(a) When the department is unable to verify that liability insurance coverage exists for a motor vehicle registered or required to be registered in this state, the department shall send the registrant notice via USPS mail at the last known address as reflected on the department's motor vehicle registration records. The notice shall require that the registrant, within 30 calendar days of the date of the notice, provide evidence of continuous liability insurance coverage for the vehicle for the period specified by the department. The registration will be suspended unless either:

(1) The registrant responds within the required time frame and the response establishes that the registrant has not had a lapse in liability insurance coverage. The department shall then indicate in its records that the insured is in compliance with this chapter.

(2) The registrant responds within the required time frame that, after the registration date, he or she did not operate the vehicle during the lapse in coverage due to the motor vehicle being stored, inoperable, or otherwise unused as prescribed by the department. The current registration shall then be revoked and the department shall update its records to reflect that the registration is revoked for the remainder of the registration period. In the event the motor vehicle for which the registration has been revoked is no longer stored, inoperable, or otherwise unused as prescribed by the department, a new registration and license plate must be obtained prior to operating the vehicle.

(b) If the registrant subsequently provides, in a manner as prescribed by the department, proof of subsequent liability insurance coverage for the vehicle during the current registration period then the registration shall be reinstated.

(c) Any operator of a motor vehicle for which the registration has been revoked shall be subject to citation by law enforcement in accordance with Section 32-7A-16.