New York State Senate Passes Bill To Allow Proof Of Insurance To Be Carried On Cellular Telephones

Fumbling for paperwork during the next cop stop?  Well, soon there may be "an app for that."

The New York State Senate has passed a law that will allow drivers to carry electronic proof of insurance with them on their smartphones, instead of carrying paper insurance cards.

Senate Bill (S5068A-2013), introduced by Senator Simcha Felder of Brooklyn, "authorizes the production of proof of insurance by the use of electronic transmission to portable electronic devices."

The bill amends vehicle and traffic law to allow use of the devices.  Of course, if motorists are pulled over, they cannot access documents on the phone until requested to do so by police, otherwise the act could be construed as using a cell phone while driving.

The bill is under consideration in the State Assembly as A7685-2013.