Under the legislation, officers could use a database to check the insurance status of a motorist who’s pulled over for a primary offense. The agency would also run periodic computerized, random checks on registered license plates.

The bill would allow employees with county tax collector’s offices to check the status when motorists come in to buy car tags. If the motorist doesn’t have insurance, the tag won’t be issued. Simpson said the problem is that the bill doesn’t require the tax collector’s office verify insurance.

President Barack Obama’s embrace of a national database to store the DNA of people arrested but not necessarily convicted of a crime is heartening to backers of the policy but disappointing to criminal-justice reformers, who view it as an invasion of privacy.