An Act To Allow an Operator of a Motor Vehicle To Show Proof ofInsurance by Electronic Means
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0133
Committee Amendment CA_A_H52 (House)
Amends: 24-A MRSA §2412, 29-A MRSA §1551, 29-A MRSA §1605

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 108, L.D. 133, Bill, "An Act To Allow 
an Operator of a Motor Vehicle To Show Proof ofInsurance by Electronic Means" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §2412, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 715, §1, is 
amended to read: 
7. 
Motor vehicle insurance identification cards. Pursuant to this section, the 
superintendent, with the advice of the Secretary of State, shall adopt rules that prescribe 
both paper and electronic forms of a uniform motor vehicle insurance identification card 
fet:.m for evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility required under Title 
29-A. 
The superintendent shall require all insurance companies transacting business 
within this State to provide with each motor vehicle liability insurance policy an a form 
of insurance identification card for each vehicle, describing the vehicle covered. When 
an insured has 5 or more motor vehicles registered in this State, the insurer may use the 
designation "all owned vehicles" on each card in lieu of a specific description. Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2. 29-A MRS A §402, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
2. Method of establishing evidence of insurance. A person establishes insurance 
by showing the vehicle insurance identification card as defined by section 1551, 
subsection 4, a letter from an insurance company or agent showing that the vehicle is 
covered by a liability insurance policy, an insurance binder or ~n insurance policy that 
has a summary document that describes the vehicle insured, the name of the insured, the 
amount of insurance, the type of insurance coverage and the period for which the vehicle 
is covered to either the municipal agent or the bureau. Evidence of insurance may be 
provided at the time of registration in electronic form, including the display of an image 
on a portable electronic device as defined in section 1551, subsection II-A. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
'?-.. 
~s. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 108, L.D. 133 
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §1551, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
4. Insurance identification card. "Insurance identification card" means tl--€ilfd an 
identification of insurance in paper or electronic form issued to an insured by an insurer 
pursuant to Title 24-A, section 2412, subsection 7; or a-eaffi an identification of proof of 
financial responsibility in paper or electronic form issued by the Secretary of State to a 
person who elects to provide proof of financial responsibility in accordance with section 
1605. 
Sec. 4. 29-A MRS A §1551, sub-§l1-A is enacted to read: 
ll-A. Portable electronic device. "Pyrtable electronic device" means an electronic 
device that is portable in nature, includinfL but not limited to a device for sending or 
receiving e-mail, a text messaging device, a_<;:ellular telephone and a computer. 
Sec. 5. 29-A MRS A §1601, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
2. Evidence of insurance or financial responsibility. When a law enforcement 
officer stops an operator for a moving violation or the operator is involved in an accident 
that must be reported under section 2251, ihe. officer shall request the operator to produce 
evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility. Evidence of liability insurance 
or financial responsibility may be in electronic form, including the display of an image on 
a portable electronic device. The use of a Q9rtable electronic device to provide evidence 
of liability insurance or financial responsibility in electronic form does not constitute 
consent for a law enforcement officer to acc.~ss other contents of the electronic device. 
Sec. 6. 29-A MRSA §1605, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
2. 
Scope of proof. Insurance in th.;; minimum amounts listed in subsection 1, 
paragraph C must be furnished for each vehi·:;le registered, and evidence of insurance may 
be provided at the time of registration in r:lectronic form, including the display of an 
image on a portable electronic device. Separate proof of financial responsibility is not 
required for a trailer, semitrailer, camp trailer or mobile home, registered to a person 
required to file proof of financial responsibility, that is covered by a policy on a vehicle 
registered by that person and provides the coverage required for a motor vehicle liability 
policy.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment provides that evidence of liability 
insurance or financial responsibility may be in electronic form when an operator of a 
motor vehicle registers a motor vehicle and when an operator is stopped by a law 
enforcement officer for a moving violation or is involved in an accident. The amendment 
clarifies that providing proof of insurance on a portable electronic device does not 
constitute consent for a law enforcement officer to access other contents of the portable 
electronic device. 
The amendment also makes technical changes to reflect the 
authorization to issue evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility in 
electronic form. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT