Mark Titus, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Government is moving speedily to nab motorists who drive under cover of fraudulent insurance certificates. Using increased technology, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will work with a number of agencies, including the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ), the Inland Revenue Department, and the Ministry of Finance, to clean up the system.

The IAJ has committed to electronically transfer all insurance transactions and information to the relevant government agencies for quick verification and swift action.

"Our research suggests that one in three vehicles on our roads is underinsured or carries no insurance at all," states Paul Davis, director of the anti-fraud unit at the IAJ, in a document to The Sunday Gleaner.

"The industry is taking steps to combat the problem and is exploring ways to reduce the reliance on the paper-based cover notes as proof of insurance," he further states.

The new initiative will enable insurance companies and brokers to print cover notes and transmit the information in real time to the police, who would be able to query the insurance status of a vehicle by radio and by electronic means, even before approaching a vehicle. This will be done based on a query of the licence-plate number. The Inland Revenue Department will be equipped to validate cover notes before issuing motor vehicle registrations.

Frightening

Describing the IAJ's research result as frightening, Senior Superintendent Ealan Powell, commander of the Police Traffic Division, says that the sooner such a drive is in place, the better it will be for the people of Jamaica.

"Presently, it's a challenge for the police," he said. "We check the certificate of fitness, licence, insurance or the cover notes, but there is no means by which we can determine whether or not the insurance particulars are genuine.

"If we have a suspicion, we will make a call to the insurance company, but sometimes when you are on the beat, it is not easy to get through to these organisations. So that in itself creates some difficulty," he explains.

However, the top traffic cop is of the view that if this initiative could come on stream, it would make the job of the police much easier, and less time would be spent by the motoring public when they are stopped for checks during police operations.

The IAJ says the system is expected to move to its pilot phase in the next six-eight months, and is anticipating that it will reduce the number of uninsured vehicles on the roads.

When contacted, Leighton Beckles, public relations manager at the Inland Revenue Department was unable to comment on the matter.