Mississippi Senate: No car insurance, no car tag

meridianstar.com/ ^ | MArch 12, 04 | from staff and wire reports

[WKB]

March 12, 2004

JACKSON — Motorists without liability insurance would be denied vehicle tags under a proposal that passed the Mississippi Senate on Thursday.

Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, said the proposal is just one more way to protect uninsured motorists.

The bill would require residents to present proof of insurance when they purchase or renew car tags at their local tax collector’s office. If they don’t have insurance, they wouldn’t receive a tag.

People who present fraudulent insurance information would face a $500 fine and up to one year in jail, Kirby said. The bill, which passed 45-7, now goes to the state House where it has died in the past.

Vicki Gray of Lauderdale County, who bought a car tag on Thursday, said she agrees with the Senate proposal.

“I think it is a really good idea that people have to have insurance or be able to prove that they have insurance before they get their tag,” Gray said.

“It is a really good idea that people have to have at least liability insurance. I don’t think that they should be required to carry full coverage because a lot of people couldn’t afford it.

“But I do believe that people should be responsible if they are in a wreck to pay for someone else’s vehicle.”

Sen. Terry Burton, R-Newton, initially sought to require proof of insurance at roadblocks when he introduced the bill. Kirby said the bill was amended in committee.

Presently, a law enforcement officer could require a motorist to show proof of insurance if that motorist is stopped for another infraction, such as speeding.

That law “has no teeth in it,” said Sen. Billy Hewes III, R-Gulfport.

“There’s nothing really to have people abide by the law. This is something that has been talked about for a number of years,” Hewes said.

Hewes said the proposed law doesn’t put any extra burden on clerks.

Warren County Tax Collector Pat Simrall said she and other members of the Mississippi Assessors and Collectors Association would like to have more input in the proposed legislation.

Simrall said some motorists will just decide not to get a tag, translating into lost revenue for the county.

“Proof of insurance is a good thing, but let’s do something that is workable,” Simrall said.

The Mississippi Insurance Department has received several complaints from motorists who have been hit by uninsured motorists, said Lee Harrell, deputy insurance commissioner. He acknowledged that the bill could put some extra work on clerks.

“Even under this proposal not everybody will have insurance. Some people are going to drive without a tag. Some people drive without a license,” said Harrell, whose agency supports the bill.

George T. Foster, a Jackson resident, said the bill could be “one of the few times that the state Legislature got anything right.”

Foster said Washington and other states he has lived in require proof of insurance for tags or driver’s licenses.

“I feel like there are too many people driving without insurance,” Foster said. “Mississippi is finally catching up.”

Staff writer Kyle Carter contributed to this report. The bill is Senate Bill 2052. You can obtain a copy of the bill by visiting the Legislature’s Bill Status Web site at http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us

[Khuey]

Same here in NC. It doesn't stop the ILLEGALS from driving! They cancel their insurance after they have tags and drive until the DMV can track them down.

[vetvetdoug]

This is the reason the insurers of Mississippi have fought this bill and why it hasn't passed before. I believe that if one doesn't have insurance and is involved in an accident and cannot prove that the insurance was not present and in policy due to oversight, the offender should be executed on the spot by the MHP officer. A few of these incidents would make those that have no insurance think twice before getting behind the wheel. (Is this not leftist Nazi thinking?)

[onyx]

Try getting hit by an uninsured motorist, then watch YOUR insurance rates hit the sky.

[Old Professer]

I don't know anybody who doesn't carry uninsured motorist's coverage; so who are the uninsured?

[WKB]

Try getting hit by an uninsured motorist, then watch YOUR insurance rates hit the sky.


MS insurance companies do not raise your rates
they cancel your policy. :>)

[Old Professer]

Not so.

[Servant of the 9]

Same law in North Carolina.
In fact, they have been known to come out and take the license plates off of your car if you allow your insurance to lapse.
It's a good thing.

So9

[onyx]

WRONG.

[oldcomputerguy]

Well I have a stake in this as I own houses in both Mississippi and Louisana.

Louisana has laws requiring insurance and Missipppi doesn't and the fact is it doesn't matter. If they want to drive w/o insurance they will. Cancelling the policy is common place.

Personally I'll take the freedom from government I feel in Mississippi anyday. I don't need more laws on the books that only affect law abiding citizens anyway.

[303george]

I like what they do in Philadelphia, the Live Stop program. If you are pulled over and can't produce registration or proof of insurance, your car is towed immediately.

The day before this went into effect, there were lines around the block of people registering cars and buying insurance policies.

[onyx]

MS insurance companies do not raise your rates
they cancel your policy. :>)




Good to know this ahead of time. :)

[Blessed]

Their needs to be a national law requiring liability to be part on all auto policies. In some cases they by collision to satisfy the bank and don't purchase liability.I was hit by a Ohio driver and had no recourse.In Ga. now if your insurance lapses your licencense is pulled.Insurance Companies notify the state electronically as soon as a policy lapses.

[onyx]

I agree with you. Years ago, I got hit by an illegal alien driving without a driver's license of course, and my insurance rates went sky high.

[WKB]

I don't know anybody who doesn't carry uninsured motorist's coverage; so who are the uninsured?




My Home Owner insurance is due. The Premium is $1200.00
Would you please pay it for me?

[eyespysomething]

And your insurance is tied in with your car tag now where the police can call in your tag number and know right away if you have insurance or not.

I still carry my card though.

[mtbopfuyn]

And more the reason to build a wall and build it high. I agree with Bush on most things, EXCEPT his stance on illegal aliens.

[wildbill]

Mississippi is probably the last state in the nation to do something like this.

[onyx]

I believe that if one doesn't have insurance and is involved in an accident and cannot prove that the insurance was not present and in policy due to oversight, the offender should be executed on the spot by the MHP officer.

LOL-LOL-LOL

[oldcomputerguy]

"MS insurance companies do not raise your rates
they cancel your policy. :>) "

Its hardly limited to MS, they cancel them all over anymore.

[WKB]

Mississippi is probably the last state in the nation to do something like this.


And this is surprising BECAUSE?? :>)