Honestly, I tell folks to keep both digital and paper handy—never hurts. South Dakota law says digital proof is fine, but not every officer is on the same page yet. Had a client once who got stuck waiting while the cop figured out how to scroll on his phone... awkward. Glove box backup is smart, not overkill at all.
Had a similar run-in last winter—pulled over for a busted tail light, and the officer wanted my insurance. I handed him my phone, but he kinda squinted at it like it was written in code. Ended up digging through my glove box for the paper copy anyway. Since then, I keep both. My routine: snap a fresh pic of my card every renewal, print a copy, and stash it in the car. Never hurts to be over-prepared, especially if you’ve had a few tickets like me...
Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of officers in SD warming up to digital cards lately—guess it depends who you get. Personally, I just stick with the app since my glove box is a black hole. Haven’t had an issue yet, but maybe I’m just lucky?
I’m with you on the glove box thing—mine’s a disaster. I’ve only had insurance for a few months and just use the digital card too. Haven’t been pulled over yet, but I do wonder if some officers still want paper. Guess it’s a bit of a gamble.
I hear you—digital cards are super handy, but in South Dakota, technically they’re supposed to accept electronic proof. That said, I’ve had a couple clients mention some officers still ask for paper, especially in rural spots. I keep a crumpled backup in my glove box just in case... never hurts to have both.