Cracking Down on the Unisured

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Bill would impound uninsured vehicles

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A state lawmaker has filed a bill to impound vehicles driven by uninsured motorists.

Rep. Steve Martin of Bartlesville says his bill takes advantage of a new instant-verification system. The system allows law enforcement officers to determine within seconds if vehicles are covered by liability insurance.

The system was ordered by the Legislature in 2006 and was created by the insurance industry and the state. It is now fully operational, but law enforcement still lacks authority to seize an uninsured vehicle.

Martin says the bill allows immediate seizure of an uninsured vehicle and it would be towed to an impoundment lot until the requirements of Oklahoma's mandatory insurance law are met.

He says it's estimated that one in four cars on Oklahoma roads has no liability insurance.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.