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Uninsured Motorists - Get Them Off The Road

By Beth Janicek

This summer in Austin, Texas, one of four drivers stopped for traffic violations have been uninsured. I am an insured driver, so, of course, I find this amazing that individuals will travel on our busy highways uninsured. The minimum amount of insurance required for Texas drivers went up this spring for the first time in 22 years.

Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas, states: "he didn't think the higher requirement was a factor in the lack of coverage because the effect on premiums was minimal."

The new minimum requirements are $25,000/$50,000/$25,000. The previous minimum requirements were $20,000/$40,000/$15,000.

HDI Solutions, Inc., an Alabama company, has developed a database of insurance records and driver license records for troopers to use in a 60-day pilot program in Travis county. If a trooper stopped you during this pilot program and you were uninsured you were ticketed - if you were insured but did not have proof of insurance then the troopers had the capability of using this new technology to validate insurance coverage.

All uninsured drivers stopped by troopers during this testing phase, which will end in a few more days, were ticketed. Drivers who said they were insured but weren't carrying proof of insurance weren't issued citations if troopers, using the new technology, validated their insurance coverage. The pilot project, upon completion will be evaluated by DPS and will eventually be available statewide.

If uninsured drivers can't afford insurance, how are they going to afford to pay a ticket? Harsher penalties need to be implemented.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Full post as published by San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer on July 31, 2008 (boomark / email).