Friday, February 13, 2009
Dallas and Carrollton joining the folly of impounding cars for no insurance
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Dallas and Carrollton are now impounding cars of drivers with no insurance when they're pulled over at traffic stops - that's about one in four cars on Texas roads. Meanwhile, more than 200 departments statewide are participating in a traffic warrant roundup aimed at generating revenue. More than 10% of Texas drivers have outstanding arrest warrants for traffic fines, many of them for no insurance (which carries with it the hefty, ironically named "driver responsibility fee").
It really makes you wonder whether there's enough jail space for all the scofflaws or enough impound lot space for all the cars. On the question of vehicles with no insurance, I've said before:
My own preferred solution to the crisis of uninsured drivers is as simple as it is unlikely to pass in Texas anytime soon: Use the gas tax to implement pay at the pump insurance for minimum liability so that every driver becomes automatically covered via no-fault insurance on terms more closely regulated by the state. As an added bonus, since companies would all be paid the same for every driver, they would be forced to compete on quality of service instead of striated pricing schemes.
Lately I've been noticing insurance companies beginning to avoid using credit scores to rate drivers and, in some cases, shifting to a straight up "pay by the mile" insurance premium. That's essentially similar to a pay at the pump scheme, except with pay at the pump there would be no option to not carry minimum liability coverage.
I consider the use of law enforcement to subsidize/maximize insurance company profits unnecessary and untoward, whereas pay at the pump would solve the chronic problem of uninsured drivers overnight, reduce rates by pooling risk more comprehensively, and free up police for other, more important duties. Sure, the threat of impoundment will make some people pay, no doubt, but only those who can afford it. In an economic downturn with new layoffs being announced every day, larding extra punishments on the poor seems like a a particularly untenable approach.
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Comments
Clay213 Anonymous
'larding extra punishments on the poor seems like a a particularly untenable approach.'
Being poor does not absolve one from needing to play by the rules. Can't afford insurance? Don't drive.
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
Clay, could you please stop saying stuff I have to agree with. It's much easier to argue with you.
I personally started a pool for how long it'll take LULAC to figure out the disproportionate percentage of non-citizens of their sheltered demographic that drive without insurance and are therefore considerably more likely to lose cars than bland conforming types such as myself. (Let's just call it "Coverage Profiling")
It's a buck a square and there are some good Monday morning time slots still open.
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Clay213 Anonymous
Hasn't the claim that this sort of thing is racist already been made?
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
Sure, but can it really ever get old? As long as it pays so many bills to shout "racist" in a crowded firehouse, it will always draw a TV crew.
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Clay213 Anonymous
How about we take side bets on which city councilor will join the chorus first?
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jesus Valadez Verified
I want in on the pool. I'll give it two more weeks.
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
c0ldgirl Anonymous
I'm for impounding the cars but not the driver responsibility fee added on top. It's a little strange I'm showing any compassion on this matter being that I just crashed on Tuesday while riding my motorcycle by an unlicensed and uninsured driver who left the scene. Witness got his plate, but that doesn't mean he'll pay for his mistakes. I want responsibility but the fee is overkill in my opinion.
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
chriss Anonymous
Seems like the "profile" of Texans being bigoted *wipes is still pretty valid, too. Don't like Mexicans? Move to a state that wasn't stolen from Mexico!!!
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
So you're saying we should give Texas back to Spain or the French - or Germans that built the legal and mercantile system? I'm confused. Which "ownership" was valid when?
Dang, can I just CLEP out of this Texas History redux? Or is this where I'm supposed to apologize, write a check, roll over, and play dead?
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Clay213 Anonymous
Chriss.. you're the first poster to mention Mexicans.
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
Methinks the biggest fault with Mr. Henson's proposed pay-at-the-pump insurance is his presumption that every driver is worth insuring. Why the hell should I be pooled with peeps who have multiple accidents a year? Just one more attempt to remove accountability - terrible idea, imo.
8 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
chriss Anonymous
Clay213: My bad. I should've observed local decorum and said "non-citizens" so it sounds like you're really complaining about uninsured foreign tourists and diplomats.
Jason: Since you recognize the concept of "ownership" as a shifting one, I assume you're not one of those who whines about an "invasion" from you-know-where (Not Spain, France or Germany).
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jesus Valadez Verified
We stole Texas fair and square. They could always try and take it back.
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
Jesus for President! (of Texas)
And chriss - it's not an invasion. As the nation state sovereignty is violated to the point of irresolute and yet has not been replaced by rule of law either popular or by edict, it's an occupation.
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jesus Valadez Verified
And if you don't vote for me, you will be known as a racist!
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
I think it's a foolproof platform Jesus. You will go far.
And I plan to ride your coattails the whole way.
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
chriss Anonymous
Jesus: to quote Gore Vidal, they are taking it back, one soul at a time. And--poetic justice alert--in the same method it was taken from them.
Jason: "occupations" seem to be OK when perpetrated by the nation state (or nation states we feel chummy towards), so maybe this one is also benign. Let's call it Operation US Freedom.
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
::we feel chummy towards
Or when it's one we've propped up for decades.
Fits the bill, eh?
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jtmbls Anonymous
We should just give Texas back to Mexico. After all, Mexico is doing such an outstanding job with all the land and people they have now...
Yay insurance!
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
Not to Mexico - to Mexicans - 'cause after all, it's not the people at fault and it's certainly not the culture.
I don't know what that means, I just repeat what I've been told loudly for the past 40 years.
Back to Jesus for Prez - I see real monetary potential for me personally in that.
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jesus Valadez Verified
I need Bush to back me up so I can take the Red states. Being Mexican will get me the Blue states. It's Bush-proof.
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Travis Bush Verified
Jesus, you know if GW does favors for you, he'll make you mow that big ass lawn over in Preston Holler...
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jesus Valadez Verified
I don't do lawns. I do computers and stuff. I'll read him his email.
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Travis Bush Verified
I think it would be great if you could call Jesus for technical support..
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
::Jesus for technical support
Yeah, but imagine the on hold wait times.
8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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