Posted on 04/25/2004 12:14:20 PM PDT by MountainPatriot
SOMERSET, KY – Pulaski County businessman David Carr today said his first act as State Senator would be to introduce legislation to end the penalty against active duty military personnel on the premium rates they pay to reinsure their vehicles.
“I want to defend the soldiers who defend our freedom and this is one way of looking out for them while they’re protecting us in the War on Terror,” said David Carr.
Carr said his campaign had had discussions with local insurance agents that say America’s fighting men and women are being penalized. His campaign has been told that they are forced to pay higher rates on their auto insurance premiums than do other people on reinsured vehicles.
“We have found our men and women on the frontline of the War on Terror, protecting our freedom and way of life, must pay higher insurance premiums to reinsure their vehicles when they return from the battlefield. This is unacceptable and is a clear disservice to those brave young people who are putting it on the line every day for each of us.”
Carr said because Kentucky law mandates auto insurance coverage for legally licensed vehicles, there exists two classifications for owners of uninsured vehicles who seek to reinsure them. Either they must be proved to be inoperable, i.e. non-drivable, under prior conditions or it must be a new vehicle purchase. If either of these two classifications is not met, then the insurer must pay a higher premium penalty. The amount of the penalty depends on the insurance company and the driver’s age and past driving record.
“It’s a shame a simple change in a word or two is causing our service men and women to be penalized. If they already own their vehicles, then soldiers are going to pay more. In fact, they will pay 10% to 25% higher rates than everyone else, depending on their age and driving record. They can’t do anything about their age or their past driving record, but we can do something for them to end this unfair penalty simply because they are serving their country,” Carr said.
Carr urged Governor Fletcher or State Insurance Commissioner to address this issue right now, if possible, by executive order or change in administrative regulation to end this unfair penalty and reduce the financial burden on our brave men and women in service. He pointed to the fact the General Assembly had failed to address this problem effectively.
“Inaction on the part of the General Assembly is unacceptable. Action is needed on this issue, which hasn’t been there. This penalization is wrong and as the next State Senator for Pulaski, Casey, Russell and Adair County, I promise action,” Carr said.
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