Michigan Court of Appeals; Docket No. 91480; Published
Judges Danhof, Shepherd, and Porter; Unanimous
Official Michigan Reporter Citation: 159 Mich App 699; Link to Opinion
STATUTORY INDEXING:
Compulsory Insurance Requirements for Owners or Registrants of Motor Vehicles Required to Be Registered [§3101(1)]
Definition of Motor Vehicle (Snowmobiles) [§3101(2)(e)]
TOPICAL INDEXING:
Casualty Insurance Policies – Minimum Coverages and Required Provisions (MCL 500.3009)
CASE SUMMARY:
In this unanimous Opinion by Judge Shepherd, the Court of Appeals held that a snowmobile was not a motor vehicle and therefore tort liability arising from the operation of a snowmobile is not covered under an automobile liability insurance policy issued pursuant to the Michigan No-Fault Act. Moreover, liability coverage for tortious operation of a motor vehicle is not mandated by MCLA 500.3009. If tort liability coverage for snowmobile operation is to be mandated, this must be accomplished by the Legislature, not the courts.