Rapper's car insurance arrest proves unfounded: Ice-T walks

A clerical error in the New York Department of Motor Vehicles prompted the arrest of rapper Ice-T, a judge found, and charges against the veteran entertainer were dropped last week after the Manhattan assistant district attorney found that he was properly licensed and insured.

"That's what I'm talking about - dismissed!" the rapper said while exiting a Manhattan courtroom with his wife and attorney last week. Ice-T, who was born Tracy Marrow, was arrested late last month after being pulled over for not wearing a seat belt, a charge which he denies. A computer check then indicated - incorrectly, as it turned out - that the 52-year-old entertainer was driving on a suspended license and without car insurance.

It was revealed after the fact that New York's records failed to indicate that Ice-T is licensed and insured in New Jersey, instead showing his registration and insurance had lapsed.

While there were few consequences for the rapper in this case, it still indicates the headache motorists can suffer if they are caught driving without the proper license and car insurance.