§ 47-7-606 — Failure to maintain insurance or security — Penalties.

Oklahoma § 47-7-606

• Jurisdiction: Oklahoma
• Title 47: Motor Vehicles

Text

A. 1. An owner or operator who fails to comply with the Compulsory Insurance Law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), or imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment and, in addition thereto, shall be subject to suspension of the driving privilege of the person in accordance with Section 7-605 of this title; provided, that if a requesting law enforcement officer verifies valid and current security and compliance with the Compulsory Insurance Law through the online verification system, there shall be no violation of the Compulsory Insurance Law and no citation shall be issued. Upon issuing a citation under this paragraph, the law enforcement officer issuing the citation may seize the vehicle being operated by the person and cause the vehicle to be towed and stored as provided by subsection A of Section 955 of this title, if the officer has probable cause to believe that the vehicle is not insured as required by the Compulsory Insurance Law of this state. If the operator of the vehicle produces what appears to be a valid security verification form and the officer is unable to confirm compliance through the online verification system or noncompliance by a subsequent investigation, the officer shall be prohibited from seizing the vehicle and causing such vehicle to be towed and stored. Further, no vehicle shall be seized and towed under the provisions of this paragraph if the vehicle is displaying a temporary license plate that has not expired pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1137.1 and 1137.3 of this title. 2. An owner other than an owner of an antique or a classic automobile as defined by the Oklahoma Tax Commission who files an affidavit that a vehicle shall not be driven upon the public highways or public streets, pursuant to Section 7-607 of this title, who drives or permits the driving of the vehicle upon the public highways or public streets, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and in addition thereto, shall be subject to suspension of the driving privilege of the person in accordance with Section 7-605 of this title. B. A sentence imposed for any violation of the Compulsory Insurance Law may be suspended or deferred in whole or in part by the court. C. Any person producing proof in court that a current security verification form or equivalent form which has been issued by the Department of Public Safety reflecting liability coverage for the person was in force at the time of the alleged offense shall be entitled to dismissal of the charge. If proof of security verification is presented to the court by no later than the business day preceding the first scheduled court appearance date, the dismissal shall be without payment of court costs. The court may access information from the online verification system to confirm liability coverage. The court shall not dismiss the fine unless proof that liability coverage for the person was in force at the time of the alleged offense is presented to the court. D. Upon conviction or bond forfeiture, the court clerk shall forward an abstract to the Department of Public Safety within five (5) days reflecting the action taken by the court. E. For purposes of this section, "court" means any court in this state.

Legislative History

Added by Laws 1976, c. 176, § 6, operative Dec. 11, 1976. Amended by Laws 1981, c. 271, § 1; Laws 1982, c. 355, § 9, operative July 1, 1982; Laws 1984, c. 181, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1984; Laws 1988, c. 243, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; Laws 1989, c. 110, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1989; Laws 1990, c. 298, § 4; Laws 1991, c. 74, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Laws 2001, c. 131, § 7, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2006, c. 322, § 6, eff. July 1, 2006; Laws 2009, c. 62, § 37, eff. Nov. 1, 2009; Laws 2010, c. 440, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2010; Laws 2011, c. 193, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2011; Laws 2012, c. 207, § 4, emerg. eff. May 8, 2012; Laws 2013, c. 176, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 404, § 2, emerg. eff. June 3, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 54, § 10, emerg. eff. April 10, 2015; Laws 2016, c. 125, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2016; Laws 2017, c. 42, §16; Laws 2025, c. 150, § 1, emerg. eff. May 12, 2025. NOTE: Laws 2014, c. 29, § 1 repealed by Laws 2015, c. 54, § 11, emerg. eff. April 10, 2015. Laws 2016, c 88, § 2 repealed by Laws 2017, c. 42, § 17.