Warning: License Plate Scanners are here!

License Plate Recognition Scanners a.k.a LPRs are currently in use by many police agencies. These car mounted devices are capable of scanning thousands of plates per hour and work in a 360 degree pattern whether the plate is stationary or travelling up to 70 mph. The police can set their scanners to look for specific parameters such as Just Stolen Cars, Just Expired Registrations, Just Lapsed Insurance or All the above. Their software is updated on a daily basis by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Homeland Security.

Ordinarily, having these devices in use to catch the Bad Guys is a comforting thought but what if your plate has been flagged by the DMV? In the State of NY, insurance companies are required to report when insurance starts and stops on all registered vehicles. Sometimes information doesn’t match up perfectly causing the computer to think your vehicle is uninsured. Something as minor as an error in a VIN number can cause the DMV to send out a letter and flag a plate. In some cases coverage has actually lapsed due to non-payment of premium. In the past you may have been able to get away with short lapse but beware you might now come out to get your car in the parking lot (or driveway) only to find that it’s been towed away.

A plate that’s been flagged for Lapse of Insurance will cause the scanner to sound an alarm notifying the police officer the car has no insurance. The officer now has probable cause to pull you over and you can be arrested. At the very least, your plates will be confiscated and your car impounded. The paper insurance card you carry in your glove compartment is no longer valid proof of insurance. A problem of this nature will require you appear in court to prove you have corrected the problem with the DMV, possible fines, additional costs at the DMV to retrieve your plates, and another $100 or so in towing fees. Also, depending on where your car was towed, a possible daily storage fee.

From what we’ve been hearing, the police are taking this quite seriously and it’s only going to get worse as technology improves. We urge anyone receiving a letter from the DMV to immediately contact their insurance agent for assistance and not try to resolve the matter themselves.