NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Starting July 1, law enforcement will be authorized to tow the cars of Tennessee drivers caught driving without insurance.
WKRN News 2 reports that House Bill 606, which was approved earlier this year and is now law, is aimed at getting uninsured drivers off the roads.
The fine for driving uninsured will also increase from $100 to $300.
“With increasing the fine, we hope to make it cheaper for folks to just go ahead and get insurance and follow the rules,” said Rep. William Lamberth (R – Sumner County).
By next summer, a new system will also allow authorities to ping a vehicle’s VIN. A database will then report if the owner of the vehicle has insurance. This will also assist DMV clerks in determining if a driver has proof of insurance.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, Tennessee had the sixth highest rate of uninsured motorists in the country in 2012, with 20.1 percent.
WKRN News 2 contributed to this report.