Chap.283 An Act relative to the coverage of motor vehicles and trailers under compulsory motor vehicle liability policies or bonds in case of death of the owners of such vehicles.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide coverage forthwith for certain motor vehicles in case of the death of the owner thereof, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

Section 1. The fourth paragraph of section 2 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by chapter 5 of the acts of 1932, is hereby further amended by adding at the end thereof the following words: - ; and provided, further, that if the owner of a motor vehicle or trailer for which a certificate of registration has been issued for the following calendar year dies prior to the beginning of said calendar year, such motor vehicle or trailer shall be deemed to be validly registered and said registration shall continue in force until the end of the following year, or until the ownership of such motor vehicle or trailer is transferred by the legal representative of the estate of such owner, whichever occurs first, subject, however, to all provisions of law applicable generally to registrations of motor vehicles or trailers.

Section 2. Provision (6) of section 113A of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 1 of chapter 693 of the acts of 1949, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 8, the words "within the policy period".

Section 3. This act shall apply to all causes of action of tort arising out of the operation of motor vehicles on the ways of the commonwealth which have not been prosecuted to final judgment or discharge.   Approved April 15, 1955.