Police now have 'live' insurance data
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

TexasSure, a vehicle insurance verification database matching the records of registered passenger vehicles with personal auto insurance policy information submitted by Texas insurance companies, is now available to law enforcers statewide.

An estimated one in five vehicles - about 4 million - drive on Texas roads without the proper insurance.

During a traffic stop, law enforcement officers now can use the license plate or VIN of a vehicle to submit a query to the new database through the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System. That can tell them who is driving without insurance, or with an expired or phony insurance document.

Use of the database went online statewide on Oct. 1, and it's run automatically on every vehicle stopped by troopers, including those out of the DPS Pierce office.

Police can impound a vehicle if it is uninsured. DPS policy is not to impound vehicles solely for no insurance, but other police departments have their own policies.

"The only time we put a hold on a vehicle is if a car's involved in a crime, especially a felony," said Lonnie Garcia, patrol sergeant for the Wharton County Sheriff's Office. "We normally don't do that for insurance."

El Campo Police Department Chief Jim Elliott said some of his officers have found the option to run insurance inquiries on insurance status when they check a vehicle's registration by computer.

"We tested it when it went 'live,'" he said. "It worked fine."

His officers don't impound a vehicle if the driver's only offense is lack of insurance.

"There must be a 'no driver's license' violation also or another charge for which the violator was arrested, such as driving while intoxicated or driving while license suspended," he said. "The vehicle may be released to a licensed driver if that driver has proof of insurance."

He said that once his team evaluates the new database system, the department may expand its criteria for placing a vehicle on an insurance hold.

Driving without liability insurance carries a maximum fine of $350 and hundreds of additional dollars in court costs and fees.