Like every other city, officers in Austin, Texas, routinely pull over cars for traffic stops. When asked for their proof of insurance, many drivers are following the rules. But a growing number – close to 950 a month on average – aren’t carrying car insurance required by law. And that’s just the folks getting checked.
Austin Police Department data show more than 8,500 uninsured-driver citations between January and September
That’s far higher than tickets for expired registration or driving without a license, and it raises real concerns. Crashes involving uninsured drivers can turn minor fender benders into expensive disputes, leaving people scrambling to cover repairs or medical bills.
APD’s assistant chief of patrol, Mike Chancellor, presented the numbers to Austin’s Mobility Committee. Most are discovered when officers pull folks over for another violation. Police use the TexasSure database to check insurance. If the system is down or a driver can’t produce proof, a citation is issued, though it can later be dismissed in court.
Many drivers skip insurance for a mix of financial, unintentional, and sometimes willful reasons
Cost is the most obvious factor. Policies can be expensive, and some people gamble that they won’t get into an accident.
Others face temporary coverage gaps after a job loss, a vehicle change, or a lapse in policy payments…