Proof of Car Insurance.

[Rageaholic]

I'm not going to argue about manditory insurance. While I don't agree with it, at least I can see some justification for it.

What I see no justification for is being fined or arrested for not having proof of insurance in your car. I mean, it's not like they don't have it on record somewhere. In this day and age, it should be easy to find. While I think it's a wise idea to have proof of insurence, I don't think one should get in any legal trouble for not having it on them.

[HYHYBT]

Arrested, no, but something showing your policy number helps them to look it up, and, in a minor accident, it allows you to exchange insurance information without police present.

I'vr been stopped with no proof of insurance and driving someone else's car (hence the "no proof"; mine is in my car) and it was no problem, just a slight delay. But that was a roadblock; it may be different being pulled over.

By the way, would you make the same argument for the license itself? After all, they can look that up, too.

[Rageaholic]

By the way, would you make the same argument for the license itself? After all, they can look that up, too.

No and yes. The license should be the only proof you need, but if they can look it up, it shouldn't be that big of a deal either. Still I think that license < proof of insurance.

I just think it's stupid that technically, someone could get in trouble for being forgetful. At least that's how it is in my state. Of course, I guess the cops can let you off with a warning (the one time it happened to me. My only punishment was being held up a little longer and given a warning slip to return to the police station). It's a good idea to keep this stuff on you for those circumstances, but I don't think that those who forget that stuff should get in too much trouble.

[muses_nightmare]

I don't see why it's a big deal, maybe it's different where you are, I'm not sure. But everyone I know keeps their insurance papers in their glove box, it's just something everyone I've ever know does. Is this something that is uncommon where you live? I mean, when you renew your insurance usually you have your car with you so you can put the new sticker on and stuff, and even if you don't you're going to have to do that anyway, I don't see why people wouldn't just throw the papers in the glovebox then.

Unless insurance works completely differently from where I am. I don't really know about not having proof of insurance here, but I assume it's a fine, or somesuch, and here it would be easier to look it up, as we only have the provincial insurance company, nothing else.

[Greenday]

First time I got pulled over, I had some trouble finding my insurance card. Found my registration card no problem. But since I couldn't find my insurance card immediately, the cop started threatening to have my car towed and everything. If they can just look it up, I'm not sure why it's mandatory. I mean, yea, it'd speed up the process if you are in an accident and can just trade information. But still.

[Rageaholic]

First time I got pulled over, I had some trouble finding my insurance card. Found my registration card no problem. But since I couldn't find my insurance card immediately, the cop started threatening to have my car towed and everything. If they can just look it up, I'm not sure why it's mandatory. I mean, yea, it'd speed up the process if you are in an accident and can just trade information. But still.

Wow what an asshole. See, this is why I think NEEDING proof of insurance is bullshit. Yeah, you can put it in your glove box, that's only good until it expires.

[Andara Bledin]

What I see no justification for is being fined or arrested for not having proof of insurance in your car. I mean, it's not like they don't have it on record somewhere. In this day and age, it should be easy to find. While I think it's a wise idea to have proof of insurence, I don't think one should get in any legal trouble for not having it on them.

The reason they require that you keep proof on hand in the vehicle is in the case of an accident so that the other person(s) involved know you actually have it and aren't lying through your teeth.

See, this is why I think NEEDING proof of insurance is bullshit. Yeah, you can put it in your glove box, that's only good until it expires.

Back to the license: That's only good until it expires, too, but most people don't have trouble keeping that on them, and that's not something you toss into the glove box and almost never look at again.

Seriously, it isn't that hard.

The reason they have you keep the record with the car is so that you can't just lie about whether the car you're in is actually covered. All of the details are on the sheet so they can just make sure it matches and send you on your way.

If you really want to play the "it isn't that difficult to look it up" game, try imagining what it would be like if every routine traffic stop also required an insurance lookup as well, and how many drivers who deserve tickets would get off because the cops are busy wasting time that could have been saved if the person being pulled over had tossed the info in the glove box rather than leaving it to collect dust somewhere in their house.

And, finally, the one big reason is revenue. Not only for the tickets they get to hand out to people who couldn't manage such a simple thing, but also the fact that instead of wasting time looking up information that should be readily available to them, they can spent it pulling more people over and writing more tickets.

^-.-^

[Rageaholic]

The reason they require that you keep proof on hand in the vehicle is in the case of an accident so that the other person(s) involved know you actually have it and aren't lying through your teeth.

Ah, now that makes sense.

And no, it's not that hard to have it on you, but it's also not hard to forget. I just think cops should be more lieniant towards those who forget. I know a lot of cops are pretty cool about things like that, but cops like the ones greenday encountered may be less forgiving. I just don't see it as that serious of an offense.

[AdminAssistant]

I was in an accident and had forgot to put in the new insurance card (still had the old one in there). They gave me a ticket, and I took the ticket and proof of insurance to the courthouse and the ticket was waived. Simple.

[MadMike]

The license should be the only proof you need, but if they can look it up, it shouldn't be that big of a deal either.

It's not. I had to give a friend a ride to work early in the morning once. I didn't go to work until much later in the day, so I just threw some clothes on, grabbed my keys (and not my wallet), jumped in the car, and left. I figured I'd drop her off, and then come back home and rest for a few more hours.

On the way there, my car broke down. A cop stopped by to help me, but he had to check my info. I didn't have my license with me, but he was able to run my info without a problem.

Even though there wasn't a problem, after that I learned never to jump in the car without my license.

[Rageaholic]

I was in an accident and had forgot to put in the new insurance card (still had the old one in there). They gave me a ticket, and I took the ticket and proof of insurance to the courthouse and the ticket was waived. Simple.

That's what happened to me (though I wasn't in an accident). I had the old card in there, but not the new one. However, this cop gave me a slip to turn into the police station to wave that penalty, but I still had to pay a fine since I was caught speeding.

[Lyra]

I keep my proof of insurance folded up behind my licence in my wallet. That way, no matter what I'm driving, it's with me.

Turns out though, that I have a tendency to keep my new licence plate tags stapled to the new registration in the glove box. That was a little embarrassing when I got stopped once.

I think another good reason is that if you are in an accident, and unconscious, all your information (including proof of insurance) is where others can find it if they need it.

[smileyeagle1021]

I had it happen once where the truck I was driving caught fire, and the cop was shocked that I didn't stop to take out the registration and insurance before exiting the vehicle... I'm sorry, but I had rather more important things on my mind... like SAVING MY OWN ASS.
The ones I hate are the ones who already know that you don't have your vehicle registered/insured because they've ran your plate, but they still play the game of asking you to find your registration... just give me the damned ticket and let me be on my way (had that one happen too)

[Andara Bledin]

They gave me a ticket, and I took the ticket and proof of insurance to the courthouse and the ticket was waived. Simple.

Here, you have to pay administrative costs, even after showing proof.

^-.-^

[Mytical]

This to me isn't as big a pet peeve as seat belts. Yes, they might save your life, but if a person doesn't want to wear them..they shouldn't have to..

better stop before I really rant and go to far offtopic

I think somebody said it, and they have it right. It is a revenue making ploy.