Oklahoma Readies Uninsured Driver System for Memorial Day Weekend

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The Oklahoma Highway Patrol could be using the state’s electronic insurance verification system in time for the Memorial Day weekend travel rush.

The system will be able to instantly verify whether a driver is insured, but only on personal Oklahoma vehicles. Commercial vehicles and vehicles licensed in other states are not in the system.

About one-fourth of the 3.3 million licensed vehicles in Oklahoma are believed to be uninsured because the Public Safety Department only has insurance information for 2.6 million vehicles.

A state law passed in 2006, which took effect Jan. 1, allows law enforcement agencies and tag agents to check for up-to-date automobile insurance electronically, but there have been numerous delays in getting the system up and running.

Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow, the chairman of the House Administrative Rules and Agency Oversight Committee, brought Public Safety Department and Insurance Department representatives together three times in the past two months to explain the why the system’s implementation had been delayed.

First, a decision was made last year to operate the program through the Public Safety Department – which includes the highway patrol – instead of through a private vendor.

David Beatty, the project manager for Oklahoma’s compulsory insurance verification system, said the Public Safety Department then wanted to make sure insurance companies provided all information possible before deploying the system.

At this point, only American Reliable Insurance Co. and Trinity Universal Insurance Co. – neither with a high number of policies in Oklahoma – have yet to provide information for the Oklahoma database.

Five police departments have been using the system without problems since last month, Beatty said, and all departments in the state could be using it by July 1.

Tag agents also have access to the system, and courts will be allowed to use it when drivers challenge tickets.

Rhoades said uninsured motorists face a $211.50 fine and must park the vehicle until an insured motorist can drive it or have the vehicle impounded.

Information from: The Oklahoman, www.newsok.com