Latinos Urge Undocumented Drivers to Get Car Insurance

None by Elizabeth Ziegler

New Law Allows Cops to Impound Uninsured Vehicles

(KCPW News) A new law that went into effect last month allows law enforcement officers to impound uninsured vehicles. Leaders of the state's Latino community have waged a media campaign to get the message out to Utah's undocumented residents, says Latino community activist Tony Yapias.

"I haven't talked to anyone whose car has been impounded. But we've been working within the community to make sure we get the word out to the Latino community, especially the 24 percent or so who don't have insurance," Yapias says. "So we are making sure that we're letting everyone know that they should get insurance or their car will be impounded next time they're stopped by law enforcement."

Utah allows undocumented residents to get state-issued driver privilege cards, which do not require a social security number. However, those with driver privilege cards are slightly more likely to go without car insurance. A legislative audit this year found that roughly 24 percent of undocumented residents issued cards do not have car insurance, compared to 18 percent of uninsured drivers with regular licenses. Yapias says getting car insurance will benefit everyone in the state, but it is especially important for undocumented residents.

"Should we ever be in a car accident, we hope that the other person is insured, even more so when it comes down to the undocumented population, who are given the privilege to drive under their circumstances," Yapias says. "And so we encourage them, we strongly encourage them, to make sure that they get insurance."

Yapias says the message is sinking in. He says already he's been approached by several people with driver privilege cards wanting to know how to purchase car insurance.

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