Posted on 02/28/2006 2:01:08 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
Close to midnight on a recent cold Saturday, an old white van rattled into the city's impound lot, tucked away in a rural pocket on the South Side. The door opened to reveal nine dark-haired heads, including one little boy licking an ice cream treat. They were there to pick up Juan Carlos Rodriguez's car, which was towed the day before when he made an illegal turn, and the officer discovered the 1989 beige Cadillac wasn't insured.
But first, Rodriguez, 28, had to change the title since the car wasn't in his name. Then he purchased some insurance. By the time he'd bundled his family together, hitched a ride from his pastor and reclaimed his car, he'd spent at least $300.
"No me gusta," said his wife, 25-year-old Ida Rodriguez. "This is unfair."
But it was on the premise of fairness that city leaders adopted a policy last year requiring motorists to show proof of auto insurance. It was intended to protect insured motorists from those without it.
Between Jan. 1, when the policy was implemented, and Feb. 22, the city towed about 1,252 cars, with 228 coming from accidents.
Ida Rodriguez said auto insurance is too expensive for a family like hers, with three small mouths to feed and a mountain of bills.
But others, like city police, who issue about 59,000 insurance citations annually, and the countless many who've been financially pinched when involved in fender-benders with uninsured drivers, say it's unfair and unsafe when drivers go uninsured. They hope the city's new "tow-now" policy will force more people to get insurance.
In San Antonio, uninsured drivers are "a significant problem," said Lt. Scott Bell, the department's unit director for the vehicle storage facility. Across the state, about one in five motorists are uninsured.
So during its annual budget proceedings, the Police Department touted the idea of towing the cars of uninsured drivers and requiring proof of insurance and ownership before those cars are released. While the premise was to crack down on uninsured drivers, it is also expected to pour an extra $1.7 million into city coffers.
Bell said uninsured vehicles are almost doubling the number of impounds at the lot on Growdon Road. Since Jan. 1, an average of nearly 25 cars are towed to it each day. About 10 percent go unretrieved.
San Antonio's policy is the first of its kind in a major Texas city, although Dallas recently approved a modified two-year pilot program. That program, which takes effect in April, targets only vehicles involved in accidents. The Houston City Council is expected to consider a similar policy soon.
A smattering of other Texas cities such as DeSoto, Corsicana, Plano and Rosenberg also tow cars of uninsured motorists, as do Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago and Philadelphia. The practice in Commerce, one of the first Texas cities to do so, ignited a lawsuit, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed the policy, saying it doesn't violate due process because state law requires drivers operating a vehicle to have insurance.
Some City Council members in San Antonio and Dallas have worried the program unfairly impacts minorities and the working poor, who often cannot afford insurance.
J. Robert Hunter, who specializes in insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, questioned whether such policies were effective in pushing people to obtain insurance. He's studied programs such as the one in San Antonio and said they don't work — mostly because poor people, who typically don't have insurance, also typically have limited assets to protect.
And, he added, it doesn't make economic sense to pay $100 in insurance every month for a second-hand car purchased for a few hundred dollars.
In some cases, Hunter explained, uninsured motorists whose cars are impounded simply buy another used vehicle.
When the question is, "Do I feed my child and myself or do I buy liability insurance? People just won't do it," he said.
Bell disputes that. He pointed to anecdotal evidence that showed an increase in purchased car insurance over the last several weeks.
And in Corsicana, Police Chief G.M. Cox said it's worked. The city began impounding the cars of uninsured motorists last May. In June, officers issued 187 citations for no liability insurance. In December, it was 70.
He also questioned the perception that programs like San Antonio's unfairly impact minorities.
"We've been able to show that there's not an inordinate amount of minority vehicles towed over another," Cox said. "And as far as it hampering poor folks, well, unfortunately, if you don't have the money to buy insurance, you shouldn't be driving a car in Texas."
Bell argues that poor people actually benefit from these policies. When a poor person is injured by an uninsured driver, he has to bear the cost alone, he said, which can be much more devastating than for someone with a higher income.
Insurance companies, while hopeful, say it's too early to tell whether these programs are as effective as what they're touted to be, said Jerry Johns, president of the Southwestern Insurance Information Service, an insurance trade association.
"But we're fairly confident that these policies will at least help," he said, pointing out that in some parts of the state, such as the Rio Grande Valley, uninsured motorists make up almost 50 percent of all drivers. "We're hopeful that these kinds of programs will create at least a sense of responsibility."
It did so for Mark Saenz.
The 20-year-old employee at Furniture Factory was pulled over early one Saturday while speeding on his way to work. When the officer discovered his Honda CRX had no insurance, the city impounded his car, pushing Saenz to sign up.
"I was just being lazy," he said. "There was no excuse."
When I moved here in 92 from the east my insurance doubled for 1/5th the coverage.
That's before we even get to tickets and fines.
Me!!!!
</ raises hand >
I don't know if it's still possible, but for a long time you were able to buy a month to month policy.
Naturally all one had to do was buy a policy, then get the car licensed and inspected, then let it lapse for another year.
Why should the person be required to speak English?
The big insurance companies pay your claim and then sue the uninsured driver if necessary.
But you know the old saying about blood and a turnip.
And in the mean time, poor slobs like you and me.... we get shafted with higher insurance premiums for having filed a claim.
Here in NC you cannot register your car without proof of insurance. You also pay a fine for letting it lapse. And you pay a really big fine of your caught driving uninsured.
Here in Alabama they tried to implement a similar policy some years ago. After every civil rights group came down with both feet it died. Seems like it is racial prejudice to do it here. Lately some all white towns are targeting whites only and having a mild success rate. If you stop a person of color it is lawsuit city big time, with a black federal judge coming at you.
I carry additional insurance to protect me from these lowlifes. If you can't afford it, use public transpo.
I post this every so often when the message seems relevant, sort of as a memorial to Mom, as well as to let people know what the justice system is really like.
December 5th, 2001, my mother, Shirley Norkunas, was killed in a car wreck. She was on her way to a Dr.'s appointment. The roads and weather were clear, it was about 9 in the morning, the place was just south of Superior, WI on State Hwy 35. She was driving north toward Superior.
A fellow named Thomas Frankot was heading south that morning, driving on a suspended license. He apparently fell asleep, crossed into my mother's lane, she was killed instantly in the resulting crash.
Thomas Frankot lived. He is essentially judgement proof, with very few assets.
He, after much wrangling, finally pled guilty in September 2002 to driving after suspension and driving left of center.
Previous relevant citations (there are half a dozen or so others). You can find them at the following website-
http://wcca.wicourts.gov/index.xsl
DWI
DWI/OAS (Operation After Suspension)
OAS
No Valid License
OAR (Operation after Revocation)
OAR
That was six offenses BEFORE he killed Mom, so you know he was really in trouble this time.
Was he ever.
He was fined $363, license suspended for six months, and given sixty days to pay.
That's not even the funny part.
He has not paid the fine for driving with a suspended license, even though over four years, much less the sixty days have lapsed.
I asked the clerk of courts what happens when the fines aren't paid.
They suspend his license.
Now, that's justice for ya.
I see your still licking Hitlerys butt. Are you her personal TROLL?
Yep. Making illegal aliens obey the same laws Americans have to follow is really, really unfair. What a heartless unwelcoming nation we are! < / sarcasm>
In Texas you need proof of insurance to register the car yearly -- no problem -- get a policy for once month or less, get the card showing insurance - then cancel the policy...no problemo... or just used a forged Proof of insurance form readily available at your local flee market along with forged handicapped stickers, etc.
Papers? Papers? We don't need no stinking papers !
This is an outstanding policy. I've been hit 3 times by uninsured drivers (in TN). The last time, my insurance company paid up and went after the deadbeat. He really was a deadbeat - had nothing, so the insurance company couldn't recover. Guess what? Right, my rates went up the next year.
I say tow the car immediately if they have no insurance. Put it in the system against their driver's license. If they get caught a second time, revoke their driver's license.
Sorry Slim, the main reason for that is illustrated in this thread. Illegals have the largest effect on the premiums.
Dallas has tried to adopt the same policy, but city council is saying it is racist.
My sympathies to you at the loss of your mother, and then at the insult to injury you suffered afterwards.
How awful to have your Mother be killed this way. It would be really hard to live with, I'd think. You have my sympathies.
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