C.R.S. Section 42-7-102
Legislative declaration

(1)

The general assembly is acutely aware of the toll in human suffering and loss of life, limb, and property caused by negligence in the operation of motor vehicles in our state. Although it recognizes that this basic problem can be and is being dealt with by direct measures designed to protect our people from the ravages of irresponsible drivers, the general assembly is also very much concerned with the financial loss visited upon innocent traffic accident victims by negligent motorists who are financially irresponsible. In prescribing the sanctions and requirements of this article, it is the policy of this state to induce and encourage all motorists to provide for their financial responsibility for the protection of others, and to assure the widespread availability to the insuring public of insurance protection against financial loss caused by negligent financially irresponsible motorists.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The general assembly hereby finds that motor vehicle accidents cause a substantial economic impact in lost wages, medical bills, and property destruction exacerbated by the following:

(I)

Some negligent motorists are uninsured or flee the scene of an accident.

(II)

Negligent motorists often attempt to avoid financial responsibility by means such as fleeing the state, concealing their whereabouts, or failing to update the address on their driver’s license with the department of revenue, thereby frustrating service of process and preventing the innocent victim from accessing either the negligent driver’s liability insurance policy or the uninsured motorist coverage the victim has purchased.

(III)

When innocent traffic accident victims cannot access either the negligent driver’s automobile liability policy or their own uninsured motorist coverage, the burden of the uncompensated losses are borne by the taxpayer in the form of taxes for medicaid, by trauma facilities in the form of uncompensated hospital-related costs, and by the innocent victim.

(b)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

The state of Colorado encourages the widespread availability of uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance by requiring every motor vehicle liability policy delivered or issued in this state to contain uninsured motorist coverage unless the named insured rejects such coverage in writing.

(II)

Because insurance benefits have been paid for by either the negligent driver or the innocent victim for the purpose of compensating the innocent victim for injuries or losses, the general assembly declares that it is necessary to simplify the process for an innocent victim to access the negligent driver’s liability insurance policy or his or her own uninsured motorist coverage in order to prevent the burden from being borne by the taxpayer or the health-care system.

(c)

Therefore, the general assembly declares that the policy of Colorado is that all motor vehicle liability policies shall require policyholders of an automobile liability policy to appoint their insurance carrier as an agent for the purpose of service of process in certain limited instances in accordance with section 42-7-414 (3), and to deem a defendant to be uninsured for purposes of uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage if the court deems service on the defendant’s insurance company to be ineffective or insufficient.

Source: Section 42-7-102 — Legislative declaration, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-42.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

42‑7‑101
Short title 42‑7‑102
Legislative declaration 42‑7‑103
Definitions 42‑7‑201
Director to administer article 42‑7‑301
Security and proof of financial responsibility for the future required under certain circumstances 42‑7‑301.5
Proof of financial responsibility 42‑7‑302
Exemptions from requirement of filing security and proof of financial responsibility for the future 42‑7‑303
Duration of suspension 42‑7‑304
Custody and disposition of security 42‑7‑401
Proof required on judgments 42‑7‑402
Suspension, duration, bankruptcy 42‑7‑403
Sufficiency of payments 42‑7‑404
Payment of judgment in installments 42‑7‑405
Suspension upon second judgment 42‑7‑406
Proof required under certain conditions 42‑7‑407
Duty of courts to report 42‑7‑408
Proof of financial responsibility - methods of giving proof - duration - exception 42‑7‑409
Proof for member of family or chauffeur 42‑7‑410
Certificate for insurance policy 42‑7‑411
Restrictions in certain type of policy 42‑7‑412
Certificate furnished by nonresident 42‑7‑413
Motor vehicle liability policy 42‑7‑414
Requirements to be complied with 42‑7‑415
When insurance carrier to issue certificate 42‑7‑416
Notice required upon cancellation 42‑7‑417
Article not to affect other policies 42‑7‑418
Money - securities for financial responsibility 42‑7‑419
Substitution of proof 42‑7‑420
Failure of proof - other proof 42‑7‑421
When director may release proof of financial responsibility 42‑7‑422
No proof when proof required 42‑7‑501
Self-insurers 42‑7‑502
Action against nonresident - reciprocity with other states 42‑7‑503
Director to furnish operating record 42‑7‑504
Matters not to be evidence in litigation 42‑7‑505
Forging ability to respond in damages 42‑7‑505.5
Motor carrier indemnity agreements void - choice of law for transportation contracts 42‑7‑506
Surrender of license 42‑7‑507
Penalty 42‑7‑508
No repeal of motor vehicle laws 42‑7‑509
Article does not prevent other process 42‑7‑510
Insurance or bond required 42‑7‑601
Short title 42‑7‑602
Uninsured motorist identification database program - creation 42‑7‑603
Definitions 42‑7‑604
Motorist insurance identification database program - creation - administration - selection of designated agent - legislative declaration 42‑7‑606
Disclosure of insurance information - penalty 42‑7‑607
Part 6 not to supersede other provisions 42‑7‑609
Report
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 42-7-102’s source at colorado​.gov