3937.45 Prohibiting consideration of vehicle weight violations. - Ohio Statutes

3937.45 Prohibiting consideration of vehicle weight violations.

(A) No insurer shall consider the circumstance that an applicant or policyholder has been convicted of any violation of the weight provisions of Chapter 5577. of the Revised Code, or a substantially similar municipal ordinance relating to vehicle weight as a basis for doing either of the following:

(1) Refusing to issue or deliver a policy of insurance upon a private automobile, or increasing the rate to be charged for such a policy;

(2) Increasing the premium rate, canceling, or failing to renew an existing policy of insurance upon a private automobile.

(B) Any applicant or policyholder affected by an action of an insurer in violation of division (A) of this section may appeal to the superintendent of insurance. After a hearing held upon not less than ten days’ notice to the applicant or policyholder and to the insurer and after determining that the insurer has violated this section, the superintendent may direct the issuance of a policy, decrease the premium rate on a policy, or reinstate insurance coverage.

(C) The registrar shall not include the conviction for a violation of the weight provisions of Chapter 5577. of the Revised Code, or a substantially similar municipal ordinance relating to vehicle weight as part of the driver’s or operator’s permanent record and shall not include the conviction in a certified abstract of information under division (A) of section 4509.05 of the Revised Code.

(D) Division (A) of this section does not apply to an insurer whose policy covers the vehicle, trackless trolley, load, object, or structure operated or moved upon improved public highways, streets, bridges, or culverts in violation of the weight provisions of Chapter 5577. of the Revised Code, or a substantially similar municipal ordinance relating to vehicle weight.

Effective Date: 10-12-1994; 09-16-2004