New Okla. Law Allows Seizure Of License Plates

Law enforcement officers in Oklahoma will soon have the option to seize license plates from uninsured drivers and assign temporary insurance.

A new state law went into effect Nov. 1 allowing the seizure, but the Oklahoma Insurance Department says agencies won’t implement the changes until January as procedures are established.

Insurance Commissioner John Doak calls the change an "innovative approach." Doak tells the Tulsa World (http://bit.ly/1aQZdcr ) that the new law will give officers the option to either seize a vehicle’s license plate or have the vehicle towed if a driver doesn’t have insurance.

Under the law, temporary liability insurance can be assigned when a citation is issued for failure to comply with the compulsory insurance law. The Oklahoma Insurance Department estimates that about 563,700 vehicles are uninsured in the state.