Monday, March 5, 2007 Posted 10:38 a.m. (CDT)

A new proposal would allow authorities to seize the vehicles of motorists who fail to show proof of liability insurance during a traffic stop.

State Senator Patrick Anderson believes the proposal will help remove uninsured motorists from Oklahoma roads.

Current state law allows a driver who is ticketed for not having proof of insurance to drive away after receiving the ticket.

The Enid senator says the proposal would give authorities the ability to seize the driver's vehicle and sell it at public auction.

Anderson says someone who has liability insurance, but simply forgets to carry proof of it in his or her vehicle likely would not have to forfeit the vehicle.

The proposal hits close to home for Anderson.

"My executive assistant has a daughter whose family was hit by a drunk driver with no insurance," says Anderson.

Sandy Riley, Anderson's Executive Assistant, says, "It's devastating for them because she has three children."

Riley's family now has more than 200-thousand dollars in medical bills.

She hopes this will help others families in the future.

"I'm not sure what the perfect answer is but I think there has to be something to make people more accountable," says Riley.