Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Dallas City Council might possibly maybe crack down on uninsured motorists
Uninsured drivers would get their cars towed.
The Dallas City Council is considering a crackdown on uninsured drivers.
Currently, uninsured drivers who are in accidents get their cars towed; the crackdown would involve also towing the cars when drivers are given tickets for being uninsured. Last year, about 3,900 uninsured drivers got in accidents, while 76,000 uninsured drivers got tickets.
Statistics show that blacks and Hispanics make up more than 2/3 of the drivers who are being ticketed for not having insurance. Council member Vonciel Jones Hill says the proposal isn't fair, and that people don't have insurance because they can't afford it. Which is an interesting way to look at it. You don't want to begrudge someone their transportation but if you can't afford something, you can't afford it. I can't afford a Bentley which is why I drive a '96 Civic.
Posted by T.G.
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Pavel Lishin, says:
I think we've already had <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/dec/10/uninsured-motorist-detection-program-roll-out-aust/">some comments about this topic</a>, and it came down to cost of insurance being a part of the cost of owning a car.
This policy is no more racist than gas stations charging poor minorities the same amount for gas that they charge well-off crackers.
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1 year, 6 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Anonymous
1 year, 6 months agoScott Doyle, says:
lovlytiff, I'm honestly very confused.
Please elaborate.
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Rawlins Gilliland, says:
Even when I was almost penniless, I ALWAYS maintained car insurance. It was very difficult but if stopped by the law and you have no liability proof of insurance, it was a huge fine. And yes, it's the law.
I fully understand being poor...trust me... but I recently took defensive driving and a young woman in the class told me she does not ever get insurance because she could not afford it. But I could tell she simply did not see it as a priority. On the other hand, she was driving a late model Pontiac. With a fancy manicure. And a stylish handbag. And a professional hair streaking.
I can argue this a thousand ways but car insurance liability cannot be an 'option'. The towing of the car seems excessive but I cannot find an alternative answer. I was once too broke years back... too broke to have my registration or inspection sticker current, and that was in violation of the law. But it had no potential to ruin someone else financially. Destroying someone else's car (or person) with your uninsured car most certainly can and does cost others a fortune. Or worse.
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1 year, 6 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
Maybe Lovlytiff was thinking of South Africa, not Niger, where even getting a driver's license is a <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/29/america/journal.php">painful bureaucratic process</a> that can take a year and has actually sparked off riots.
I guess if you make licenses impossible to get, the number of motorists drops down to almost nothing - except people would just drive without insurance AND without a license, only adding on to the problem.
Or maybe lovlytiff just can't spell racial slurs. Our educational system has truly failed.
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1 year, 6 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Clay213, says:
In The Netherlands, getting a license is prohibitively expensive for many people.. they ride bikes or take the tram instead.
If you can't afford the insurance, you aren't going to be able to pay when you hit my car either.
Claiming this is racist is just asinine.
Anonymous
1 year, 6 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
lovlytiff's comment was removed because it appeared to contain a racial slur (misspelled to try to get through our filters). I removed it on my mobile, hence the delay in explanation.
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1 year, 6 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jason Rice, says:
Way to go Mike! You just don't ever sleep, do you?
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1 year, 6 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
No try about it. =p
Still made no sense. 'splain yo'self, imo.
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1 year, 6 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
A lame attempt at that. They could have gone with about a ɡazillion other options. As it is, they just slandered a poor African nation.
I'd illustrate, but I don't want to make Miko's job any harder than it already is.
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1 year, 6 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
FWIW, it turns out that lovlytiff was a sales rep for a company trying to sell us their automated comment moderation services. I'll have more to say about this on Square Pegs later...
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1 year, 6 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Guess that explains the avatar. I'll be on the edge of my e-seat, Miko.
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1 year, 6 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
60 day trial period of TexasSure <a href="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2008/06/04/90630.htm">started Monday</a> in Travis and Williamson counties, btw.
Also, we haven't seen any blogging on lovlytiff's antics Miko (afaik).
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