I am Insured - Stickers for Your Car

The Insurance Journal reported January 16, 2006 that Oklahoma State Senator James A. Williamson authored legislation that would require vehicle owners in Oklahoma to display a decal on the driver’s side of the windshield displaying the dates the policy covers.

“We’ve been told by the Department of Public Safety, an estimated 25 to 35 percent of motorists out there are uninsured,” said Williamson, R-Tulsa. “As a result, many law-abiding Oklahomans may be left holding the bag when they’re involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist. It also impacts the premiums insured motorists pay.”

Williamson said that individuals with collision insurance for accidents with uninsured motorist often wind up taking a financial hit to the tune of hundreds of dollars because of the required deductible. Those who carry only liability insurance could be out thousands of dollars.

“By requiring drivers to display this decal verifying they have insurance, we’re giving law enforcement a new tool to catch uninsured motorist before they victimize another driver,” Williamson said.

Under Williamson’s proposal, failure to display the insurance verification decal would carry a fine of $50 plus court costs.

“But more importantly, it would help law enforcement identify uninsured motorists before an accident occurs,” Williamson said. “Hopefully this will help increase the enforcement of the uninsured motorist law and reduce the number of people who are hit by uninsured motorist.”

Washington State has some of the wimpiest insurance rules. The law was passed to satisfy the voters that something was done rather than actually solve the problem of uninsured drivers. They attempt to scare you with the fact of $475 fines, but they don’t tell you what every uninsured driver knows, get insurance before you go to court and the fine will be reduced to $50. That is a lot less then the insurance would have probably cost between tickets.