Does a cop really check to see if your car insurance coverage is legit?

[jtvang125]

Is there a record that shows on your driving record that you're insured or does the cop just simply go by the insurance card you give him? If it's the latter what's to stop a person from making up a BS but authentic looking insurance card to prove that they're insured? I doubt the officer will actually call up the insurance company to confirm.

For the record I'm not trying to get by of not having insurance nor do I condone it. Anyone who doesn't have insurance shouldn't be driving in the first place.

 

[TallBill]

When I was a cop, we just checked the card unless something was fishy.

On a side note, since so many people on an Army base had USAA insurance I kept their customer service # in my phone to call for people without a card.

 

[Tobolo]

In the state of Georgia they do. Actually, you cannot get a tag in the state without being entered into the state database, so no faking here

 

[OCGuy]

Here in CA the insurance companies actually tell the DMV when you have insurance now. Yay for police state!

 

[shortylickens]

It depends on their policy. Different states and cities have different rules.

I live in northern virginia and we have assloads of illegal aliens up here. Most of them drive. The cops look for any excuse they can to keep them off the road. If (somehow) a guys drivers license and registration check out, the cops will actually check up on the insurance just to see if they can nail him. Its minor but usually enough to keep someone off the road a little while.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Here in CA the insurance companies actually tell the DMV when you have insurance now. Yay for police state!

Why is it bad if the insurance company informs the state if you have insurance? It doesn't make it a police state. It protects insured people and insurance companies from uninsured assholes.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Yes...my insurance card was expired once (just hadn't put the new card in my wallet) when I got pulled over. I had to make a court appearance and present, to the judge, the valid card showing coverage prior to the incident.

Otherwise I faced some ridiculous fine, like $800. I know this because, during the same court session, some other poor sap was spanked when his new card indicated he was NOT covered at the time of the ticket. There were a lot of "oh fucks" from other people waiting for their appearance.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Here in CA the insurance companies actually tell the DMV when you have insurance now. Yay for police state!

Why is it bad if the insurance company informs the state if you have insurance? It doesn't make it a police state. It protects insured people and insurance companies from uninsured assholes.

That isnt the point. More big brother/databases of any kind are not what we need. We dont want to end up like the UK.

Would you want something on your car that informed police if you went over the speed limit, and you got a ticket in the mail? Why not? It would protect everyone from speeding assholes.

 

[foghorn67]

No. They check insurance by scent.

 

[Mermaidman]

Unfortunately, some people get insurance just to renew their plates, then cancel. They'll even have a "valid" insurance card to show a cop. :|

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Unfortunately, some people get insurance just to renew their plates, then cancel. They'll even have a "valid" insurance card to show a cop. :|

i believe that's the question. can you just present the insurance card, even though you really don't have a policy?

 

[911paramedic]

Punch in the number, see if it is valid. That's how it works in CA.

 

[jlee]

Insurance isn't required here...I end up giving people their insurance cards back without looking at them. Some states' DMV systems have a record of valid insurance coverage when you run the plate.

 

[McCarthy]

Where is this place which doesn't require insurance? Is there space for one more?

 

[spidey07]

In KY you can't renew your registration without proof of insurance. They actually require and take from you an actual insurance card from the issuer or certified facsimile.

 

[Casawi]

When I wrecked my car last winter, I gave the cop my expired card by accident. I did mention to him once I realized that it might be expired... he then said, I trust you. That was that.

 

[Gibson486]

In MA...those cards are useless. If they pull you over, they just punch in the plate number and it tells you if you are insured or not.

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: spidey07
In KY you can't renew your registration without proof of insurance. They actually require and take from you an actual insurance card from the issuer or certified facsimile.

yes, but as posted previously, if you get a 6 month car insurance card on "good faith" and stop paying after the 1st month, the card still looks good

as you know i also am in KY. i have gotten in 2 car accidents that were not my fault, and both times the assholes that hit me showed "valid" car insurance. However, when it came down to a claim both of them hadn't paid up so they were NOT covered at the time of the accident. I personally called each police officer that took the report both times and told them, but they didn't seem to care.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: spidey07
In KY you can't renew your registration without proof of insurance. They actually require and take from you an actual insurance card from the issuer or certified facsimile.

insurance is required here in NC, and insurers inform the DMV if you lapse coverage, so they know youre covered or not, without you bringing anything.

they also know if your coverage lapsed, in which case you have to pay a fine in addition to the registration/renewal fee

 

[d33pt]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
It depends on their policy. Different states and cities have different rules.

I live in northern virginia and we have assloads of illegal aliens up here. Most of them drive. The cops look for any excuse they can to keep them off the road. If (somehow) a guys drivers license and registration check out, the cops will actually check up on the insurance just to see if they can nail him. Its minor but usually enough to keep someone off the road a little while.

nothing can keep an illegal alien off the road. they don't have a license to lose, so it doesn't matter. their cars are usually $500 cars anyway, so they can just pick up another one if it gets impounded. really sucks, but that's why in CA you have to get uninsured motorist coverage.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: d33pt

Originally posted by: shortylickens
It depends on their policy. Different states and cities have different rules.

I live in northern virginia and we have assloads of illegal aliens up here. Most of them drive. The cops look for any excuse they can to keep them off the road. If (somehow) a guys drivers license and registration check out, the cops will actually check up on the insurance just to see if they can nail him. Its minor but usually enough to keep someone off the road a little while.

nothing can keep an illegal alien off the road. they don't have a license to lose, so it doesn't matter. their cars are usually $500 cars anyway, so they can just pick up another one if it gets impounded. really sucks, but that's why in CA you have to get uninsured motorist coverage.

I never said anything about keeping them off the road.
The cops just want to get them off the road. Its a good way to keep them busy.
And 500 bucks is an aweful lot for them, seeing as how most have to settle for less than minimum wage, and since most of them have 20 or more people in their household, they need all the money they can get.

I keep hoping they get tired and go back to Mexico in droves, but I know that will never happen.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: d33pt

Originally posted by: shortylickens
It depends on their policy. Different states and cities have different rules.

I live in northern virginia and we have assloads of illegal aliens up here. Most of them drive. The cops look for any excuse they can to keep them off the road. If (somehow) a guys drivers license and registration check out, the cops will actually check up on the insurance just to see if they can nail him. Its minor but usually enough to keep someone off the road a little while.

nothing can keep an illegal alien off the road. they don't have a license to lose, so it doesn't matter. their cars are usually $500 cars anyway, so they can just pick up another one if it gets impounded. really sucks, but that's why in CA you have to get uninsured motorist coverage.

I never said anything about keeping them off the road.
The cops just want to get them off the road. Its a good way to keep them busy.
And 500 bucks is an aweful lot for them, seeing as how most have to settle for less than minimum wage, and since most of them have 20 or more people in their household, they need all the money they can get.

I keep hoping they get tired and go back to Mexico in droves, but I know that will never happen.

It is amazing I know but it you stop filling the bird feeder it only takes a few days before the birds are gone.

 

[Christobevii3]

My gf is a cop in texas and no

 

[Rubycon]

SCMODS

 

[LinuxIdiot]

Originally posted by: Christobevii3
My gf is a cop in texas and no

That is funny since down here in Texas, we just instituted a database that automatically checks for insurance coverage...I may be wrong but I believe it has already gone live.