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Florida Moves Toward Electronic Proof Of Insurance For Motorists
December 11, 2013
Motorists might soon be able to use their cell phones or other electronic devices to show proof of insurance when they are pulled over by police.
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet — Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam — approved without comment a request Tuesday from the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to allow people to display electronic copies of their motor-vehicle insurance through cell phones, tablets or other electronic devices.
The use of electronic copies is in state law, but the department’s administrative rule currently requires motorists to carry “3 1/2 inches × 2 1/4 inches” identification cards that list personal-injury protection benefits and property-damage liability insurance providers and policy numbers, along with the vehicle year, make and vehicle-identification number. The rule has been on the books since 1989.
Comments
16 Responses to “Florida Moves Toward Electronic Proof Of Insurance For Motorists”
I do not understand why this issue is making so much news statewide. Whether it’s paper or screen, why so much attention over a proof of insurance card?
I would like to see the statute, also, that states everyone over 17 must be insured. It’s such a broad statement. Do roommates have to be insured? Do those who ride public transportation our walk have to be insured? No.
I wonder if the cop will take your smart phone to his car to run your license, etc, like they do now with the paper cards. Wouldn’t that sort of give the officer permission or at least the opportunity to go through your phone, see when you last texted someone or were online? Sounds like the potential for another ticket for using your phone when you shouldn’t have been.
For everyone raising cane about this, it is just an OPTION that you could have. It does not REQUIRE you to have it electronically, ergo the paper cards are (and will be) still valid. Stop trolling forums and finding issues to argue about when there is nothing there!
Jane, I think that I would need to see the Florida Statute that states I must insure anyone in my household over the age of 17.
My daughter is older than 17 and she is not on my insurance. My policy states that anyone of driving age can drive my car as long as they have my permission.
The only drivers that are actually listed on my policy are my wife and myself
@ Jane, please tell me what Fl. Statute states that all persons living in the home over the age of 17 must be insured or a D6 is issued to “you” as you put it.
I like the idea because I can never find that stupid paper card…….but then when I am sitting there with those blue lights on behind me I don’t know if I could find the phone either?????????
The driver’s who don’t have insurance probably don’t have a driver’s license either…so get them off the roads. BTW, if you have someone over the age of 17 in your home you are responsible for getting them insurance, whether or not they drive. You can get your license suspended if you don’t insure them.
Not everyone carries a smart phone…some of us can’t afford one. Or if we can afford the phone we can’t afford the expensive plan that goes with it.
I do not understand this. If the tag office can access your insurance info then I don’t know why the officers can’t also. When I purchased my tag this year, I was never asked to show proof of insurance.
I’ve had a digital copy of my insurance for as long as I’ve owned a smart phone. Proof of insurance is proof of insurance. Why should it matter what form it’s in? I was rear ended in 2010 and the FHP had no problem with it being on my phone vs in my glove box.
How hard is it to just have that card with your driver’s license or just keep it in your car?
The paper cards would still be required for people such as myself. I refuse to get a cell phone and do not want nor have a need for tablet or any electronic device.
Also wouldn’t other states need a reciprocity agreement with the State of Florida to honor the phone insurance ID.
But as for me I will stick with my paper insurance ID, thank you very much.
Great idea now enforce the law that says its a requirement that all florida drivers have insurance. There should not have to be uninsured motorist coverage.
What a great idea. Perhaps they should allow the same opportunity for voter ID. It seems more people have cell phones, tablets or other electronic devices than an ID card.
“Oh, yeah, officer, uh, I DO have insurance, really, but my phone is dead, see…”