American Samoa § 22.1001 - Motor vehicle registration and license required.

§ 22.1001. Motor vehicle registration and license required.

No motor vehicle may be operated on any highway in American Samoa without a valid registration and vehicle license tags as required by this chapter. Case Notes: Section is part of statutory scheme intended to ensure recovery in tort for victims injured by drivers who could not afford to pay damages. Amount to be recovered against defendants not to exceed amount that would have been covered by insurance had defendant not breached its statutory duty to provide insurance. Foma’i v. Samana, 4 A.S.R.2d 102 (1987). Rental company that allowed its automobile to be operated on the highway without insurance required by law was liable for damages suffered by person injured by negligent driver of company’s automobile, up to the amount that would have been covered by insurance if the rental company had not breached its statutory duty to provide insurance. A.S.C.A. §§ 22.1001, 22.2002-03. Foma’i v. Samana, 4 A.S.R.2d 102 (1987). Statute requiring the owner of a vehicle to purchase and maintain liability insurance for losses inflicted by any person using his vehicle, and related statutes forbidding the operation of uninsured vehicles on the public highway and giving an injured person the right to bring direct action against the insurer, were intended to ensure recovery in tort for victims injured by drivers who could not afford to pay damages. A.S.C.A. §§ 22.1001, 22.2002-03. Foma’i v. Samana, 4 A.S.R.2d 102 (1987). Licensing of a car requires proof of liability insurance, and only licensed cars may be driven on public highways, so that use of public highways is effectively conditioned on maintenance of insurance. A.S.C.A. §§ 22.1001, 22.1002. Pu’u v. Lepule, 8 A.S.R.2d 68 (1988).