Among the things that police look for from motorists in Michigan is if you currently have auto insurance. Before you even go behind the wheel, it’s your responsibility, by law, to have valid insurance. Lacking insurance documents or falsifying it is against the law, which counts as a misdemeanor offense. It can result in as much as a year in jail or a hefty fine. If you don’t have proof of insurance with you, it’s going to be painful for your wallet too.
You can receive a fine of $25 if you provide proof of insurance to the court within 14 days. You will, however, pay more than $100 or more after 14 days, depending on the court. You can also get a fine of $500 and another $500 for responsibility fees within two years if you drive an uninsured car. It can be a costly problem over time, but the real risk is getting into an auto accident in Michigan without any insurance. If you have more insurance questions about the police, here are a few quick answers. These can help give you a general idea of what you will deal with about insurance checks in Michigan.
Can Police See If You Have Auto Insurance?
So, can cops see if you have insurance by running your plates? The answer is a resounding yes. Police can check for our insurance at any time of the day. The make the process simpler for the police, The State of Michigan gave law enforcement a hand. They provided a tool that can do insurance checks without pulling motorists over.
Before, police asked for proof of insurance from motorists. This move opened up the police for fake insurance companies or even hoax cards. By September 2015, all this changed. The State Police of Michigan, working with many other law enforcement agencies, started to use license plates. They do so to check for documentation on automobiles, including checking on insurance. Here’s how they do it.
Police officers will run the plates of a specific car they want to check with their onboard laptop. From here, they have access to a database that contains insurance records. They do so before approaching the motorist, which can be a problem. Most of the time, you need an experienced car accident lawyer to help you with this problem.
How Insurance Companies Help Law Enforcement
To keep the entire system healthy, insurance companies have a mandate to provide updated info. It happens every 1st and 15th of the month, given to the Secretary of State’s Office. The information they provide includes the name of the insured and the date of coverage. Once the update is complete, all law enforcement branches will have access to it. If the police run your plates for an insurance check, police officers can see if you have insurance or not. It’s almost instant, so if you’re having issues with law enforcement, talk to us for advice.
This digital insurance checking offers many different benefits to the police, saving time and effort. It reduces the number of steps they need to do while being accurate at the same time. They also get to do unbiased insurance checks rather than look at falsifiable proof. It helps them lay a hammer on those with fake insurance cards, which increase citations.
If you receive a citation or get an injury while driving uninsured, veteran personal injury lawyers are your best bet. They can be the best counsel you can pick to give you the advantage you need.
Limits of The Police Information System
The system the police use is not without limits, however. The biggest limitations of the system are motorcycles and commercial automobiles. Officers do not have access to these records, so they need manual checking.
Information on the database is also not real-time because it updates only every fortnight. That means even with the database, they would still need to check the physical proof itself before giving a ticket. As it helped ease insurance coverage regulation, the police’s role in auto accidents in Michigan is vital.
What does this mean for you? Even if there is a database with your listed insurance on it with the police, you should not let up. Carrying the physical copy of your insurance is crucial. Even then, you don’t have to worry that the police will pull you up every time.
If you lack insurance, it’s a secondary violation – not enough grounds to pull you over. It renders any potential, more heinous criminal activity moot. Police pulled you over for the wrong reason, so they can’t catch you for something worse.
A Trusted Legal Counsel Can Help You Deal with Cops in Michigan
For people looking to get the best legal counsel on auto accident cases, it’s wise to talk to experienced car accident lawyers in Lansing. Our injury and motor vehicle injury attorneys are some of the best in the field. Get your free consultation with us and see why we’re among the best lawyers in Michigan.
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