Illinois courts have often recognized that the public policy behind, or the purpose of, the insurance requirement is protection of the public. 285 Ill. App. Section 7-601 further specifies not only that one shall not operate, register, or maintain registration of an uninsured motor vehicle, but an owner may not permit someone else to do so. Moreover, section 3-707 creates a rebuttable presumption that anyone who cannot provide that very specific proof of insurance shall automatically be deemed to be operating an uninsured motor vehicle. However, the operator may rebut that presumption in court by producing proof that insurance existed at the time of the arrest.
Nothing is said in the statute about knowledge or inadvertence.
The legislature has set forth the specific Code violations that are intent crimes. If the law enforcement officer issues a citation to a motor vehicle operator for displaying invalid evidence of insurance, the officer shall confiscate the evidence for presentation in court. Knowledge or intent is not an element required to prove a violation of section 3-707. The legislature was clear. A vehicle cannot be driven without insurance.