Insurance Insights

June 20-26, 2016

AID’s Criminal Investigation Division combats use of fake insurance cards

By Allen Kerr

AID’s Criminal Investigation Division continues to do good work in combating the use of fake insurance cards by those attempting to get their car tags.

On June 6 in Pulaski County Circuit Court, Cheryl Williams, 57 of Little Rock, entered a plea of guilty to one count of attempted insurance fraud for a 2014 case where she used a fictitious insurance card in an attempt to register her vehicle at the Little Rock Central Revenue Office. She was sentenced to one year of probation, a $500 fine, and court costs.

Also on June 6, Layne Rouse, 26 of Ward, plead guilty in Lonoke County Circuit Court to one count of attempted insurance fraud for a February case where he attempted to register his vehicle in Cabot with a fictitious insurance card. Rouse received a one year suspended sentence and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.

Using a fake card is a losing proposition. As a reminder to those considering it, thanks to Act 991 of 1997 any insurance company that provides motor vehicle liability insurance coverage must report their motor vehicle insurance policies on a monthly basis to the Revenue Division, Department of Finance and Administration, including new and cancelled policies.

An uninsured driver on our roads only means one thing: higher insurance premiums for other Arkansas drivers. My staff at AID will continue to fight insurance fraud on all fronts.

It is my pleasure to serve you as Insurance Commissioner. For more information on the Arkansas Insurance Department, please visit http://insurance.arkansas.gov, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ARInsuranceDept and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ArkansasInsuranceDepartment.

Allen Kerr was appointed Arkansas Insurance Commissioner on Jan. 13, 2016, by Governor Asa Hutchinson.