When you got pulled over after a night out with friends, you probably knew what was coming next — an arrest. If you drink before you get in a car to drive home, you always take the risk of getting arrested for a DUI. Fortunately, many people who get DUIs can continue driving afterward, but they often need SR-22 filings. Here are three reasons that an SR-22 is a common requirement after a DUI.
1. It monitors the insurance of high-risk drivers
Many people assume that SR-22 is insurance coverage, but it is just a document that proves insurance coverage. High-risk drivers are the only people that need an SR-22, and they need this to prove they have auto insurance. When a person buys a policy that includes an SR-22 filing, the auto insurance company works with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Both parties monitor the person's coverage to make sure that he or she keeps the required insurance.
2. It holds high-risk drivers accountable
Requiring SR-22 for high-risk drivers holds these individuals accountable for their actions. A DUI is one of the most serious driving offenses you can get. To allow a person to drive again after a DUI, states require the SR-22 filing as a way of holding them accountable for their actions.
The reason this requirement holds them accountable is the costs. It costs a lot more to get the SR-22 filing than to purchase a regular policy. You can compare two policies that are the same in coverage, and you would see that the one requiring an SR-22 filing costs a lot more money than the one that does not have this requirement.
3. It provides high-risk drivers with an opportunity to drive
The other thing to realize is that offering an SR-22 to high-risk drivers is a benefit to them. A driver that normally would lose his or her driving privileges will not face this steep consequence. Instead, he or she can continue driving with a valid license if the person is willing to follow the requirement of purchasing an auto insurance policy with an SR-22 filing. Without this option, the person might end up with a revoked driver's license.
If you are facing DUI charges, you will probably need an SR-22 filing to keep your driver's license. If you do, call an insurance company to purchase a policy that provides SR-22, or look online for a company that offers this type of coverage.
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