48:4-47. Financial coverage required; insurance policy; filing with utility board; rejection; minimum and maximum liability for bodily injury or death

Any person engaged in the business of operating motor vehicles carrying passengers for hire shall at all times have financial coverage. If such financial coverage shall be by insurance policy, such insurance policy or policies, or true copies thereof, shall be filed with the Board of Public Utility Commissioners. Said board may reject any policy if and when it determines after hearing upon notice in writing to the insurance company that the company or companies writing or underwriting said policies of insurance is or are not financially responsible to respond in damages. Upon any hearing as provided herein, the burden of proving its financial responsibility shall rest upon said insurance company or companies.

Said insurance policies shall be conditioned for the payment of a minimum sum, hereinafter called "minimum liability," on any one judgment, and a maximum sum hereinafter called "maximum liability," on all judgments recovered against any such person upon claims arising out of the same transaction or transactions connected with the same subject of action, to be apportioned ratably among the judgment creditors according to the amount of their respective judgments, for damages because of bodily injury, including death, at any time resulting therefrom caused in the operation, maintenance, use or the defective construction of such motor vehicles, as follows:

(a) For damages because of bodily injury, including death, at any time resulting therefrom, for each motor vehicle having a seating capacity of not more than 12 passengers, an insurance policy with a minimum liability of $25,000.00 and a maximum liability of $100,000.00.

(b) For each motor vehicle having a seating capacity of not less than 13 nor more than 20 passengers, an insurance policy with a minimum liability of $25,000.00 and a maximum liability of $200,000.00.

(c) For each motor vehicle having a seating capacity of not less than 21 nor more than 30 passengers, an insurance policy with a minimum liability of $25,000.00 and a maximum liability of $400,000.00.

(d) For each motor vehicle having a seating capacity of more than 30 passengers, an insurance policy with a minimum liability of $25,000.00 and a maximum liability of $600,000.00.

Amended by L.1962, c. 198, s. 86; L.1972, c. 182, s. 4, eff. Jan. 1, 1973.