One type of traffic ticket that you should always talk to a criminal defense attorney about is a No Insurance ticket. Under Minnesota law, it is a crime to not have insurance on the vehicle you are driving. Police can give you a ticket for driving another person’s car that does not have insurance.
But don’t just pay the fine. Remember that you are presumed innocent of the crime of No Insurance until you admit that you are guilty, and paying the fine is considered an admission of guilt. You also have the right to remain silent. A Minnesota criminal defense attorney will tell you that the State has to prove that the non-owner driver given a ticket for no insurance, knew or should have known that the vehicle did not have insurance. Think about it. Can you prove beyond a reasonable doubt what I know if I say nothing?
The most obvious case is a potential client of mine who was an 18 year old, still living at home, who was driving his father’s car and got into an accident. The investigating police officer called the family’s insurance company from the scene of the accident to verify insurance coverage. The insurance coverage had been cancelled for non-payment of premiums. The client was given a ticket for no insurance, even though he had no idea the insurance was lapsed, and even though it was not his responsibility to pay the premiums. If this client had simply paid the ticket like he wanted to do, the State of Minnesota would have suspended his driver’s license, even though the accident was not his fault, and it was his dad’s fault that the insurance had been cancelled. There is no way the State could have proven this client was guilty.
If you have a question concerning your Minnesota ticket for No Insurance, call today for a free consultation.
John Scott, 612-963-4629
Criminal Defense Attorney - Minnesota 