That is not correct, at least in the US. In many states it's the driver and not the owner who is liable.

http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/auto_enforce.html

Are you sure that's true in every jurisdiction?

OK, I didn't know that. So in crime shows, where do the pictures of people in their cars come from (supposedly)? Speed traps or something?

What if your gets stolen? I would hope that the jurisdictions would have that as a valid defence.