Uninsured Driver Bill Advances in Oklahoma House

Oklahoma law enforcement officers would have more leeway to stop those suspected of driving uninsured vehicles under a measure approved by a House committee.

House Bill 2525, by state Rep. Steve Martin (R-Nowata, Washington, and Osage Counties), was approved by the House Public Safety Committee. Under the bill a traffic stop would be justified if a law officer believes the vehicle is uninsured.

For several years Oklahoma has had an online instant verification system to alert law enforcement officers whether or not vehicles are in compliance with Oklahoma insurance law.

Currently, according to a statement issued by the bill’s author, the hands of law enforcement officers are tied because the knowledge that a vehicle does not appear to comply with the law is not considered a “probable cause for a stop.” Therefore, the officer has to allow the vehicle to proceed while knowing there is a very high probability that it is uninsured.

Under House Bill 2525 the traffic stop will be considered justified.

“My constituents have made it clear. They want the uninsured vehicles off of the road,” Martin said. “With approximately one in four vehicles uninsured in Oklahoma, many people have told me that they have suffered one or more losses at the hands of negligent uninsured drivers. Now more vehicles will be cited or impounded without the need for the driver to break other laws at the same time.

“This does not place an undue burden on law-abiding drivers. If you have insurance, you should not be pulled over. But for the uninsured drivers who wreak so much havoc on the rest of us, it creates a greater incentive to obtain insurance coverage.”

House Bill 2525 now proceeds to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Source: Oklahoma House of Representatives

v

Topics Personal Auto Oklahoma