Strange as it may sound, it looks like the Florida Financial Responsibility Law does NOT require liability insurance (for bodily injuries or property damage to others) for motorcycles. See, F.S.A. Sec. 320.022. This is the statute that sets out when liability insurance is required, and the definition of "motor vehicle" is limited to motorized vehicles with four or more wheels.
I don't practice in Florida, but this cursory review of their statutes appears to exempt motorcycles.
:yikes:
But remember, that doesn't excuse you from meeting the minimum liability insurance laws of other states to which you travel on your MC.
Let me try to understand the concequences of this.
Assumption #1: I am a Florida resident legally operating a motorcycle without liability insurnace.
Assumption #2: I am involved in an accident with a car where there is $5,000 in damage and $2,000 medical expenses sustained by the occupants of the car.
Assumption #3: The police officer determines that I am at fault.
Result: I pay the $5,000 repair bill, rental for a replacement vehicle while the car is in the shop, and $2,000 in medical bills for injuries sustained by any occupants of the car. Plus I have to pay for the repairs or replacement of my own motorcycle. Oh yea, if I have a loan on the motorcycle and it is totaled the loan company will expect full payment pronto. Or you could try to be sneaky and just continue making payments on a motorcycle you don't have anymore.
Sounds like those motorcycle riders in Florida who are driving without insurance just because the state doesn't mandate it are a pretty high IQ bunch.
PS. There is no law that requires you to eat and the annual cost of eating is way more than insurance. Do you eat? Think how much money you could save if you didn't. Do you really need a law to tell you what the right thing to do is? If so then please don't complain about a big invasive government.
PSS. If you come through Texas without insurance and you crash into me and your at fault, I don't much care what Florida law says, I'll see you in a Texas court looking for everything you own or will ever own in the future. Especially if there is an injury involved to me or a member of my family. Don't believe me, ask the nice school teacher down the street driving a brand new Nissan Ultima without insurance, ran a red light, crashed into me totaling both cars. Yes my insurance offered to covered my car and medical bills, but as a private citizen we all have the right to initiate independent legal action and in cases of clear cut fault lawyers line up for that business. Heck, here in Texas lawyers even advertise on TV begging that kind of business. Cost to the teacher, about $16,000 to her bank to pay off her car loan, $50,000 to me for combined damages, emotional distress, medical, loss of work and punative damages and legal fees for both sides. Cost to me? $0 plus some inconvenience. Cost to my insurance company? $0
PSSS. No aimed at you Legal_Eagle, but rather motorvehicle operaters at large who drive without insurance.