Lawmaker Opposes Plan to Use Cameras to Ticket Uninsured Drivers

A state lawmaker is speaking out against a proposal to use cameras to catch motorists who drive without insurance.

Monday, November 30th 2009, 4:54 pm

By: News 9


By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY – A state lawmaker is speaking out against a proposal to use cameras to catch motorists who drive without insurance.

The Department of Public Safety is considering putting up 200 cameras on roadways throughout the state to crack down on drivers without insurance. The cameras would randomly scan the bar code on car tags. If the car comes back uninsured, the driver would be mailed a ticket.

The system would be an upgrade to the state's electronic insurance verification system.

Drivers like Carol Baker said they support the program.

"I think it's a good idea only because it protects us insured motorists who do have insurance," Baker said.

But state Representative Mike Reynolds said the cameras are an invasion of privacy.

"It just violates any principal of privacy that was guaranteed under our U.S. Constitution," Reynolds said. "It's not the government's business to know where you or I or any other citizen is unless we're committing a crime"

Reynolds said there should be stronger enforcement of existing laws such as impounding the cars of uninsured motorists during traffic stops to keep them off the roads.

DPS said they're currently looking for a vendor that can provide equipment to read the car tags. Vendors have until December 23 to send in their information.

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