The acceptance by a person of the rights and privileges conferred upon him or her by this part of this title, as evidenced by his or her operating, or causing to be operated, an aircraft in this State, shall be deemed equivalent to an appointment by the person of the Secretary or his or her successor in office, to be his or her true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all lawful processes in any action or proceedings against the person growing out of any accident or collision in which the person may be involved while operating or causing to be operated an aircraft in this State. That acceptance shall be deemed to be the agreement of the person that any process against him or her which is so served upon the Secretary shall be of the same validity as if served on the person personally. (Added 1985, No. 222 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)