not conflict with the provisions of this act 
shall constitute the entire contract between the parties. 
(g) EXCESS OR ADDITIONAL COVERAGE.—Any policy which grants the 
coverage required for a motor-vehicle liability policy may also grant 
any lawful coverage in excess of or in addition to the coverage specified 
for a motor-vehicle liability policy and such excess or additional 
coverage shall not be subject to the provisions of this Act. 
With 
respect to a policy which grants such excess or additional coverage the 
term "motor-vehicle liability policy" shall apply only to that part of 
the coverage which is required by this section. 
(h) REIMBURSEMENT PROVISION PERMITTED.—Any motor-vehicle lia-
bility policy may provide that the insured shall reimburse the insurance 
carrier for any payment the insurance carrier would not have been 
obligated to make under the terms of the policy except for the 
provisions of this Act. 
(i) PRORATION OF INSURANCE PERMITTED.—Any motor-vehicle lia-
bility policy may provide for the prorating of the insurance thereunder 
with other valid and collectible insurance. 
(j) MULTIPLE POLICIES.—The requirements for a motor-vehicle lia-
bility^ policy may be fulfilled by the policies of one or more insurance 
carriers which policies together meet such requirements. 
(k) BINDERS.—Any binder issued pending the issuance of a motor-
vehicle liability policy shall be deemed to fulfill the requirements for 
such a policy. 
SEC. 58. NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OR TERMINATION OF CERTIFIED 
POLICY.—The Commissioners shall be notified of the cancellation or 
expiration of any motor-vehicle liability policy of insurance certified 
under the provisions of this article or of any surety or real estate bond 
at least ten days before the effective date of such cancellation or expi-
ration. In the absence of such notice of cancellation or expiration said 
policy of insurance shall remain in full force and eifect that any policy 
subsequently procured and certified shall on the effective date of its 
certification terminate the insurance previously certified with respect 
to any vehicle designated in both certificates. 
Upon receipt of such 
notice of cancellation or expiration the said Commissioners shall 
require other evidence of ability to respond in damages and upon fail-
ure to furnish the same before the effective date of such cancellation 
or expiration, the license and all of the registration certificates of the 
136 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
[68 STAT. 
person failing to comply herewith shall be suspended by the Com-
missioners and shall remain so suspended until such other evidence of 
ability to respond in damages shall have been given. 
SEC. 59. ACT NOT To AFFECT OTHER POLICIES.— (a) This Act shall 
not be held to apply to or affect policies of automobile insurance 
against liability which may now or hereafter be required by any other 
law of the District of Columbia, and such policies, if they contain an 
agreement or are endorsed to conform with the requirements of this 
Act may be certified as proof of financial responsibility under this Act. 
(b) This Act shall not be held to apply to or affect policies insuring 
solely the insured named in the policy against liability resulting from 
the maintenance or use by persons in the insured's employ or on his 
behalf of vehicles not owned by the insured. 
SEC. 60. BOND AS PROOF.—Proof of financial responsibility may be 
evidenced by the bond of a surety company duly authorized to trans-
act business within the District of Columbia, or a bond with at least 
two individual sureties each owning unencumbered real estate within 
the District of Columbia, and together having equities equal in value 
to at least twice the amount of the bond which real estate shall be sched-
uled in the bond approved by a judge of a court of record, which said 
bond shall be conditioned for payment of the amounts specified in sec-
tion 35. Such bond shall be filed with the Commissioners and shall 
not be cancelable except after ten days' written notice to the Com-
missioners. 
SEC. 61. W H E N BOND SHALL CONSTITUTE A LIEN.—Such bond shall 
constitute a lien in favor of the District of Columbia upon the real 
estate so scheduled of any surety, which lien shall exist in favor of any 
holder of a final judgment against the person who has filed such bond, 
for damages, including damages for care and loss of service because 
of bodily injury to or death of any person, or for damage because of 
injury to or destruction of property, including the loss of use thereof, 
resulting from the ownership, maintenance, use, or operation of a 
vehicle of a type subject to registration under the laws of the District 
of Columbia after such bond was filed. Said bond shall be recorded 
by the principal named therein among the land records of the District 
of Columbia before the same is filed with the Commissioners. 
Re-
cordation shall constitute notice as provided by statutes governing 
the recordation of liens on real estate. 
SEC. 62. ACTION ON BOND.—If such a judgment, rendered against the 
principal on such bond, shall not be satisfied within thirty days after 
it has become final, the judgment creditor may, for his own use and 
benefit and at his sole expense bring an action or actions in the name 
of the District of Columbia against the company or persons executing 
such bond, including an action or proceeding to foreclose any lien 
that may exist upon the real estate of a person who has executed such 
bond, which foreclosure action shall be brought in like manner and 
subject to all the provisions of law applicable to an action to foreclose 
a mortgage on real estate. 
SEC. 63. MONET AS PROOF.—(a) Proof of financial responsibility may 
be evidenced by the certificate of the Commissioners that the person 
named therein has deposited with them the sum of $25,000 in cash. 
The Commissioners shall not accept any such deposit and issue a 
certificate therefor unless such deposit is accompanied by evidence that 
there are no unsatisfied judgments of any character against the deposi-
tor in the locality where the depositor resides. 
(b) The Commissioners may accept as a substitute for a deposit of 
money required herein other security under such conditions as they 
may establish. 
68 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 366-MAY 25, 1954 
137 
SEC. 64. APPLICATION OP DEPOSIT.—Such deposit shall be used to 
satisfy in accordance with the provisions of this Act, any execution 
on a judgment issued against such person making the deposit for 
damages, including damages for care and loss of services, because of 
bodily injury to or death of any person, or for damages because of 
injury to or destruction of property, including the loss of use thereof, 
resulting from the ownership, maintenance, use or operation of a 
vehicle of a type subject to registration under the laws of the District 
of Columbia after such deposit was made. Money so deposited shall 
not be subject to attachment or execution unless such attachment or 
execution shall arise out of a suit for damages as aforesaid. 
SEC. 65, OWNER MAY GIVE PROOF FOR OTHERS.—The owner of a 
motor vehicle may give proof of financial responsibility on behalf 
of his employee or a member of his immediate family or household 
in lieu of the furnishing of proof by any said person. 
The furnishing 
of such proof shall permit such person to operate only a motor vehicle 
covered Dy such proof. 
The Commissioners shall endorse appropriate 
restrictions on the face of the license held by such person, or may issue 
a new license containing such restrictions. 
SEC. 66. SUBSTITUTION OF PROOF.—The Commissioners shall consent 
to the cancellation of any bond or certificate of insurance or return 
any money to the person entitled thereto upon the substitution and 
acceptance of other adequate proof of financial responsibility pur-
suant to this Act. 
SEC. 67. OTHER PROOF MAY B E REQUIRED.—^Whenever any proof of 
financial responsibility filed under the provisions of this Act no longer 
fulfills the purposes for which required, the Commissioners shall, for 
the purpose of this Act, require other proof as required by this Act 
and shall suspend the license and registration pending the filing of 
such other proof. 
SEC. 68. DURATION or PROOF—^WHEN PROOF MAY B E CANCELED OR 
RETURNED,—(a) The Commissioners shall upon request consent to 
the immediate cancellation of any bond or certificate of insurance, or 
the Commissioners shall return to the person entitled thereto any 
money deposited pursuant to this Act as proof of financial responsi-
bility, or the Commissioners shall waive the requirement of filing 
proof, in any of the following events: 
(1) At any time after three years from the date such proof was 
required when, during the three-year period preceding the request, 
the Commissioners have not received record of a conviction or a 
forfeiture of bail which would require or permit the suspension 
or revocation of the license or registration of the person by or for 
whom such proof was furnished; or 
(2) In the event of the death of the person on whose behalf 
such proof was filed or the permanent incapacity of such person 
to operate a motor vehicle; or 
(3) In the event the person who has given proof surrenders 
his license and registration to the Commissioners. 
(b) The Commissioners shall not consent to the cancellation of any 
bond or the return of any money in the event any action for damages 
upon a liability covered by such proof is then pending or any judgment 
upon any such liability is then unsatisfied, or in the event the person 
who has filed such bond or deposited such money has within one 
year immediately preceding such request been involved as a driver or 
owner in any mot 
or-vehicle accident resulting in injury or damage to 
the person or property of others. An afiidavit of the applicant as to 
the nonexistence of such facts, or that he has been released from all of 
138 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
[68 STAT-
his liability, or has been finally adjudicated not to be liable, for such 
injury or damage, shall be sufficient evidence thereof in the absence 
of evidence to the contrary in the records of the Commissioners. 
(c) Whenever any person whose proof has been canceled or re-
turned under subsection (a) (3) of this section applies for a license or 
re^stration within a period of thre« years from the date proof was 
originally required, any such application shall be refused unless the 
applicant shall reestablish such proof for the remainder of such three-
year period. 
ARTICLE 
VI 
'' 
VIOLATION OF PROVISIONS OF ACT, PENALTIES 
SEC. 
69. TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION To DEFEAT PURPOSE OF ACT 
PROHIBITED,— (a) If an owner's registration has been suspended here-
under, such registration shall not be transferred nor the vehicle in 
respect to which such registration was issued registered in any other 
name until the Commissioners are satisfied that such transfer of regis-
tration is proposed in good faith and not for the purpose or with the 
effect of defeating the purposes of this Act. 
(b) Nothing in this section shall in anywise affect the rights of 
any conditional vendor, chattel, mortgagee or lessor of such a vehicle 
registered in the name of another as owner who becomes subject to 
the provisions of this Act. 
(c) The Commissioners shall suspend the registration of any vehicle 
transferred in violation of the provisions of this section. 
SEC. 
YO. SURRENDER or LICENSE AND REGISTRATION.—Any person 
whose license or registration shall have been suspended under any 
provision of this Act, or whose policy of insurance or bond, when 
required under this Act, shall have been canceled or terminated, shall 
immediately return his license and registration to the Commissioners. 
If any person shall fail to return to the Commissioners the license or 
registration as provided herein, the Commissioners shall forthwith 
direct any police officer to secure possession thereof and to return the 
same to the Commissioners. 
SEC. 71. FAILURE To REPORT ACCIDENT.—Failure to report a motor-
vehicle accident or to furnish additional information as required 
under section 10, 12, or 13 shall be punished by a fine not in excess 
of $100. 
SEC. 72. ERRONEOUS REPORT AND OTHER OFFENSES.—Any person who 
gives information required in such report or otherwise required for 
such purpose knowing or having reason to believe that such informa-
tion is false, or who shall forge, or, without authority, sign any evi-
dence of proof of financial responsibility for the future, or who files 
or offers for filing any such evidence or proof knowing or having 
reason to believe that it is forged or signed without authority, shall 
be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year 
or both. 
SEC. 73. OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE W H E N LICENSE OR REGISTRA-
TION SUSPENDED OR RE^'0KED.—Any person whose license or registra-
tion has been suspended or revoked under this Act and who, during 
such suspension or revocation, drives any motor vehicle upon any 
highway or knowingly permits any vehicle of a type subject to regis-
tration under the law of the District of Columbia owned by such 
person to be operated by another upon any highway, except as per-
mitted under this Act, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned 
not exceeding six months, or both. 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954 
139 
SEC. 74. FAILURE TO RETURN LICENSE OR REGISTRATION.—Any per-
son willfully failing to return license or registration as required in 
section 70 shall be nned not more than $500 or imprisoned not to ex-
ceed thirty days, or both. 
SEC. 75. PENALTY FOR OTHER VIOLATIONS.—Any person who shall 
violate any provision of this Act for which no penalty is otherwise 
provided shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more 
than ninety days, or both. 
SEC. 76. PROSECUTIONS.—All prosecutions for violations of this Act 
shall be in the Municipal Court for the District of Columbia, in the 
name of the District of Columbia, by the corporation counsel or any 
of his assistants. 
ARTICLE 
VII 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 77. EFFECT OF HEADINGS.—Article and section headings con-
tained herein shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify or in any 
manner affect the scope, meaning or intent of the provisions of any 
article or section hereof. 
SEC. 78. EXCEPTION IN RELATION TO VEHICLES INSURED UNDER OTHER 
LAWS.—Except for sections 10 and 65, this Act shall not apply with 
respect to any vehicle the owner of which has complied with the 
requirements of existing laws of the District of Columbia requiring 
insurance or other security on motor vehicles. 
SEC. 79. SELF-INSURERS.—(a) Any person in whose name more than 
twenty-five vehicles are registered in the District of Columbia may 
qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance 
issued by the Commissioners as provided in subsection (b) of this 
section. 
(b) The Commissioners may, in their discretion, upon the applica-
tion of such a person, issue a certificate of self-insurance when it is 
satisfied that such person is possessed and will continue to be possessed 
of ability to pay judgments obtained against such person. Such certi-
ficate may be issued authorizing a person to act as a self-insurer for 
either property damage or bodily injury, or both. 
(c) Upon not less than five days' notice and a hearing pursuant 
to such notice, the Commissioners may upon reasonable grounds cancel 
a certificate of self-insurance. 
Failure to pay any judgment within 
thirty days after such judgment shall have become final shall constitute 
a reasonable ground for the cancellation of a certificate of self-
insurance. 
SEC. 80. AUTHORIZATION or APPROPRIATIONS.—There is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated out of the general fund of the District 
of Columbia such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this Act. 
SEC. 81. EFFECT or REORGANIZATION PLAN NUMBER 5.—^Where any 
provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, refers 
to an office or agency abolished by Reorganization Plan Number 5 of 
1952, such reference shall be deemed to be the office, agency, or officer 
^ ^*^-^ 824. ^ 
exercising the functions of the office or agency so abolished. 
app'. ' °
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*
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* * ^ 
SEC. 82. REPEAL OF EXISTING LAWS.—This Act shall in no respect 
be considered as a repeal of the Traffic Acts of the District of Colum-
bia, except as specifically provided herein, but shall be construed as 4o^*note.^°'^* '*°" 
supplemental thereto. 
The Act of May 3, 1935 (49 Stat. 166, ch. 89; title 40, ch. 4, D. C. 
Code, 1951 edition), as amended, known as the Owners' Financial Re-
sponsibility Act of the District of Columbia, is hereby repealed except 
140 
PUBLIC LAW 366-MAY 27, 1954 
[68 S T A T . 
with respect to any accident or judgment arising therefrom, or vio-
lation of the motor vehicle laws of the District of Columbia, occurring 
prior to the effective date of this Act. 
SEC. 83. PAST APPLICATION OF ACT.—This Act shall not apply with 
respect to any accident, or judgment arising therefrom, or violation 
of the motor-vehicle laws of the District of Columbia, occurring prior 
to the effective date of this Act. 
SEC. 84. ACT NOT To PREVENT OTHER PROCESS.—Nothing in this 
Act shall be construed as preventing the plaintiff in any action at law 
from relying for relief upon the other processes provided by law. 
SEC. 85. UNIFORMITY or INTERPRETATION.—This Act shall be so 
interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make 
it uniform with similar laws enacted by the several States. 
SEC. 86. CONSTITUTIONALITY.—If any part or parts of this Act shall 
be held unconstitutional, such unconstitutionality shall not affect the 
validity of the remaining parts of this Act. 
SEC. 87. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ACT.—^This Act shall take effect one 
year after its enactment. 
Approved May 25, 1954. 
Public Law 366 
CHAPTER 223 
May 27, 1954 
^ ^ 
^^"^ 
[s« 2120] 
To authorize the Maine-New Hampshire Interstate Bridge Authority to recon-
struct and improve the toll bridge, and the approaches thereto, across the 
Piscataqua River at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
R ^ t^eV b A d g e, United States of A merica in Congress assembled, That the Act entitled 
Portsmouth, N. H.' "An Act authoHzing the Maine-New Hampshire Interstate Bridge 
Authority to construct, maintain, and operate a toll bridge across the 
Piscataqua Eiver at or near Portsmouth, State of New Hampshire", 
approved July 28, 1937 (50 Stat. 535), is amended by inserting after 
section 4 thereof a new section as follows: 
^^impr o V ements, 
"SEC. 4A. IU addition to the powers granted by the preceding sections 
of this Act, the authority is hereby authorized to reconstruct and to 
improve such bridge and its approaches and approach facilities. 
In 
fixing the rates of toll to be charged for the use of such bridge, the cost 
of any such reconstruction or improvement and the cost of acquiring 
the right of access to such approaches and approach facilities, includ-
ing reasonable interest and financing costs and the financing costs and 
expenses incident to the refunding of the outstanding bridge revenue 
bonds of the authority, shall be deemed to be a part of the cost of such 
bridge and its appro/iches." 
Approved May 27, 1954. 
Public Law 367 
CHAPTER 224 
AN ACT 
May 27, 1954 
[H. R. 1433] 
To entitle enlisted men and warrant officers advanced to commissioned rank or 
grade who are restored to their former enlisted or warrant officer status pur-
suant to section 3 of the Act of June 19, 1948 (62 Stat. 505), to receive retired 
enlisted or warrant officer pay from November 1, 1946, or date of advancement, 
.•- r>. ! 
to date of restoration to enlisted or warrant officer status. 
Armed Forces, 
C e r t ain retired 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That enlisted men 
and warrant officers heretofore advanced to commissioned rank or