Uninsured Alabama drivers could face strict penalties starting Nov. 1

Oct. 23--The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said this week it plans to step up enforcement of the automobile liability insurance law starting Nov. 1.

The law is aimed at the 12.9 percent of Alabama motorists who, according to the Alabama Department of Revenue, are uninsured.

The Mandatory Liability Insurance law, passed by the Legislature in 2016, requires motorists to have basic insurance on their vehicle to include at least $100,000 in coverage.

"There has been a grace period in enforcing that law to give motorists some time to obtain the proper insurance coverage," ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said.

House Bill 327 says no person can operate, register or maintain registration of a motor vehicle designed for use on a public road or highway unless it is covered by a liability insurance policy.

This law originally was passed in 2011, but was amended last year to allow for the verification of liability insurance if the driver was involved in a traffic incident, ALEA Chief Public Information Officer Robyn Bryan said.

Before the 2011 law was passed, Alabama had the sixth-highest percentage of uninsured motorists in the nation, 22 percent, according to the state Department of Revenue. That percentage has dropped almost in half.

Taylor said those involved in a car accident while uninsured later could face a civil penalty if not given a citation at the time of the crash.

Bryan said law enforcement has been writing tickets for driving without insurance, but this bill says law enforcement can fine drivers who were uninsured when they had a car accident.

"When involved in a traffic incident (traffic stop or crash), some drivers have been known to present what appear to be valid insurance cards. When checked, however, it turns out the drivers had let the liability insurance lapse," Bryan said.

Drivers caught without liability insurance will face a $200 fine for their first offense, $300 for a second offense and $400 for the third or subsequent offenses.

Those who fail to make the payment within 45 days or request a hearing with ALEA's driver's license division will have their license suspended for 90 days, Taylor said. There is a $100 fee to have a license reinstated.

He said drivers issued a civil penalty will have the option to appeal, and a hearing will determine if the car being used at the time of the collision had insurance.

A liability policy covers a motorist for damage or injury he or she caused in a collision. Under the law, a liability insurance policy must be issued by an insurer licensed to do business in Alabama and must provide coverage of no less than:

--$25,000 for death or bodily injury to one person;

--$50,000 for death or bodily injury to two or more persons; and

--$25,000 for damage or destruction of property.

Alabama Department of Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling said having liability insurance "just makes sense."

"Operating a motor vehicle without it drives up everyone's rates," he said.

Ridling said Alabama drivers should "do the right thing" and get liability insurance.

A similar law passed in 2012 made liability insurance required to get a license plate or renew a tag. The law gave license plate agencies access to a real-time network, the Online Insurance Verification System, that immediately tells whether insurance is current.

If insurance can't be verified online, the owner will have a chance to present proof of insurance. If not, no tag will be issued.

Subscribe

[email protected] or 256-340-2446.

___

(c)2017 The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.)

Visit The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.) at www.decaturdaily.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.