Wisconsin Prepares for Mandatory Car Insurance

Published: Wed 26 May 2010

Thomas Kristoffersen

Wisconsin motorists will soon face fees of up to $500 if caught driving without car insurance coverage. Starting June 1, Wisconsin law enforcement officers will begin asking for proof of insurance and a driver's license during all traffic stops.

Wisconsin will be the 49th state in the country to require liability insurance of its drivers. Currently, just 85 percent of Wisconsin motorists have auto insurance coverage. The remaining 15 percent must now comply with the new mandate.

Although the law permits fees of up to $500, state troopers will give $200 tickets to drivers who admit that they do not have coverage during a traffic stop. Municipalities have the freedom to set their own fees, which may be lower than those charged by state troopers. As a result, the fine may fluctuate depending on where the driver is pulled over.

Drivers who cannot afford car insurance will face license suspensions or revocations if they cannot pay the fines. Proponents for low-income residents of Wisconsin object to the new car insurance law. Of course, critics can take heart in the fact that drivers must be caught without coverage for the law to be enforced.