OAR 735-050-0060: Good Faith Belief of Compliance with Financial Responsibility Requirements — Purpose and Definitions

(1) The Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division of the Department of Transportation (DMV) will terminate future responsibility filing requirements and rescind a financial responsibility suspension of a person’s driving privileges as allowed by ORS 806.245, 809.380 and 809.450 when the person: (a) Is currently in compliance with financial responsibility requirements; and (b) Reasonably and in good faith believed he or she was in compliance at the time of the accident or DMV’s letter of verification. (2) For purposes of OAR 735-050-0060 through 735-050-0064 “good faith” means a state of mind of honesty in purpose and freedom from intent to defraud. Failure of a person to inquire further when the person could reasonably be expected to do so constitutes absence of good faith. (3) For purposes of OAR 735-050-0060 through 735-050-0064, “reasonably believed” or “reasonable belief” means a belief based on the combinations of facts that existed and the circumstances that a person knew, or with ordinary diligence should have known, which would give cause for a rational person to believe. (4) It is presumed that a person has knowledge of the contents of his or her motor vehicle liability insurance policy. (5) DMV will rescind a suspension under this rule if DMV is presented with evidence that the person reasonably and in good faith believed that the person was in compliance with financial responsibility requirements. Evidence for the above may be presented to the Accident Reporting and Insurance Verification Unit or at a hearing requested by the person. In either case, examples of such evidence include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) Copies of cancelled checks, money orders or receipts for cash that show payment was received for an automobile liability insurance policy; (b) Written verification on agency or company letterhead or sworn testimony from the insurance carrier or insurance producer (agent); (c) Copies of insurance policies, binders, declarations or applications; and (d) Notarized written statements or sworn testimony from a spouse, partner in a domestic partnership, co-owner of current or former policies or any other person involved in the payment of policy premiums. (6) A person is entitled to a hearing on rescinding of the suspension of the person’s driving privilege under this rule. A determination by the Accident Reporting and Insurance Verification Unit that the suspension should not be rescinded does not limit the person’s right to a hearing.