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NOGALES-There's a new system designed to lower vehicle insurance rates along the border and help law enforcement.

It's called USIVA "U.S. Insurance Vehicle Authentication."

Right now the law requires anyone driving into the U-S must carry liability insurance. This program identifies and validates U.S. insurance policies providing coverage to Mexican vehicles entering the U.S.

Jesus Hernandez is one of the 8% of Mexicans who have liability insurance to cover them when they drive in the U.S. He says its necessary because it's an Arizona law.

Hernandez is also one of the 78 million Mexican drivers who come to the U-S through a port of entry.

In another two weeks Hernandez and others like him will be able to turn into the USIVA registration center located less than a mile from the Mariposa Port of Entry.

Stephen Bisnett is with the USIVA system and says, "Historically it has shown the past that states along the border have higher insurance rates because more drivers are in one road without insurance. Unfortunately a lot of them are Mexican plated vehicles."

Roger Bisnett did the research on the system. He says now that there's a data base and an awareness campaign more Mexican motorists will hopefully buy the insurance and register their vehicle.

"There are repercussions if they in fact don't buy legal liability insurance when traveling on U-S roads," he says.

The new USIVA system will allow law enforcement agencies such as the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department to tie into the data base so they can verify proof of insurance. Sheriff Tony Estrada says, "I think it's going to be very useful and very helpful to these people and obviously very helpful to us too.

Fines for not having insurance can run from $720.00 $1,200.00. There's also a chance the vehicle will be impounded for 30 days.

The USIVA registration center will be up and running within two weeks. It will be in all border states within the next year.