Illegal immigrants an unknown factor in Okla. insurance verification program

An auto insurance verification program being developed in Oklahoma does not address a growing number of uninsured drivers — illegal immigrants.

The new real-time system will allow law enforcement officers to immediately determine whether or not a driver has the required insurance on a vehicle. The goal is to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on Oklahoma roads. But state law prevents illegal immigrants from buying car insurance because they cannot legally obtain a driver’s license.

However, said Lonnie Jarman, director of financial responsibility at the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, “they have cars.” He believes as many as one-fourth of Oklahoma drivers do not have car insurance, although other estimates are lower. He said the number is “a constantly moving target.”

The state also does not know how many illegal immigrants reside in Oklahoma.

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