I have often believed uninsured drivers in South Dakota is a serious issue, usually costing taxpayers in court proceedings, insurance companies of insured drivers and victims of uninsured drivers. It cost my mom and her insurance company recently. Just look at the results of the saturation patrol on NYE, while there was 3 DUI offenses, there were 11 uninsured drivers;
The saturation results for only the five saturation officers were 3 DWI arrests, 3 speeding citations, 4 seatbelt violations, 1 alcohol offense, 7 driver’s license violations, 27 warning tickets, 11 insurance violations, 1 stoplight violation, and 7 miscellaneous citations issued.
What is the solution? I have often said that the state needs to pass a law that requires anybody purchasing a license plate or renewal on tags to show proof of insurance for the vehicle. If they can’t, they don’t get plates or tags. It makes no sense to me that we require people to carry insurance but don’t enforce it through licensing. It would be a simple way to keep uninsured drivers off the roads. Expired or no plates on a vehicle are an easy way for law enforcement to tell who doesn’t have insurance. Obviously some insurance plans only last 3 months at a time, but I feel that if someone goes through the process to insure a vehicle, they will keep up with it throughout the year.