Show a A Good Good GoodNew New Utah Law LawN LawA i AN A N important and very worthwhile new law which affects directly and indirectly every t resident of Utah has just gone into effect I fIt it It is the financial responsibility act which requires requires requires re- re quires that any motorist who fails to satisfy a judgment against him arising out of his operation of a motor vehicle shall be barred from the highways until he satisfies the judgment judgment judg judg- ment went and furnishes proof of of financial responsibility re- re for the future The need of som som- provision of law to protect pro pro- I teet the victims of automobile accidents in Utah is proved by the record in 1940 that only 20 per cent of the loss suffered in accidents was compensated for due to to lack of financial financial finan- finan i cial responsibility on the part of persons in- in This problem has been recognized by most states At last reports 34 states the DisI District District Dis Dis- I of Columbia Hawaii and all the provInces provinces inces laces of ot Canada had laws similar to our act I in operation The law has worked well in ini inE i E these states j I Most important feature of the new law is Its insistence that motorists be financially re- re A negligent driver who causes damage must now pay for that damage or lose i his drivers driver's license his registration ce certificate I I cate sate and license plates The motorist who fails to pay within 30 da days S 'S any final judgment against him automatically automatically automatically automat automat- loses his driving privileges He cannot regain them unless he first satisfies the judg judg- judgment judgment judgment ment and second gives proof of financial responsibility for the future by having a standard property damage and personal injury automobile liability policy or by executing a bond or depositing j V money or securities to that amount with the thet t state tax commission And bankruptcy does not relieve him of these obligations under the law r i Obviously the wise motorist will take out liability insurance before he has an accident i I It is true there is no compulsion to do so under under under un un- der the law Any motorist who does not have accidents for which he isto is is to blame is unaffected unaffected unaffected un un- un- un affected by the law Any motorist who has hils such accidents but who promptly satisfies all aU judgments against him is unaffected But the risk of having a bad accident in which l the judgment may be a considerable sum more than the motorist can pay is great enough to impel any cautious motorist to protect himself in advance with insurance For let a motorist be unfortunate enough to have just one bad accident with a judgment for say which he is absolutely unable to o pay pay and and he will be permanently barred f from the highways f That sounds hard on oA such a motorist who may just be unlucky But on the other hand the damage suffered without compensation f is hard on the innocent victims of such a aI motorist I I On the long pull this is a good law which should prot protect ct the innocent victims of automobile automobile auto auto- i mobile accidents and drive from the highways the reckless and irresponsible motorists who have been a constant cause of trouble damage damage damage dam dam- age suffering and death Every careful responsible responsible responsible re re- re- re motorist in Utah should approve and support this financial responsibility act |