Is Florida going pink? If Senator Mike Fasano, of New Port Richey, Florida gets his way many Florida residents just might be. Late last year, Senator Fasano filed a bill that would require DUI offenders to drive with bright pink licenses plates bearing the letters DUI. Maybe it will embarrass people and keep them from drinking and driving, Fasano said. Maybe theyll think twice. This proposed bill also has a provision that allows police officers to pull over and check on the driver at any time, without probable cause. If passed, Florida will join Ohio, Iowa and Minnesota, all with similar laws in place.

Currently, Ohio has one of the strictest DUI laws in the country. Ohio DUI offenders are issued yellow plates with crimson-numbers. These plates are issued at a judges discretion to people with more than one DUI conviction and restricted driving privileges.

Many feel this punishment is a reflection of the Nathaniel Hawthornes 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter, which is about a woman ordered to wear the letter A as punishment for adultery. In Iowa, DUI offenders plates contain the letter Z, Minnesotas plates bear a unique series of numbers and in Oregon, drunk drivers are required to display a sticker on their licenses plates.

And how well does this law really work? Only a few studies have been conducted to date on effectiveness but one Oregon study showed that offenders in Oregon who had their vehicle plates tagged had lower rates of DUI offenses, moving violations, and repeat DWS offenses than similarly eligible offenders whose vehicle plates were not tagged.

Drunk driving and auto insurance States are not the only ones cracking down on drunk driving auto insurance companies are too!

Even though states forbid insurance companies to deny coverage to policyholders because of race, religion, residence, age or occupation, they can cancel your policy for reasons such as:

Having your drivers license suspended
Having too many traffic violations
Being convicted of a felony, criminal negligence or drunk driving DUI

Insurance companies generally deal with convicted DUI customers by issuing higher rates or through cancellation or nonrenewal of policy.

If your insurer chooses to raises your rates, you will more than likely be labeled as a high-risk driver. In this case, youll likely have to file proof of insurance for three sometimes five years with your states department of motor vehicles. In addition, to remove your license suspension, your insurance company will be required to provide the DMV with an SR-22 form, which notifies the state of your proof of insurance. An SR-22 also means your insurance company is required to notify the DMV if it cancels your insurance for any reason.

Most states require convicted drunk drivers to get an SR-22 from their insurance agency, so in most instances you cant avoid your insurance company finding out. This notice can also trigger your insurance company to cancel your policy mid-term or terminate your policy at the end of the term. However, your insurance company is required to send you a letter stating why youve been canceled. Then it is up to you to try and find another insurer while having a cancellation on your claim history.

In other instances, some insurance companies dont offer SR-22 policies, so you may not be renewed or even canceled because your company is unable to provide you with what you need.

Also keep in mind that your insurance company has up to three years to cancel your policy or raise your rates because of a DUI.

Some insurance companies will take into account the drivers history with the company and recorded claims. If they feel the driver is in good standing with the company then they may not raise the rates at all, says Lou Geremia, President of Insurance.com. It all depends on your insurance company and their policy of action.

Please note that this description/explanation is intended only as a guideline.

For more information about auto insurance please go to: Insurance.com