ATLANTA — People driving cars without insurance could find themselves getting citations in the mail under a new bill introduced in the state Senate.
For years, Georgians have grown accustomed to surveillance cameras helping to solve crimes. Senate Bill 415 would take that concept and use it on those who drive cars without insurance.
Georgia law says people who drive must be insured in order to cover the damage they do to other cars in collisions. Republican Sen. Randy Robertson (R-Cataula) says the state sends out about a million notices each year to motorists who fail to renew their auto insurance or their vehicle registration."
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"So when they send out renewal letters reminding these individuals to do it, we have about forty-five percent – this huge number – not renewing their insurance or tags," Robertson said in an interview with 11Alive News. Tuesday.
Robertson’s bill would allow cities or counties to equip police cruisers with license-reading cameras and software that could access a database showing if a car is up to date on insurance and registration. If they aren’t, they could automatically send citations to the car’s owner.
Robertson says it would be safer and less expensive for violators.
"It solves the problem without law enforcement officers having to make physical traffic stops with individuals," said Robertson, a former sheriff's deputy.
Civil libertarians have balked at cameras automatically enforcing laws, complaining Atlanta is one of the most surveilled cities in the world. But in a world where dangerous encounters between police and motorists have gotten greater attention, Georgia’s ACLU views this bill as a step forward.
"Moving toward civil penalties for these minor offenses, I think it actually makes us safer. It makes interactions with police safer. But it also for the officers themselves," said Fallon McClure, deputy director for policy and advocacy at the Georgia ACLU.
According to a Car and Driver magazine report, a driver in their 30s pays about $1,300 per year in auto insurance premiums in Georgia. Auto registration renewal is only about twenty dollars.
Robertson says his bill would eliminate the fees and court costs that are also levied when a police officer writes a citation for lack of insurance or registration.