Legislation approved by the General Assembly and recently signed into law by the governor officially makes Rhode Island one of 35 states that permit the use of electronic proof of auto insurance coverage.

The new law amends a portion of Rhode Island’s “Motor Vehicle Reparations Act,” adding new language that “proof of financial security may be produced in either paper or electronic format. Acceptable electronic formats include display of documentation on any mobile electronic device.”

Legislation that was enacted earlier this year, in April, directs police officers, as part of investigating a motor vehicle offense or accident, to accept proof of liability insurance in electronic format. The Bates/Kennedy bills that have now become law amend a preceding section of the same statute to explicitly permit the use of electronic formats of auto insurance proof in Rhode Island.