By Lyle Adriano
The Michigan legislature approved House Bill 4193 on last week, allowing motorists to easily share their insurance documents with police through their smart phones or other mobile devices. Republican Rep. Aric Nesbitt, one of the sponsors of the bill, said he supported the legislation for its convenience and potential to improve traffic law enforcement. “It's time for us to move from the 1960s paper world into the electronics world,” he said.
Aside from allowing the sharing of digital insurance proof, provisions also call for privacy protections for motorists showing their devices to law enforcement. Officers would be forbidden from manipulating motorists’ devices to look for any other information saved on them.
Officers, as stipulated by the bill, could require motorists to forward an electronic copy of their insurance documents to an email address. This allows the officers to view the documents in their car or through some other means (i.e., their own tablets, etc.) instead of having to read everything while standing on the side of the road.
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said she is in full support of the bill. Spokesperson Fred Woodhams said she “. . . is pleased to see it moving forward.” He has also noted that SOS offices have already accepted electronic proofs of insurance through mobile devices. “She believes people should be able to use this convenient option to show they have valid auto insurance,” he said.
The bill will become law after the governor signs it, which is expected soon.
