Making a copy of my insurance papers

[mpb329]

Did you damage your neighbor’s property with your vehicle? Is your neighbor suing you?

No, nothing like that. She's the president of our neighborhood association and thinks she has the right to that information. Sad thing is, I know she is perfectly capable of calling the police so I want to be prepared.

As I said, I'm just trying to understand the laws here in Michigan. I've been living in South Carolina for the last 30 years so I'm not real familiar with Michigan laws.

 

[quincy]

The police in Michigan have better things to do than to entertain a homeowner association president’s desire to have a copy of your car insurance information just for the heck of it.

 

[mpb329]

Why did the police officer stop you?

Why would your neighbor need your proof of car insurance? Were you in a car accident involving your neighbor?

I was not stopped by the police. My neighbor is threatening to call them if I don't provide her with a copy. She is the president of the property owner's association and says she has a right to it. There is nothing in our bylaws that requires that so I'm refusing to comply.

 

[quincy]

I was not stopped by the police. My neighbor is threatening to call them if I don't provide her with a copy. She is the president of the property owner's association and says she has a right to it. There is nothing in our bylaws that requires that so I'm refusing to comply.

I am just guessing but maybe the woman is on a quest to make sure all vehicles are properly registered and insured. Or maybe she has for some reason taken a dislike to you and is trying to find something that can get you in trouble with the police.

I wouldn’t worry about it ... unless you do not have car insurance. In that case, I recommend you get insurance before driving.

 

[HighwayMan]

Then ignore her. She sounds like a kook.

 

[mpb329]

How odd that your nosy neighbor might want your car insurance information.

The insurance certificate gives your insurance policy number, effective date of insurance, expiration date, the year and make and model of your vehicle, and your vehicle identification number (VIN).

I don’t see much there to interest even the nosiest of neighbors ... unless she wants the information for filing a claim against you.

I am aware of all of the things you mentioned and she is not really interested in that. She is the president of the property owner's association and thinks she has a right to it. There is nothing in our bylaws that allow for that so I'm refusing to give it to her.

I was not stopped by the police. My neighbor is threatening to call them if I don't provide her with a copy. She is the president of the property owner's association and says she has a right to it. There is nothing in our bylaws that requires that so I'm refusing to comply.

I am just guessing but maybe the woman is on a quest to make sure all vehicles are properly registered and insured. Or maybe she has for some reason taken a dislike to you and is trying to find something that can get you in trouble with the police.

I wouldn’t worry about it ... unless you do not have car insurance. In that case, I recommend you get insurance before driving.

No doubt she has taken a dislike to me. I'm rather outspoken at our association meetings and she has recently taken on this responsibility and I think it's a "power" thing.
I have insurance so that's not an issue.
What I was really hoping to find out was that if she does call the police and they come to my home, do I have the right to refuse to allow them to make a copy of my proof of insurance. Maybe I should have stated my question in that way in the first place.

 

[HighwayMan]

This has nothing to do with speeding or any other moving violation.

The police have better things to do than to respond to the complaint of some kook asking for something she has no right to have. I can guarantee that they will not come knocking. If they do don't answer the door.

 

[mpb329]

The police in Michigan have better things to do than to entertain a homeowner association president’s desire to have a copy of your car insurance information just for the heck of it.

You are absolutely correct but this is not the first time she has done something like this and the police have come out here. As I have said, I just want to know my rights because she's just crazy enough to call them.

 

[HighwayMan]

Let her call whomever she wants. So what has she called about in the past that caused the police to "come out"?

 

[mpb329]

This has nothing to do with speeding or any other moving violation.

The police have better things to do than to respond to the complaint of some kook asking for something she has no right to have. I can guarantee that they will not come knocking. If they do don't answer the door.

I'm not comfortable not answering the door. I have no reason to, nor am I willing to "hide" from the police. Not to mention, I want them to understand that she is a kook and hopefully deter them from answering her calls in the future.

So, am I to understand that the police do have the right to make a copy of my proof of insurance? Of course if I ask them not to, I would guess, under these circumstances chances are they won't. I will call them tomorrow and ask them directly.

Thanks to you and everyone else for your patient in trying to understand my question and sharing your knowledge with me..

 

[quincy]

You are absolutely correct but this is not the first time she has done something like this and the police have come out here. As I have said, I just want to know my rights because she's just crazy enough to call them.

I haven’t heard of any police officers in Michigan who will provide someone’s personal information to a random person without good reason to do so.

I would ignore the woman for now.

 

[mpb329]

Let her call whomever she wants. So what has she called about in the past that caused the police to "come out"?

In the fall of last year I used my plow truck to move all the fallen leaves from my driveway out on to the dirt road to help fill in a large hole that was developing there. She called the police and said that I had put debris in the road that was blocking traffic. She took a small hand made sign from my driveway and when I went to her house to get it back, she called the police saying that I was trespassing. Yes.... she's a real nut job.

 

[mpb329]

I haven’t heard of any police officers in Michigan who will provide someone’s personal information to a random person without good reason to do so.

I would ignore the woman for now.

That makes a lot of sense. I didn't think about the fact that that is personal information. Good point.

 

[quincy]

That makes a lot of sense. I didn't think about the fact that that is personal information. Good point.

An insurance certificate on its own generally will not provide someone with information enough to easily steal the certificate-holder’s identity but, when combined with car registration (which includes the driver’s license number and name and address of the car owner), an identity thief could cause some mischief and grief.

I really would not be too concerned about the police coming to your home for your car insurance certificate information. This is not to say that the HOA president might not find some other reason to call the police, though.

And, if you feel she is unnecessarily harassing you, you have the option of reporting her to the police, just to have it on the record.

Good luck.

 

[mpb329]

An insurance certificate on its own generally will not provide someone with information enough to easily steal the certificate-holder’s identity but, when combined with car registration (which includes the driver’s license number and name and address of the car owner), an identity thief could cause some mischief and grief.

I really would not be too concerned about the police coming to your home for your car insurance certificate information. This is not to say that the HOA president might not find some other reason to call the police, though.

And, if you feel she is unnecessarily harassing you, you have the option of reporting her to the police, just to have it on the record.

Good luck.

Another good point.

Thanks to everyone that helped me.