Atlanta, Georgia – A lawmaker from Georgia has noticed a big problem with many vehicles on the road that are either not insured or not officially registered. He thinks using modern technology could be the solution.
According to Sen. Randy Robertson, this alarming trend brings a lot of safety concerns and is something that should be fixed as soon as possible. He provided data showing that about a million letters are sent every year to drivers by the Georgia Department of Revenue regarding uninsured or unregistered vehicles in Georgia.
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Despite solving more than half of these reminders, Robertson points out that a significant number still drive without proper insurance or registration.
“All we’re trying to do is correct a serious problem of individuals driving without insurance,” said Sen. Robertson, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
His idea is to equip patrol cars with cameras that can read vehicle license plates and immediately notify officers if a car is being driven illegally.
“The technology does the work, so the officer is not looking at a vehicle and saying, ‘I wonder if…,’ Sen. Robertson said. “The technology is popping up right now, saying there’s an issue with this vehicle. Then, he or she hits the button. The citation is sent.”
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Police can focus on other things, other states have already implemented this tech
Sen. Robertson believes this method could help, especially when police departments are short on staff, allowing officers to focus on more urgent matters. Instead of spending 30 to 45 minutes on the side of the road, each officer can spend their time better.
Robertson clarifies that the fines, set at roughly $100 for lacking registration and $200 for missing insurance, aren’t meant to make money for the police but to motivate people to comply with the law.
“There has to be some penalty there to encourage citizens to go out and get the insurance and drive safely, correctly,” said Sen. Robertson.
He also mentioned that this kind of technology is already in use in other states. If passed in Georgia, it would be up to each county or city to decide whether to adopt it.
Risk of driving an uninsured, unregistered vehicle
Driving without insurance or in a car that isn’t registered is dangerous and can cost you a lot of money and time. Not only do these behaviors break the law, but they also cause a lot of problems that could affect drivers for years to come.
Legal repercussions
If you drive without insurance or in a car that isn’t registered, you will probably get a big fine right away, which could seriously impact your finances. But that’s not the end of the repercussions. In some places, drivers can get points on their licenses, which can cause them to be suspended or even taken away. Imagine not being able to drive to work, school, or other important places because of a mistake that could have been easily avoided.
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In the worst cases, the police can take your car away. It can be very expensive to get your car back after it has been seized, as you may have to pay for towing and storage. If someone tries to push their luck too far, they could face criminal charges that could lead to jail time or community service. These legal problems can have a domino effect, hurting your chances of getting a job and your reputation.
Financial repercussions
Driving without insurance or in a car that isn’t registered comes with financial risks beyond fines and impound fees. If you cause an accident, you might have to pay for the injuries and damages yourself. This could ruin your finances, especially if the accident is severe. Insurance claims can also be turned down if the car isn’t registered or if the accident happened while the driver didn’t have insurance. This means that you will have to pay for all the repairs and damages yourself.
Also, if you get caught driving without insurance, your insurance rates will almost certainly go up in the future. Driving can be a lot more expensive than it needs to be because of this long-term cost. Concerns about safety also come up with unregistered vehicles, which might not meet safety standards because they haven’t had regular maintenance or inspections.
Avoiding the risk
Driving without insurance or in a car that isn’t registered has clear and serious consequences. In addition to the legal and financial consequences, these actions put you and other drivers on the road in great danger. Before you hit the roads, you should make sure that your car is properly registered and insured. The risks of ignoring these duties are much greater than the short-term ease of not paying for registration and insurance. In the end, the only surefire way to avoid these problems and make sure your trip goes more smoothly is to drive legally and responsibly.