“What about having insurance”
Someone asked a few days ago about drivers having insurance on the vehicle they are driving so I thought I would talk about that a little.
Quite simply, when operating a vehicle in Oklahoma you as the driver are responsible for providing proof the vehicle you are driving has current insurance coverage and you must provide proof of that when asked by any law enforcement officer. A few people believe they are automatically covered by their own insurance when driving someone else’s vehicle. This is not always the case. Regardless, you must prove you have insurance coverage on the vehicle you are driving with a valid insurance verification for that vehicle at the time of the traffic stop.
If cited for no verification of insurance YOU must prove by your court date that the vehicle was covered at the time of the stop. If the vehicle was not insured you may have your drivers license suspended so it is critical to you that you be certain the vehicle is covered.
If cited for no verification and you can prove coverage existed at the time of the stop Oklahoma law requires the citation be dismissed without cost.
In regards to the “trailer equipment” issue of past weeks I would like to thank all those who have commented in a reasonable and respectful manner and especially those local farmers and ranchers who voluntarily rigged their trailers with fully functioning lights in the best interest of safety.
I have heard of a few who seem to resent this but no one has come to me personally. I can only ask that if anyone has concerns or questions that they come talk to me and simply understand how to be legal. This is much better than citations, especially after an accident occurs. Once again water tank trailers used only for farming and ranching within Oklahoma are exempt from the trailer brake requirement as “implements of husbandry” but there are specific lighting requirements depending on the implement and combination of towing unit and trailer. Ask any trooper for the specific lighting requirements for your equipment.
I must stress that if you have NO LIGHTS at all on a trailer being pulled by a vehicle you are subject to lighting requirements and being cited. All trailers besides water tanks and a few farming related exemptions MUST have fully functioning lights, safety chains and brakes if over 3,000 lbs gross weight on the trailer.
As of this date NO ONE has been cited in Cimarron County for not having lights on a water tank to my knowledge. As I said when this issue was brought to light a couple of months ago I simply mentioned it in this column as a courtesy in lieu of starting to issue citations without any advance warning. This requirement has been on the books for years and has simply been let go. We (OHP) simply asked that everyone come into compliance so that citations will not be necessary…….
Trooper Duane Johnson #280
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
