Police remind drivers to have their pink slips handy

Police in northern Ontario are seeing an increase in the number of people showing up at collision reporting centres without valid insurance documents.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is seeing an increase in the number of people showing up at its Collision Reporting Centre without valid insurance documents. In some cases, motorists were found to be driving without coverage altogether, and police say this has resulted in charges and loss of driving privileges.

Under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, motorists caught driving without valid documents – or without coverage – can face hefty fines.

Ray Magnan, a traffic sergeant with police in the Sault told CTV News that drivers who come to the station to report a collision and cannot produce proof of insurance will also need a ride home.

“When they get here, if they don’t have insurance in that vehicle, they would have to have the vehicle towed from here because they can’t operate the vehicle on a highway without liability insurance,” said Magnan.

Anne Marie Thomas with the Insurance Bureau of Canada said driving without insurance is not only risky – it can be very expensive.

“If you have a conviction for driving without insurance on your record, you’re looking at significant insurance increases for the next three to six years,” she said.

“We could be talking double, or who knows, maybe even triple what the current rate would be.”