Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 68 Part 1.djvu/158

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PUBLIC LAW 365-MAY 25, 1954

[68 S T A T.

(8) to the owner of a vehicle involved in an accident if at the time of the accident such vehicle was owned by or leased to the United States, a State or any political subdivision thereof, the District of Columbia, or to the driver of such vehicle if operating such vehicle with permission; or (9) to the driver or the owner of a vehicle in the event at the time of the accident the vehicle was being operated by or under the direction of a police officer who, in the performance of his duties, shall have assumed custody of such vehicle. SEC. 19. REQUIREMENTS AS TO POLICY OR BOND.—(a) No policy or

bond shall be effective under section 18 unless issued by an insurance company or surety company authorized to do business in the District of Columbia, except as provided in subdivision (b) of this section, nor unless such policy or bond is subject, if the accident has resulted in bodily injury or death, to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than $10,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to said limit for one person, to a limit of not less than $20,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and if the accident has resulted in injury to, or destruction of property, to a limit of not less than $5,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident. (b) No policy or bond shall be effective under section 18 with respect to any vehicle which was not registered in the District of Columbia or a vehicle which was registered elsewhere than in the District of Columbia at the effective date of the policy or bond or the most recent renewal thereof unless the insurance company or surety company issuing such policy^ or bond is authorized to do business in the District of Columbia, or if said company is not authorized to do business in the District of Columbia, unless it shall execute a power of attorney authorizing the Commissioners to accept service on its behalf of notice or process in any action upon such policy or bond arising out of such accident. (c) The Commissioners may rely upon the accuracy of the information in a required report of an accident as to the existence of insurance or a bond unless and until the Commissioners have reason to believe that the information is erroneous. SEC. 20. FORM AND AMOUNT or SECURITY.—(a) The security required

under this article shall be in such form and in such amount as the Commissioners may require, but in no case in excess of the limits specified in section 19 in reference to the acceptable limits of a policy or bond. (b) Every depositor of security shall designate in writing every person in whose name such deposit is made, but any single deposit of security shall be applicable only on behalf of persons required to furnish security because of the same accident. SEC. 21. FAILURE To DEPOSIT SECURITY; SUSPENSIONS,—In the event that any person required to deposit security under this article fails to deposit such security within ten days after the Commissioners have sent the notice as hereinbefore provided, the Commissioners shall thereupon suspend— (1) the license of each driver in any manner involved in the accident; (2) the registration of all vehicles owned by the owner of each vehicle of a type subject to registration under the laws of the District of Columbia involved in such accident; (3) if the driver is a nonresident, the privilege of operating, within the District of Columbia, a vehicle of a type subject to registration under the laws of the District of Columbia; and

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