Now, along with alcohol checkpoints, police across the nation are setting up insurance checkpoints at intersections, highway entrances and other well-travelled roadways in an effort to crack down on uninsured drivers.
As with sobriety checkpoints, these insurance checkpoints require drivers to provide “proof of insurance” along with a valid vehicle registration and driver’s license. What police are finding is that some drivers simply don’t have a valid “proof of insurance” card in the vehicles, but others don’t have auto insurance at all.
Uninsured drivers pose a serious threat. Currently one in seven motorists’ drives without car insurance; that’s nearly 15 percent of all drivers nationwide. According to online auto insurance company BestInsuranceMatch.com the level of uninsured motorists could reach record highs next year. For those motorists caught without auto insurance, the penalties are stiff. Offenders could face vehicle seizure, driver’s license suspension, misdemeanor charges and even jail time.
There is one additional problem for those without auto insurance. Uninsured drivers may be considered “high risk” by auto insurance companies and charged hundreds of dollars more per year. Worse yet, they could be rejected outright when they finally do apply for an auto insurance policy.
What is the takeaway from this information? Keep your auto insurance in effect. If you are struggling to pay your auto insurance premium, you are better off finding ways to pay the premium or reduce the cost of the policy than to let it lapse or cancel it.
Now you don’t have to worry about simply staying sober for the sobriety checkpoints, you have to have valid insurance, registration and driver’s license. And that’s a good thing.
Comments
There waas no mention in the article on the number of people on food stamps due to mandatory auto insurance. A food stamp survey done in Billings, MT showed 12 of 96 food stamp applicants said auto insurance was a reason for needing food stamps. That equals 30,000 over the last 20 years in Montana.
We should tally the nrs on food stamps before we continue with these mandatory auto insurance laws. Mandatory auto insurance is not more important than food.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!