Texas Side Police to Begin Towing Uninsured Vehicles

photo by Jeff Easterling

Beginning June 15, 2015, uninsured motorists operating their vehicle within the city limits of Texarkana, Texas may soon have their vehicle towed if stopped by Texarkana, Texas police officers. 

The ordinance, which was adopted last year by the Texarkana, Texas City Council, is in response to a report that one out of every seven vehicles on the roadway in Bowie County is uninsured.

Following similar ordinances adopted by cities such as Dallas and Lufkin, Texarkana, Texas officials are optimistic that the number of drivers operating without insurance will decline not only within the city, but the county as well. In 2014 Texas side officers issued over 2,600 citations for no insurance, which amounts to more than seven violations per day.

Not every traffic stop or encounter will result in a vehicle being impounded. Officers will impound uninsured vehicles in the event that they are involved in a crash, if the vehicle is stopped for a hazardous moving violation or a non-hazardous violation where the driver is unlicensed or the vehicle registration is not valid.

The State of Texas recognizes valid proof of insurance as either an insurance policy form (or copy), an electronic image of the form which can be displayed on a wireless communication device, an insurance binder that confirms compliance, a surety bond certificate, a certificate of deposit (or copy) or a certificate of self-insurance covering the vehicle issued (or photocopy).

In the coming weeks the Texarkana, Texas Police Department will hand out informational flyers to motorists who are stopped and meet listed criteria in an effort to gain voluntary compliance.

Further information may be found on the department’s Facebook page.

(from a TTPD Press Release)