For Tennessee drivers out on the roadways without insurance, it’s time to straighten up — as they soon could be identified much more easily by law enforcement.
According to the Insurance Research Council, one out of every seven motorists is currently uninsured in the United States. The Tennessee Department of Revenue (DOR) has developed a new computer system to combat this issue by detecting uninsured motorists.
“The goal of this new system is to efficiently and effectively check compliance in order to reduce the number of motorists who lack insurance or another form of financial responsibility,” said David Gerragano, Revenue Commissioner.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that all insurance carriers will be required to register with the DOR and provide necessary policy information. The state can then check the reported policies against all registered vehicle information numbers (VIN).
“If the system is unable to confirm insurance coverage for a vehicle, a notice will be sent to that owner directing him or her to a website where he or she can provide proof of minimum liability insurance or other means of financial responsibility,” read the initial DOR news release. “Failure to comply with the notices could result in fines and eventual vehicle registration suspension.”
The system is expected to go live within the first few months of 2017. The DOR has been encouraging drivers to acquire the necessary insurance coverage or take appropriate financial responsibility for their vehicles before the system is up and running.
The Greeneville Sun reports that the minimum required liability insurance is $25,000 for each fatality or injury per accident, along with $50,000 for total injuries or deaths and $15,000 for property damage.
“It’s been a growing problem for years,” said State Rep. David Hawk. “We’ve tried to get our arms around the problem. I think that’s one of the most important provisions we’ve passed in the last decade.”