61-6-309. Law enforcement use of verification system. - Montana Statutes

     61-6-309. Law enforcement use of verification system. (1) Notwithstanding the requirements of 61-6-302, a peace officer or authorized employee of a law enforcement agency may, during the course of a traffic stop or accident investigation, access the verification system provided under 61-6-157 to verify whether a motor vehicle is covered by a valid motor vehicle liability policy that meets the requirements of 61-6-103 and 61-6-301.
     (2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), the response received from the system supersedes an insurance card produced by a vehicle owner or operator, and notwithstanding the display of an insurance card by the owner or operator, the peace officer may issue a complaint and notice to appear to the owner or operator for a violation of 61-6-301 or 61-6-302.
     (b) Subsection (2)(a) does not apply if the vehicle is:
     (i) covered under a commercial automobile insurance coverage policy;
     (ii) part of a self-insured fleet as provided in 61-6-143; or
     (iii) included in an insurance binder, as allowed by 33-15-411, that has not been entered into the system at the time the system is accessed under subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) Except upon reasonable cause to believe that a driver has violated another traffic regulation or that the driver's vehicle is unsafe or not equipped as required by law, a peace officer may not use the verification system to stop a driver for operating a motor vehicle in violation of 61-6-301.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 413, L. 2009.