My reply to some of David's lines. The injustices caused by uninsured drivers who are at fault in an auto accident are many. This new plan for a check of auto liability is a good idea and should be almost instantaneous upon receipt of paid premiums for new and renewal policies. Not having your "receipt" or evidence of liability insurance, while the consequences are not as severe, is akin to "forgetting" that you had a weapon in your briefcase at the airport terminal.
Anyone can "qualify" for basic liability which effective April 1, 2008 (not an April Fool) was increased by the Texas legislature to 25,000/50,000/25,000 bodily injury per person, per accident and property damage per accident. If your policy has not renewed or been endorsed since then, insurance carriers are automatically providing the higher minimum limits for their policyholders at no additional charge. Many drivers carry higher than the minimum required limits. Depending on credit, loss histories and usage, premiums do vary but ones financial status does not directly affect the premium paid. All insurance companies are now required by law to offer a monthly pay plan for automobile insurance which eases the burden of paying a large premium all at once. Hopefully, this plan will "end up" protecting all of us from irresponsible drivers who are operating a vehicle illegally. They should be made to exit the vehicle and officers then have it impounded. Operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license should require similar tactics. The branch of government that is robbing the people and trying to make them all a lot poorer lies in the northeast section of our country. I for one would hate to think what Houston and all other cities would be like without the police. Many are afraid of the police and for good reason. Many are even citizens. Responsible, law abiding citizens should have no fear of the police. Unfortunately, many of our citizens do nor fit this description. There is more opportunity in the USA and especially Texas than anywhere on the planet but there will always be those who choose not to take advantage of it and blame it on bad luck. I feel so high and mighty that I hate stepping down off of this soap box. Geezer ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 1:37 PM To: David; [email protected] Subject: RE: [ot_caving] interesting uninsured drivers David, I'll comment below: ________________________________ From: David [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Mon 6/2/2008 1:19 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ot_caving] interesting uninsured drivers I would be concerned that this plan is not implemented fairly. What happens if you just renewed your insurance and can't convince the officer that it has been paid? Pay your bills before it expires. If you are pulled over and towed, show the judge where you had insurance on that date. It happened to me. I paid, but forgot to put my new card in the car. I got a ticket, but it was dismissed after I showed proof. What if you left the receipt at home in your briefcase? See above. You must have proof on you. What if the insurance office can not be reached by phone and the officer doe not believe that you paid. See above. Is the officer more likely to believe a white man driving a new car or a black man with a busted tail light driving a rusty 1979 Plymouth sedan? Don't even go there. This is not a racial issue. It's a responsibility issue. Or what about the thousands of poor people that can't qualify for even basic liability. Insurance for liability is around $35 a month. Driving is not a right. It's a privilege. If you can't afford insurance, don't drive. The insurance companies stick it to the poor people who walk in off the street with no insurance and no credit, especially if these people can't afford the policies down payment. See above. Rich people have no problem paying for car registration, car inspection, car insurance, car maintenance, $ 3.50 gasoline. But for poor people, this is a major portion of their paycheck, and for many it is more than their income. Yet they have to have a car to get to work, or to take their family to the doctor, etc. Oh, boo hoo! See above. I am concerned that this plan will end up being just another way to rob the poor people. See above. We don't need to live in a police state where citizens are scared of the police. This policy will unintentionally cause poor people to dislike the police even more. If you're obeying the law (that means having insurance), no problem. I'm a big advocate of personal responsibility, David. You will get no sympathy from me. We are becoming an aristocratic culture just like in the early days before the Russian Revolution. We're talking car insurance, David. Not Bolsheviks. If one doesn't like this, walk, take a bus, or ride a bike! I'm tired of paying thru the nose for services due to scofflaws. Mark
