20. a. No snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike shall be operated or permitted to be operated unless the owner thereof has obtained a policy of insurance, in such language and form as shall be determined by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, from an insurance carrier authorized to do business in this State, the terms of which policy shall indemnify an amount or limit of $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs, on account of injury to, or death of, one person, in any one accident; and an amount or limit, subject to such limit for any one person so injured, or killed, of $30,000, exclusive of interest and costs, on account of injury to or death of, more than one person, in any one accident; and an amount or limit of $5,000, exclusive of interest and costs, for damage to property in any one accident, for damages arising out of the negligent operation of the snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike. In lieu of the insurance coverage as hereinabove provided, the chief administrator, in the chief administrator’s discretion and upon application of the State or a municipality having registered in its name one or more snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, or dirt bikes, may waive the requirement of insurance by a private insurance carrier and issue a certificate of self-insurance, when the chief administrator is satisfied of financial ability to respond to judgments obtained against it or them, arising out of the ownership, use or operation of the snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, or dirt bikes.

b. Proof of insurance as hereinabove required shall be produced and displayed by the owner or operator of the snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike upon request to any law enforcement officer or to any person who has suffered or claims to have suffered either personal injury or property damage as a result of the operation of the snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike by the owner or operator.

c. An owner of a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike who shall operate or permit the snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike to be operated without having in effect the required liability insurance coverage, and any other person who shall operate any snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike with the knowledge that the owner thereof does not have in effect the insurance coverage shall be guilty of a violation of P.L.1973, c.307 (C. 39:3C-1 et seq.) and be subject to a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100.

d. The chief administrator is hereby authorized to promulgate reasonable regulations to provide effective administration and enforcement of the provisions of this section in accordance with the purposes thereof.

L.1973, c.307, s.20; amended 1985, c.375, s.20; 2009, c.275, s.20.