[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by blueash

I don't see that you violated any law at all and doubt that whatever piece of paper the officer said he could not void fails to show any violation of any statute.
Here is the Florida law on production of proof of insurance to an officer. There is nothing in that statute that says you only have five minutes or fifteen minutes to find your documentation.
It also covers the issue of having your documents on your electronic device, which is completely fine. It even states that your presentation of the electronic device to the cop does not allow him or her to look at any other information on the phone. Strangely it also says any damage caused by the cop to your phone is not his fault.

I am quite sure there is a well established procedure for a cop to correct an error in a citation and that should have been done in your case. You did nothing wrong. A sloppy glove box is not a violation, nor is taking your time to carefully search for the "papers please" The fault lies elsewhere.

Well, perhaps there is no time limit, given in minutes, listed in the law. But, the law says "... shall have in his or her immediate possession at all times while operating such motor vehicle proper proof of maintenance of the required security. That carries the implication that there should be no undue delay in producing the document. I would expect that most courts would consider 15 minutes an undue delay.

Now, once a citation is written it cannot be voided on the spot. This rule was established decades ago to guard against shakedowns of drivers by dishonest cops who would accept bribes to void tickets.

[Kahuna32162]

I just logged onto Progressive and printed my current proof of insurance, Thanks!

[retiredguy123]

The real problem is that the law about having insurance does not have an effective enforcement system. Why not require the insurance companies to issue a sticker to display in the car window or on the tag, so that anyone can verify that the car is insured?

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The real problem is that the law about having insurance does not have an effective enforcement system. Why not require the insurance companies to issue a sticker to display in the car window or on the tag, so that anyone can verify that the car is insured?

Wouldn't that only verify they were issued a sticker? Insurance could have been canceled the next day and the sticker is still affixed to the car.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by CWGUY

Wouldn't that only verify they were issued a sticker? Insurance could have been canceled the next day and the sticker is still affixed to the car.

The same thing can happen if you show the policeman an insurance card. But the sticker would prove that the policy was paid for and I don't believe the insurance company can cancel a paid up policy. You need to display the tag sticker on your plate that proves you paid the tag fee. Isn't that the same thing?

[patfla06]

Originally Posted by Bill32

As bad as the local bureaucracy can be at times i'll still take the Florida DMV over the Long Island DMV anytime!!....

Yeah and at least here they’re nice!

But you have to love his story. No one seems
to be able to get him to the right place -you just
have to shake your head.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by blueash

I don't see that you violated any law at all and doubt that whatever piece of paper the officer said he could not void fails to show any violation of any statute.

Here is the Florida law on production of proof of insurance to an officer. There is nothing in that statute that says you only have five minutes or fifteen minutes to find your documentation.

It also covers the issue of having your documents on your electronic device, which is completely fine. It even states that your presentation of the electronic device to the cop does not allow him or her to look at any other information on the phone. Strangely it also says any damage caused by the cop to your phone is not his fault.

I am quite sure there is a well established procedure for a cop to correct an error in a citation and that should have been done in your case. You did nothing wrong. A sloppy glove box is not a violation, nor is taking your time to carefully search for the "papers please" The fault lies elsewhere.

Thanks for providing a link...to the facts.

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The real problem is that the law about having insurance does not have an effective enforcement system. Why not require the insurance companies to issue a sticker to display in the car window or on the tag, so that anyone can verify that the car is insured?

I agree. There is a problem,but I just don't think a sticker will work better than a card.

Originally Posted by CWGUY

Wouldn't that only verify they were issued a sticker? Insurance could have been canceled the next day and the sticker is still affixed to the car.

We have a card in our "messy glovebox" to show proof now.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The same thing can happen if you show the policeman an insurance card. But the sticker would prove that the policy was paid for and I don't believe the insurance company can cancel a paid up policy. You need to display the tag sticker on your plate that proves you paid the tag fee. Isn't that the same thing?

Thanks for making my point! How will it prove more than a card?

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by CWGUY

I agree. There is a problem,but I just don't think a sticker will work better than a card.



We have a card in our "messy glovebox" to show proof now.





Thanks for making my point! How will it prove more than a card?

Apparently, about 25 percent of drivers in Florida are driving without car insurance. However, I rarely see a car without a current sticker on the tag. So, they are paying for the tag, but not for the insurance. It seems to me that paying the police to stop drivers and ask to see an insurance card is very inefficient. The same information displayed on a sticker would allow anyone to see if the car was actually insured or not without requiring them to weed through the glove box. Wouldn't this increase compliance?

[Henryk]

Value, I feel your pain. The truth is if your insurance were revoked or canceled, DMV would be notified almost immediately and the cop would have known. Another unfortunate incident of STUPID cop. They do not like to be shown wrong.

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by Henryk

Value, I feel your pain. The truth is if your insurance were revoked or canceled, DMV would be notified almost immediately and the cop would have known. Another unfortunate incident of STUPID cop. They do not like to be shown wrong.

That being said..... I don't feel your pain.