| For millions of responsible Texans | | | | 30 other states have implemented |
| forking out almost $900 million per | | | | insurance verification programs, |
| year, in insurance, to self-protect | | | | successfully reducing the number of |
| against those people driving without | | | | uninsured motorists. The goal in Texas |
| mandatory insurance coverage there may | | | | is to significantly relieve the |
| soon be some relief. In an effort to | | | | aggravation that responsible drivers |
| reduce the number of uninsured motorists | | | | endure from the expense caused by |
| in the State of Texas, an automated | | | | uninsured motorists. And, to encourage |
| insurance verification program was | | | | Texan drivers to keep their insurance |
| launched in June 2008. This new | | | | information up-to-date; VIN numbers |
| database, quickly and easily, identifies | | | | matching the information on their |
| these lawbreakers. TexasSure (the | | | | insurance cards. The Texas Financial |
| database) now matches registered Texas | | | | Responsibility Verification Program is a |
| passenger vehicles records with the | | | | joint project developed by the Texas |
| personal auto insurance policy data | | | | Department of Public Safety (TDPS), the |
| on-file with over 200 insurance | | | | Texas Department of Transportation |
| companies in Texas. It is hoped that the | | | | (TxDOT), the Texas Department of |
| implementation of this technology will | | | | Information Resources (DIR) and the |
| assist law enforcement officers to | | | | Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), by |
| verify, immediately, whether or not a | | | | implementing the program they anticipate |
| driver has auto insurance. It is | | | | lowering the uninsured motorist rate in |
| currently estimated that the number of | | | | Texas. Beware! More than a dozen cities |
| uninsured vehicles in the State of Texas | | | | in Texas have passed ordinances that |
| is approximately 4 million! By Texas | | | | allow law enforcement officers to have a |
| law, a motor vehicle cannot be operated | | | | vehicle towed and impounded if the |
| unless the motorist has financial | | | | driver cannot show proof of insurance. |
| responsibility established for the | | | | Those drivers who legitimately hold auto |
| vehicle, primarily, auto insurance. The | | | | insurance policies need not be concerned |
| current law requires that drivers have | | | | as long as they continue to carry |
| coverage of at least $25,000 per injured | | | | current proof of insurance cards, as |
| person; $50,000 per injured person | | | | required by law. Policy information will |
| involved in an accident, and property | | | | be sent each week to the TexasSure |
| damage of $25,000. It is estimated that | | | | vendor where it will be matched to |
| somewhere between 15-20% of Texans do | | | | TxDOT's vehicle registration records. |
| not have auto insurance. That is one in | | | | So... if the thought of fooling a law |
| five drivers! For driving without | | | | enforcement officer crosses your mind, |
| liability insurance, the first | | | | think again! If you are pulled over and |
| conviction could result in a fine | | | | show false proof of insurance, the |
| between $175 and $350. Subsequent | | | | verification of insurance database will |
| convictions could include fines of $350 | | | | surely make a fool of you! Driving |
| to $1,000, suspension of driver's | | | | without insurance is NOT an option! So |
| license and/or impoundment of your | | | | Get Insured!! Have an opinion or a |
| vehicle. According to the Texas | | | | question you would like me to answer, |
| Department of Insurance (TDI), at least | | | | then write to me! |