MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Senate has voted to set up acomputer database that would allow county tag officials and lawenforcement to instantly check whether a vehicle has liabilityinsurance.

The Senate voted 35-0 Wednesday for a bill by Republican Sen.Arthur Orr of Decatur. It would require insurance companies toprovide electronic data to the state Revenue Department about whichvehicles have liability insurance, which is mandatory in Alabama.The information would be compiled in a database, and county tagofficials would verify that a vehicle owner had insurance beforerenewing a license plate. Police could also check for insuranceafter stopping a vehicle.

For Orr's bill to take effect, it still must be approved by theHouse and by the governor.

Orr says his bill is needed because national studies estimatethat one-fourth of Alabama's motorists don't carry insurance. Hesaid 28 states already use computer databases to checkinsurance.

Currently, motorists are supposed to be able to show proof ofinsurance, and the Revenue Department randomly selects motoristsfor periodic checks. Orr said some people buy insurance long enoughto get the proof of insurance they need to renew their tag and thencancel the policy.

State Revenue Department spokeswoman Carolyn Blackstock saidbill addresses the problem cited by Orr, and the agency supportshis bill. "It would be a win-win situation for everyone, especiallythose drivers who are conscientious enough to maintain theirmandatory liability coverage," he said.

State Farm insurance spokesman Davis Majors said the company hadno opinion on Orr's bill.