Abstract: A system and method for verifying the status of an insured automobile insurance are disclosed. In particular, a law enforcement officer with a smart phone or tablet takes a picture of a motorist's insurance card while at a traffic stop. The picture is then transmitted to an insurance policy server hosting a collection of records each with insurance information. The policy number is extracted from the picture and a corresponding record is retrieved from the insurance policy server. The status of the policy, which is contained in the record, is then transmitted to the law enforcement officer's smart phone or tablet computer.