California vehicle code section 16028 a vc fine
Failure to Provide a Peace Officer Evidence of Financial Responsibility
16028 a vc Fine $880.00 DMV Point 0 (2012)

It is common practice by law enforcement agencies to ask for driver license, valid vehicle registration and proof of valid insurance during a traffic violation stop. California vehicle code section 16028 a vc requires for a driver to provide evidence of financial responsibility for operating a motor vehicle on the highway. Basically, it is a violation of California vehicle code section 16028 (a) for any person to drive a vehicle on a public road without having automobile liability insurance. Therefore, a police officer may ask to see a valid proof of insurance at the time of a traffic stop. However, a police officer may not pull over a driver strictly to check for valid insurance.

It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that proof of valid automobile insurance coverage is available in the vehicle. If the driver is unable to produce a copy of valid vehicle insurance, then the officer may issue a citation for violation of vehicle code section 16028 (a) vc. However, due to the fact that in most cases the traffic stop is the result of another violation the traffic ticket may also have another violation code as well as 16028 a vc in the violation section of the citation.

Violation of 16028 a is generally a fix it ticket. In most cases, the violation will be dismissed once a proof of valid vehicle insurance is presented to the court. However, there may be a nominal court fee (approximately $25). In cases where the defendant is unable to produce a valid vehicle insurance on the day the citation was issued, the court will impose a fine in the amount of $880 for violation of 16028 a. It is important to note that violations of 16028 (a) does not carry a DMV point.

The following is the California vehicle code section 16028:

16028.  (a) Upon the demand of a peace officer pursuant to subdivision (b) or upon the demand of a peace officer or traffic collision investigator pursuant to subdivision (c), every person who drives a motor vehicle upon a highway shall provide evidence of financial responsibility for the vehicle that is in effect at the time the demand is made. However, a peace officer shall not stop a vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether the vehicle is being driven in violation of this subdivision.

(b) Whenever a notice to appear is issued for any alleged violation of this code, except a violation specified in Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 22500) of Division 11 or any local ordinance adopted pursuant thereto, the cited driver shall furnish written evidence of financial responsibility upon request of the peace officer issuing the citation. The peace officer shall request and write the driver's evidence of financial responsibility on the notice to appear, except when the peace officer is unable to write the driver's evidence of financial responsibility on the notice to appear due to an emergency that requires his or her presence elsewhere. If the cited driver fails to provide evidence of financial responsibility at the time the notice to appear is issued, the peace officer may issue the driver a notice to appear for violation of subdivision (a). The notice to appear for violation of subdivision (a) shall be written on the same citation form as the original violation.

(c) Whenever a peace officer, or a regularly employed and salaried employee of a city or county who has been trained as a traffic collision investigator, is summoned to the scene of an accident described in Section 16000, the driver of any motor vehicle that is in any manner involved in the accident shall furnish written evidence of financial responsibility upon the request of the peace officer or traffic collision investigator. If the driver fails to provide evidence of financial responsibility when requested, the peace officer may issue the driver a notice to appear for violation of this subdivision. A traffic collision investigator may cause a notice to appear to be issued for a violation of this subdivision, upon review of that citation by a peace officer.

(d) (1) If, at the time a notice to appear for a violation of subdivision (a) is issued, the person is driving a motor vehicle owned or leased by the driver's employer, and the vehicle is being driven with the permission of the employer, this section shall apply to the employer rather than the driver. In that case, a notice to appear shall be issued to the employer rather than the driver, and the driver may sign the notice on behalf of the employer. (2) The driver shall notify the employer of the receipt of the notice issued pursuant to paragraph (1) not later than five days after receipt.

(e) A person issued a notice to appear for a violation of subdivision (a) may personally appear before the clerk of the court, as designated in the notice to appear, and provide written evidence of financial responsibility in a form consistent with Section 16020, showing that the driver was in compliance with that section at the time the notice to appear for violating subdivision (a) was issued. In lieu of the personal appearance, the person may submit by mail to the court written evidence of having had financial responsibility at the time the notice to appear was issued. Upon receipt by the clerk of that written evidence of financial responsibility in a form consistent with Section 16020, further proceedings on the notice to appear for the violation of subdivision (a) shall be dismissed.