ARTICLE 6. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

§17D-6-1. Chapter inapplicable to government-owned vehicles.

This chapter shall not apply with respect to any vehicle owned by the United States, this state or any political subdivision of this state or any municipality therein.

§17D-6-2. Self-insurers.

(a) Any person in whose name more than twenty-five vehicles are registered may qualify as a self-insurer by annually obtaining a certificate of self-insurance issued by the commissioner as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) The commissioner may, in his or her discretion, upon the application of such a person, issue a certificate of self-insurance when he or she is satisfied that such person is possessed and will continue to be possessed of ability to pay judgments obtained against such person. The commissioner may not issue a certificate of self-insurance unless the applicant is listed as the registered owner of the motor vehicles and the applicant files an itemized financial statement that reflects a minimum of $1 million in total assets. The listed assets must be wholly owned by the applicant.

(c) A self-insured applicant, under the provisions of this section, shall notify the commissioner upon his or her filing of a petition for bankruptcy and shall comply with the provisions of section ten, article four, chapter seventeen-a of this code related to the issuance of salvage certificates and the determination of a vehicle as a total loss.

(d) Upon not less than five days' notice and a hearing pursuant to the notice, the commissioner may upon reasonable grounds cancel a certificate of self-insurance. Failure to pay any judgment within thirty days after such judgment shall have become final, shall constitute a reasonable ground for the cancellation of a certificate of self-insurance.

§17D-6-3. Repeal of existing laws.

This chapter shall in no respect be considered as a repeal of the motor vehicle laws of this state but shall be construed as supplemental thereto.

The existing motor vehicle safety responsibility law is hereby repealed except with respect to any accident, or judgment arising therefrom, or violation of the motor vehicle laws of this state, occurring prior to the effective date of this chapter.

§17D-6-4. Chapter not to have retroactive effect.

This chapter shall not have a retroactive effect and shall not apply to any accident, or judgment arising therefrom, or violation of the motor vehicle laws of this state, occurring prior to the effective date of this chapter.

§17D-6-5. Jurisdiction of crimes by justices.

Justices of the peace shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit, criminal and intermediate courts to enforce the misdemeanor penalties prescribed by this chapter.

§17D-6-6. Chapter not to prevent other process.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as preventing the plaintiff in any action at law from relying for relief upon the other processes provided by law.

§17D-6-7. Constitutionality.

If any part or parts of this chapter shall be held unconstitutional, such unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity of the remaining parts of this chapter. The Legislature hereby declares that it would have passed the remaining parts of this chapter if it had known that such part or parts thereof would be declared unconstitutional.