uninsured motorists

[rh71]

how do they get through the system without insurance and behind the wheel of a car? Is it easier to do in say... CA rather than NY? Without insurance we can't even get plates here. Maybe if state inspections mandated insurance checks, that would help... but they don't even have inspections out there do they?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Beats me.

I know I can't register my vehicle without proof of insurance. I imagine people without insurance are often the same people letting their registrations expire. Or they buy a cheap insurance plan for the sake of registering. They're insured for a portion of the year, and just let it lapse (or even stop paying immediately) until they have to renew registration.

*shrug*

 

[rivan]

Or they fake an insurance card. Most aren't that complex, and with some "proof" being printable by purchasers (I think eSurance does this - you print your own) it shouldn't be that hard.

In MO, I've never seen them verify an insurance card.

 

[zinfamous]

I had a car in Chicago for 2+ years without being insured.

Then again, you can ask some of the ATOT Chicagoans here and they'll agree that my interpretation of "had a car" should be taken rather loosely.

:sneaky:

 

[shortylickens]

They get insurance and then cancel it right away.
Thats why cops usually check when they pull you over.

 

[SlitheryDee]

What you do is get insurance to get the car and license then let it lapse. Don't even worry about getting a new license or registration. Just never get pulled over. If you do get pulled over and manage to not get your car towed, just keep going as usual until you do. You could probably get by for a loooong time like that.

 

[PingSpike]

NY has some measures that I believe somewhat prevent the situation shortylickens mentioned. You can't cancel the insurance in NY until you have some other insurance or something like that. Most places do not have that AFAIK.

 

[shortylickens]

NY has some measures that I believe somewhat prevent the situation shortylickens mentioned. You can't cancel the insurance in NY until you have some other insurance or something like that. Most places do not have that AFAIK.

How does the insurance company know you are still driving?
Couldnt you just lie about not using your car and not needing insurance?

 

[zinfamous]

How does the insurance company know you are still driving?
Couldnt you just lie about not using your car and not needing insurance?

this sounds expensive to implement, but I imagine that it could be done thusly:

1--Insurance company requires car to be downgraded to "garaged"
2--Obtain special plates from the state, identifying vehicle as "not street legal" or whatever--some kind of plate that instantly tells a patrol car to pull your ass over and fine the fuck out of you.
3--return previous plates
4--Insurance company grants cancellation

 

[shortylickens]

this sounds expensive to implement, but I imagine that it could be done thusly:

1--Insurance company requires car to be downgraded to "garaged"
2--Obtain special plates from the state, identifying vehicle as "not street legal" or whatever--some kind of plate that instantly tells a patrol car to pull your ass over and fine the fuck out of you.
3--return previous plates
4--Insurance company grants cancellation

Hmmm, I actually like that.
Driving on the streets is a privilege, not a right. And too many people abuse it and cause problems.
Outright forcing them to obey they law is OK with me.

 

[bfdd]

Or they fake an insurance card. Most aren't that complex, and with some "proof" being printable by purchasers (I think eSurance does this - you print your own) it shouldn't be that hard.

In MO, I've never seen them verify an insurance card.

Yeah, you print your own with esurance. Insurance companies have to notify the DMV after like a month or two without insurance here in California. I've had it happen to me before, just forgot about it because it was setup as auto pay which got messed up some how, next thing I know my shits expired and I got a letter saying I have a month before they'd notify the DMV.

 

[Mermaidman]

this sounds expensive to implement, but I imagine that it could be done thusly:

1--Insurance company requires car to be downgraded to "garaged"
2--Obtain special plates from the state, identifying vehicle as "not street legal" or whatever--some kind of plate that instantly tells a patrol car to pull your ass over and fine the fuck out of you.
3--return previous plates
4--Insurance company grants cancellation

Or what if the state gov't requires that insurance companies notify the state DMV when a policy is cancelled or lapsed? On one hand, it would help reduce the number of uninsured, but it will also increase the cost of doing business which would be passed on to customers. (This system would cause uninsured cars to lose their registration, but it wouldn't stop people from driving unregistered/uninsured cars.)

 

[bfdd]

Or what if the state gov't requires that insurance companies notify the state DMV when a policy is cancelled or lapsed? On one hand, it would help reduce the number of uninsured, but it will also increase the cost of doing business which would be passed on to customers.

California does this, there is a grace period though.

 

[Svnla]

This is how they do it in TX and LA:

1. Get insurance (the minimum liability and nothing else) by the monthly payment and get all the paperwork/inspection/ect. done.
2. Cancel insurance by no payment to the insurance company.
3. Repeat.
4. Profit while the rest of us pay to the nose.

Dallas city council tried to pass a resolution that will let the police impound vehicles of the people with no insurance but it did not pass IIRC.

 

[dud]

In Florida you MUST show proof of insurance when you apply for a new tag ... but that does not mean that you can't drop the coverage soon thereafter.

 

[shortylickens]

Or what if the state gov't requires that insurance companies notify the state DMV when a policy is cancelled or lapsed? On one hand, it would help reduce the number of uninsured, but it will also increase the cost of doing business which would be passed on to customers.

Since businesses are supposed to be efficient, I dont think it would cost any more to have someone make a phone call to the DMV, seeing as how they probably send a letter to the customer when they lapse anyway.
Of course if the govt did it they would need a whole new office of people and it would indeed add massive costs.

 

[sactoking]

California does this, there is a grace period though.

Nevada just implemented this, no grace period. You miss your payment by one day you get an immediate $250 fine from the State.

 

[boomhower]

In NC your insurance is tied to your registration. When you lapse on your insurance, your insurance company notifies the DMV who puts an insurance stop on your plates. Then when we run your plates it comes back with an insurance stop. Now your looking at a ~$200 ticket with court costs, $150 tow bill plus storage, and a $50 restoration fee to the DMV to get your plates back, plus whatever money you owe your insurance company. You can't get your car out of the tow yard until you get your plates and insurance. It's cheaper to pay your insurance.

 

[BoomerD]

In Kahleeforneeya, you don't have to provide proof of insurance to license your vehicle...the insurance company notifies DMV automatically...and yes, if you let your insurance lapse...they notify DMV of that as well...but WTF does it matter? 39 million illegal immigrants here drive without driver's licenses or insurance anyway...so the system really doesn't work...

 

[Numenorean]

uninsured motorists should be shot in the head.

 

[skull]

Ohio doesn't even make you show proof of insurance to register your car. They just make you sign a piece of paper saying you will keep insurance on it. I've lapsed before they don't notify the DMV. You just have to worry about being pulled over. Its easy to get away with.

My friend just hit someone without insurance. She lied to the cop about having insurance and got away with it. Just has to pay out of pocket to the person she hit.

 

[PottedMeat]

Dallas city council tried to pass a resolution that will let the police impound vehicles of the people with no insurance but it did not pass IIRC.

Didn't it pass in one of the middle cities like Irving or Grand Prairie? I thought I remember the police picking up quite a few vehicles on the news a while back.

 

[techs]

Basically, at least in NY, you get insurance on a payment schedule. Pay a very small down, then don't pay it again. You get yer plates, your insurance is cancelled.

Win for the freedom of the average American against the socialist health, er, auto insurance agenda.

 

[DrPizza]

Basically, at least in NY, you get insurance on a payment schedule. Pay a very small down, then don't pay it again. You get yer plates, your insurance is cancelled.

Win for the freedom of the average American against the socialist health, er, auto insurance agenda.

You'll successfully drive for less than a year without insurance.

NY: the plates do NOT stay with the vehicle. If the vehicle is sold, the plates are removed. You can NOT register a vehicle without proof of insurance. They check.

The minute your insurance lapses, NY is automatically notified by the insurance company that it lapsed. You're now screwed by a fine. If I understand the signs correctly at the DMV, you get one do-over. i.e. pay the fine & things are good. The 2nd time your insurance lapses, it doesn't matter if you've renewed your insurance or not. You have to turn in the plates & cannot re-register a vehicle for the same number of days that you were driving without insurance.

Forget about getting the vehicle inspected - the DMV is contacted via computer as you're getting your car inspected. Forget about getting a new registration. (Oh, and that expired inspection tag & registration tag are going to stand out like a sore thumb once the color changes in January. At that point, you will get pulled over and charged with
*driving without insurance
*driving without registration
*driving without a license (The DMV will suspend your license about 30 days after the insurance lapses)

A DWI would be cheaper.

 

[Svnla]

Didn't it pass in one of the middle cities like Irving or Grand Prairie? I thought I remember the police picking up quite a few vehicles on the news a while back.

Not sure about the burbs of Dallas but I don't think it passed in Dallas city/Dallas county. City council members and county commissioners said something about putting undue stress on the "poor" and certain minority groups.

Story = http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/dmn/stories/040308dnmetcarimpound.24fbf2b7.html

District 7 council member Carolyn Davis, for example, argued Wednesday that the proposed impoundment policy would target racial and ethnic minorities, who police say compose the greatest number of Dallas drivers without insurance.
She suggested that police first provide uninsured drivers a warning, then tow their cars upon a second offense.
“This really affects African Americans and Hispanics. … it’s another way to go about harassing young African American males,” Ms. Davis said. “It doesn’t solve the problem.”
District 5 council member Vonciel Jones Hill also opposed the impoundment plan, but for different reasons. “This is not a racial issue, it’s an economic issue. People don’t have insurance because they can’t afford it,” Ms. Hill said, adding that impounding poor people’s cars creates cyclical problems where they are stripped of their ability to work, and therefore, earn money.