New tech tool leads to felon's arrest
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

A new tool that lets police check if a vehicle is insured at the same time they check license plates, registration and other items has already led to capture of a fugitive in El Campo.

TexasSure, a vehicle insurance verification database matching the records of registered passenger vehicles with personal auto insurance policy information submitted by Texas insurance companies, was made available to law enforcers statewide earlier this month by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

During a traffic stop or even while driving down the road, law enforcement officers now can 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.

"Yes, it is in service at our department," El Campo Police Chief Jim Elliott said.

"The wireless technology is now available in patrol cars. When a person is stopped at a signal or driving, the officers can check that information in a matter of seconds. Each registration checks whether the vehicle is stolen, gives registered owner information and tells if the vehicle is insured or not."

The database was rolled out by DPS the first week of October, and law enforcement departments had first to ensure they had the capacity to access the information.

On Oct. 27, an El Campo police officer saw a vehicle, entered its license number and found out it was uninsured. That allowed them to stop the vehicle and led to the capture of the driver, a Rosenberg man wanted by the Austin Pardon and Parole Board for a probation violation.

"We expect an increase in no liability insurance citations," Elliott said. "That is the purpose, to remove the uninsured from the road."

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

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.

Driving without liability insurance carries a maximum fine of $350 and hundreds of additional dollars in court costs and fees. Repeat offenders also are subject to a twoyear driver license suspension.

The Texas Department of Transportation made the database available to tax assessor-collectors statewide in June. The project was mandated by the Texas Legislature and is a collaborative effort of the Texas Department of Insurance, TxDOT, the DPS and the Texas Department of Information Resources.