Car insurance bill advances through OK House committee

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Mar 30, 2005 by Journal Record Staff

A bill to require drivers to post an insurance verification decal on their license tags that indicates the dates of coverage has been approved by a state House committee. Senate Bill 611 passed out of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on Monday. It earlier passed the Oklahoma Senate on a 36-10 vote.

This bill would provide a visible sign to help law enforcement swiftly verify whether or not a driver is in compliance with Oklahoma's auto liability law, said state Rep. John Wright, R- Broken Arrow.

Wright said Senate Bill 611 will serve as a companion to another bill he filed to improve enforcement of the state's auto insurance laws.

House Bill 1351 would require insurance policies to include the vehicle identification number of the vehicle or vehicles covered by a policy for use in a state database. The database would allow law enforcement officials to instantly check a vehicle's insurance status every time a car is pulled over. House Bill 1351 passed the House by a vote of 74-26 and now awaits action in the Oklahoma Senate.