Motorists should began preparing now for a new state insurancelaw that takes effect soon, said local insurance agents and lawenforcement officials.

A compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance law will beimplemented on Jan. 1, 2001, and applies to all Mississippi motorvehicle operators and owners.

It requires that all motor vehicles operated in the state haveliability insurance coverage with liability limits of $10,000 and$20,000 for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage.

Law enforcement officials believe the law is somethingMississippi residents need.

“I think it’s a good law,” said Brookhaven Police Chief FredMcKee. “I think everybody should be required to have liabilityinsurance.”

McKee added that many drivers involved in accidents in the citylimits are uninsured, but the new law may reduce that number if itis enforced properly by all law enforcement.

Under the new law, which was passed during the 2000 MississippiLegislative session, when law enforcement officers stop a vehicleor investigate an accident, they must verify that an insurance cardis in the vehicle.

Law enforcement officers, however, may not stop a driver for thesole purpose of verifying liability insurance, but officers arerequired to check for insurance during traffic stops.

Failure of the owner or operator of the vehicle to have proof ofinsurance is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,000 andsuspension of driving privileges for a period of one year, uponconviction.

“That law has some teeth in it,” said McKee. “I think a $1,000fine and/or a loss of driver’s license would certainly get aperson’s attention.”

The new law will offer motorists a little leeway, however. Ifthe owner or operator shows proof of insurance at the hearing dateor the date of payment of the fine, the fine can be reduced to$100. The fine and court costs can be waived if the owner oroperator proves that insurance was in effect at the time thecitation was issued.

Local law enforcement officials agree it is important for allmotorists and vehicle owners to have insurance, because motorvehicle accidents occur on a daily basis.

They said that even though insurance coverage has its expenses,the alternative can cost much more.

“Insurance is a two-edged sword,” said Lincoln County SheriffLynn Boyte. “The people that don’t have it, usually can’t affordit, but they can’t afford not to have it if they have anaccident.”

Local insurance agents hope motorists will begin applying forcoverage now, so Mississippi won’t have the same results as otherstates.

“When it went into effect in Alabama, the agents over there wereinundated by people trying to get insurance the day before. Somepeople stood in line for hours,” said Mike Smith, president andowner of Smith Insurance and Risk Managers.

At this point, few uninsured motorists have looked intoinsurance coverage, and insurance agents fear Mississippi willmirror Alabama’s situation.

“We’ve had a few people who have come in, but it looks like themajority is going to wait until the end,” said Ricky Ferguson, FarmBureau Agency Manager.

Insurance agents say many people will wait until the last minutebecause they believe coverage begins the day they purchase it.Actually, it can begin when the client specifies, agents said.

“You can go into effect any day you want, so people can come innow and it won’t go into effect until January 1,” saidFerguson.

If motorists apply for coverage now, they can avoid the hassleof long lines and the possibility of offices being closed for theholidays. Agents also advise motorists to apply for insurance nowbecause some agencies require a trial period.