Department of Motor Vehicles

Implementation of the Insurance Information and Enforcement System

The Department of Motor Vehicles was required by the State Legislature to implement the Insurance Information and Enforcement System (a database of all the motor vehicles insured in New York State, which can be accessed through a bar code imprinted on each vehicle’s registration sticker or a sticker affixed to the vehicle’s license plate). We examined certain aspects of the system and found that improvements were needed if the system was to be as useful as intended. For example, most of the law enforcement agencies we contacted were not familiar with the bar code link to the system, and had not taken advantage of this feature. We also found that insurance companies were often slow to provide updated insurance information to the database. We further determined that improvements were needed in the system’s management reports and its computer security controls.

For a complete copy of Report 2001-S-61 click here.
For a copy of the 90-day response click here.
For a copy of the associated follow-up report click here.