(a) In addition to the filing of a certificate of insurance pursuant to section 707 of this chapter, the owner of a motor vehicle who is required to provide proof of insurance for the registration or operation of such vehicle shall, upon lawful request, show proof that the vehicle is covered by the required insurance. Such proof of insurance shall be in the form of an insurance card issued by an authorized insurance agent.
(b) A temporary insurance card may be presented for a period to exceed (30) days during which time the owner of the vehicle shall secure proof of insurance as required by subsection (a). Temporary insurance cards shall be issued only by the Director of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, or an authorized motor vehicles dealer when a valid insurance policy or binder is in effect.
(c) The form, content and manner of display of temporary cards shall be prescribed by the Director of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles by regulation.
(d) All insurance cards issued pursuant to this section shall be the property of the issuer and shall be presented by the owner to the vehicle covered by the required insurance only during such time as the insurance which it represents remains in full force and effect. Every vehicle owner shall immediately remove from such vehicle any insurance card representing insurance which he knows, or has reason to know, has been terminated, canceled, impaired, or is otherwise ineffective. Such knowledge may be inferred from evidence of the notice required in Title 22, section 827, Virgin Islands Code.
(e) The owner of any vehicle who has insurance in force and has been issued an insurance card required by subsection (a) of this section, but who fails to present the card upon a lawful request shall be fined not more than $50.00.
(f) The owner of any vehicle who fails to remove an insurance card when he knows, or has reason to know that the insurance it represents is not in full force and effect shall be fined not less than $50.00, nor more than $500.00, and may be imprisoned not more than 90 days.
(g) The owner of any motor vehicle who presents an insurance card which he knows, or has reason to know is fraudulent or counterfeit, or which he knows, or has reason to know, belongs to another vehicle, shall be fined not less than $250.00 nor more than $1,000.00, and may be imprisoned not more than 6 months.
(h) Any person who manufactures, produces, distributes or transfers any false, fraudulent, counterfeit, or otherwise invalid insurance card which purports to be a card required by subsection (a) of this section shall be fined for each such card distributed not less than $500.00, nor more than $2,000.00, and may be imprisoned not more than 2 years.