Mississippi Senate Passes Proof of Auto Insurance Bill

The Mississippi Senate has passed a bill requiring motorists to show proof they have purchased liability insurance before receiving a car tag.

The measure was sponsored by Sen. Billy Hewes, a Republican from Gulfport, who said his constituents have complained about being involved in crashes with drivers who aren’t insured.

Presenting false proof would result in a fine of $500 and possibly imprisonment of up to a year. The fine and imprisonment would be waived if the offender provides proof of valid liability insurance by the court date. Motorists must purchase a minimum of six months’ coverage.

Hewes said the bill (SB2053) wouldn’t require any extra paperwork for tax collectors. He said they only have task to see an individual’s proof of insurance before granting the car tag.

Sen. Cindy Hyde Smith, a Republican from Brookhaven who voted against the bill, said her local officials were concerned about the extra duty slowing the process at tax collectors’ offices.

The bill now moves to the House, where similar proposals have died in the past.

Latest Comments

• February 17, 2011 at 3:27 pm

  W R Lockhart says:

  The only thing that will work is mandatory reporting to the state when a policy is cancelled mid-term (and immediate state followup - i.e. suspending drivers license as NY doe... read more
• February 17, 2011 at 10:15 am

  JacksonAgent says:

  What good is this when they will continue to do what they're doing now, pay the 1st month and that's it. this isn't worth the paper it's written on. If you want to enforce ins... read more
• February 16, 2011 at 1:58 pm

  nk says:

  Wont stop folks from canceling the next day they get their car tags. I recommend they get real Financial Responsibility Laws or forget about it being effective.