I've seen this come up a few times, and honestly, you're probably right—it often comes down to the officer or even just the mood they're in that day. But here's the thing: while screenshots might've worked fine for you so far (and that's great), insurance rules can be weirdly specific depending on the state. South Dakota isn't exactly known for being super strict, but why risk it?
I had a client once who got pulled over out near Rapid City—nothing major, just speeding a bit—and he showed a screenshot of his insurance card. Officer was cool about it, didn't even blink. But then another client had almost the exact same situation happen near Sioux Falls, and the officer insisted on seeing either a physical card or an official app version. Ended up with a ticket that he had to contest later... total headache.
Point is, it's not always consistent. And while I get that downloading yet another app can feel annoying (trust me, my phone's cluttered enough already), having it handy could save you from unnecessary hassle down the road. Plus, most insurance apps these days have some pretty useful features—like quick access to roadside assistance or claims info—that screenshots just can't offer.
Anyway, good call on deciding to download it. Better safe than sorry, right?
Yeah, honestly it's a bit of a toss-up. I've been commuting between Sioux Falls and Mitchell daily for years, and I've seen it go both ways. Most officers I've run into don't really care if it's a screenshot or app, as long as they can clearly see the info. But there's always that one time you get someone who's having a rough day or just wants to be extra thorough...
Had something similar happen last year—got stopped for a busted taillight (didn't even know it was out), and the officer was super chill about my screenshot. But my coworker got dinged literally two weeks later because her screenshot was blurry or something. She ended up having to contest it too, total waste of time.
Bottom line, you're smart to just bite the bullet and download the app. Yeah, it's annoying cluttering your phone with yet another icon, but beats dealing with unnecessary hassle later on. Good move.
Yeah, I totally get the hesitation about downloading yet another app—my phone's already cluttered enough as it is. But honestly, having the official app just makes things smoother overall. I've heard similar stories from friends around Rapid City too; most cops are chill about screenshots, but there's always that one officer who insists on seeing the real-time info directly from the app.
Plus, if you're ever in a situation where your screenshot is outdated or blurry, it's just an unnecessary headache. I had a close call myself during driver's ed last year—my instructor warned us about this exact thing. Better safe than sorry, especially when you're still getting comfortable behind the wheel. Good call on downloading it, even if it's a bit annoying at first.
Yeah, the app's handy, but honestly I've been pulled over a couple times around Sioux Falls and never had an issue with screenshots. Still, you're right—better not risk it. Last thing you want is extra hassle over something so small.
"Last thing you want is extra hassle over something so small."
Yeah, totally agree with this. I've never had trouble with screenshots either, but knowing my luck, the one time I rely on it is when I'll run into that one officer who's having a bad day... Better safe than sorry, I guess.
