Question for LEOs...

So my coworker is, to the best of my knowledge, spreading false information... so can I ask if any of our friendly neighborhood LEOs on here settle this debate?
She claims that cops have a way of checking to see if you have valid insurance. I say, from experience on ride alongs and being friends with cops, that this is flat out false, hence why they ask for proof of insurance. So do LEOs really have a way of checking to see if you do in fact have insurance? My experience on ride alongs is a bit out of date, but I still think that there is actually no way to tell if the proof of insurance someone handed over is legitimate or not. Am I right or wrong here?

I bet if you call the 1-800 number on the proof of insurance....

They've got this thing called a telephone, and can call your insurance company to make sure your insurance is valid. Same as a car rental agency or car lot can do.

Insurance agency in response to a query which provides the policy number and a name will confirm if that person is covered, and whether or not the policy is in effect.

http://www.colorado.gov/driveinsured/

In theory, yes. I don't know how accurate the database is, though.

Motorist Insurance Identification Database

Don't know why you would address this only to LEOs, but the answer is yes as cited above. The last three times I have had LEO contact, they only asked for DL. No insurance nor registration.

Buy your buddy the beer and apologize. :)

I'm surprised he didn't start this with 'Dear Diary.. My fat liberal co-worker is right and I'm wrong, but I want to prove her wrong...'

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Originally Posted by MarkCO

Don't know why you would address this only to LEOs, but the answer is yes as cited above. The last three times I have had LEO contact, they only asked for DL. No insurance nor registration.

Buy your buddy the beer and apologize. :)

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First, not my buddy- liberal co worker (you must have missed some of my dear diary rants of the past)... but it was directed at LEOs directly because they'd be able to provide the best, direct insight into the question- when you pull someone over, outside of obviously calling the ins co (really who actually does that if they don't have reasonable suspicion to believe your info is false), is there a way, much like looking up wants/warrants, to verify someone has insurance? I expect a LEO to best give a no-shit, God's honest answer... call me crazy, maybe that's why this is addressed only to LEOs.

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Originally Posted by Monky

I'm surprised he didn't start this with 'Dear Diary.. My fat liberal co-worker is right and I'm wrong, but I want to prove her wrong...'

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Wanted to avoid the textual beat down Jim would give me for wording it like that. [Coffee] Even though yes, it's true, I am not too fond of her, but I've learned to kind of keep that down.

Yeah, they can. Don't always. Most of the time it's to prove someone didn't have insurance when they were issued the ticket for not having one present during a traffic stop and are now providing evidence they do.

Of course, in Silverthorne we didn't have the luxury of being able to do check while in the cars at the time. Things may have changed.

Can I confirm for sure? No. But I do know that DMV shares info with insurance companies. Hence why you don't always have to provide proof of insurance when you renew your tags. They may already have it in their database. One could only assume that LEO's have access to the same database.

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Originally Posted by Dave_L

Can I confirm for sure? No. But I do know that DMV shares info with insurance companies. Hence why you don't always have to provide proof of insurance when you renew your tags. They may already have it in their database. One could only assume that LEO's have access to the same database.

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That's what I was thinking....DMV always knows.

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Originally Posted by rondog

That's what I was thinking....DMV always knows.

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No they don't. They like sending threatening letters to people claiming that they are driving around without insurance when in fact you sold the car 2 years ago. Got one of those once. 6 cars insured with 2 company's and they say I am uninsured. stupid gits.

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Originally Posted by jerrymrc

No they don't. They like sending threatening letters to people claiming that they are driving around without insurance when in fact you sold the car 2 years ago. Got one of those once. 6 cars insured with 2 company's and they say I am uninsured. stupid gits.

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I'm trying to think if I ever once sent a cancellation certificate on personal auto coverage while I was an agent, and I'm pretty sure I never did. Dave? Ronin?
I don't even know who I'd send it to except for the DMV, and they can choke.

My own experience:

When an officer runs a plate, he can get back the results "Insured," "Exempt," or "Unknown."

"Insured" means that DMV has something current on file. It may have been cancelled three days after they got the submission, but they have something.

"Exempt" means a certificate of self-insurance on file at DMV. You usually see that with fleets.

"Unknown" means that DMV doesn't have anything on file. Most of the "unknown" drivers I've stopped did have valid insurance, and some of the "insured" drivers weren't actually insured, but DMV didn't have their s*** straight. (Try not to be too surprised by that one.)


ETA: Post 223!

When i clear a plate it usually has insurance information such as insured, exempt, or unknown. DMV is not accurate as far as updating their system so I don't even look at it anymore. I always ask for insurance and if I get a funny feeling on a stop and I want to verify insurance, I call the number on the back of the card. If they do not have a card I usually, not always, write because if they pull out and kill a family of 4 and I let him/her drive without insurance, that's my a$$. Plus the ticket will go away with a quick fax from the insurance company to the court house.

The last time I was pulled over cop asked for license reg and insurance. I was looking for my insurance and registration and he takes my ID and says he can look up if I have valid insurance and updated reg.