Hey home girl..

we do have it good here in Wisconsin... well, at least w/ and only w/ regards to auto insurance. Hell, you know it isn't even required here unless you have some habitual driving violations, but it is expensive as hell in alot of states.

I'm just pissed that were stuck paying for that damn retractable roof... :BangBang: Bud Selig

Will this give her a criminal record?

Is there public transportation where you live? If not, then I feel sorry for her. Can insurances prices can be INSANE, especially on cars that are being bought on credit, which usually means full coverage is REQUIRED. If there is public transporation where you live and she can't afford car insurance, then I don't feel sorry for her at all. If she can't afford a car, then she should have one, unless she has no other way to get around to work and such.

I understand that the government wants to protect citizens from being hit by someone with no insurance and no way to pay for the damage they do, but I also think it's ridiculous that expensive car insurance is required when so many poor people can barely scrape together enough money to pay $150 a month for a used clunker to get themselves to work. The government wants people to work, work, work, then when people do, they end up going to jail because they can't afford everything it takes to have a job. (Car, insurance, child care, etc.) Especially in rural areas where the nearest place to work for many citizens is 2+ miles away and public transportation is not available and taxi service isn't always available or reliable. Just taxi service alone to and from daycare/work in some areas can cost $20-$30 a day... a fortune when you consider that some people barely make $50 a day (8 hours * $6 per hour = $48 a day BEFORE taxes). Figure in daycare for those that have children and there isn't even enough money to pay rent or buy food.

I know something has to be done to protect people from being hit by someone who cannot pay for the damage they do, but what? Perhaps government subsidized programs to help pay for car insurance for poor families? Some areas have programs that pay for public transporation to work for poor families, but what about places where no public transportation is available?

It seems like requiring insurance just makes life for poor families that much harder, then they end up driving without insurance, anyway, and ending up in jail. I think a parent in this day and age who actually works and supports their kids deserves better than that. :(

probation in the states 60-90 days Imagine if she killed someone in an accident, her whole financial life would be done and over with.

in a nutshell its the deadbeats who de-fraud insurance companies which makes rates so high

Yes, you're absolutely right. And from what I've read and heard, a big chunk of people who defraud insurance companies these days feel it's okay to do so because they feel rates are so high. So fraudsters are perpetuating high rates and high rates are perpetuation fraudsters. :(

Obviously their logic is flawed and fraud is wrong, period, but I suppose I can see where they're coming from when they do so.

This has happened to me before and I'm in Calfiornia where it's required by law to have insurance. Nothing happened to me though, all the cop did was tow my car to the pound where it was impounded for 30 days, and I had to pay almost 1k to get it out of the pound! :(

I was never arrested and never had to pay any additional fines, which is weird because according to CA law I think the fine is like 1k. All I did was go to court and show the judge proof that I have CURRENT insurance, it did not even cover the time period of when I was arrested (I paid my insurance late) And they let me off the hook! All I did was pay a $10 processing fee at court. So if she has the chance to go to court it's realy easy to get off, I think they are happy that you just show up. I am so happy I went to court, if I didn't I would have had to pay the fine, just go to court!

I never had probation or any legal woes because of this.. All I had to do was get an SR-22. My insurance rate is also lower, I only pay $124 a month so it did not even affect my rate.

I also had an expired license, because the insurance CO notifies the dmv if your insurance is not paid for here in CA.

I never got put on probation so don't worry!



This is also how I quite going to my 9-5 job because my car was in the pound, and starting webmastering full-time!

no different than people stealing from stores which drives up all associated costs exponentially, endless circle jerk. People rant and rave about the cost of insurance but can you even fathom the amount of money insurance companies payout daily on bogus claims. I cant:glugglug

Yep, and one reason you IL people have it so bad... I shudder having to think of driving through Chicago... it is a free for all w/ a bunch of uninsured illegals BEGGING to get hit so THEY can sue.

Just don't send them up North. Thanks.

relatively cheap rates.. $576/year.. (You're an older guy? married?)
But that includes insurance against damage to your car too.
Yet, does not include how much you or your employer pays for general health insurance.

Do you know how much per year is paid in just liability and health insurance?

The USA has a workforce of over 200 million.

if they all paid $576 annually in additional tax for health care,
we'd have an annual budget of $115,200,000,000!
That's more than the whole nation spent last year!
(which includes the insurance companies profit margins)

Everyone could pay less, regardless of age and other factors,
and we'd all come out ahead. We are paying for unnecessary bureaucracy.

Downtown chicago is deadbeat fuckin central:glugglug

28 married and the wife has us both insured as she owns a title insurance company for mortgages, Fraud is the #1 factor for high rates, I believe anyway

I know exactly what you mean. Obviously it's wrong for people to defraud insurance companies, just like it's wrong for people to steal cable television because they feel the fees are too high, and music because they feel CDs cost so much, and pirate software because they feel software costs too much, etc. And the same thing happens in all industries. We all pay more for stuff like Windows and Photoshop and CDs because the companies that produce these things feel they have to raise rates to make up for theft. Even Wal-Mart charges more than they really have to for things simply to make up for the amount they lose to shoplifting. The K-Mart where I lived a few years ago lost somewhere around $2,000,000 just from shoplifting in ONE YEAR! That's insane! Fraudsters and theives do make it harder for everyone, unfortunately, it's the nation's poor that are punished the most. :(

Dude, what the fuck are you talking about? Did they just past this law? Because down in Orange County California, if you're caught with out auto insurance, you get a fix it ticket, if you can't prove you have it, you'll get a $400 fine! I got pulled over back in August and it was right after my policy ended and I was switching providers.

It's about a $400 fine, unless you see the judge, then they'll usually bring the fine down.

jDoG

Live and learn, im out. The wife is ready for "action" :Graucho

She lives in Ontario Canada..

I lost my license for 3 fucking years for driving without insurance. I had to pay almost a grand in fines and reinstatment fees and now I MUST have a SR-22 Insurance Bond (high risk insurance) for 2 more years. That's the law in the state of Ohio. I learned my lesson and I'm sure she'll learn hers... I'll never drive without insurance again.

Well said tootie! I agree 100%. Also, Insurance is a political business, and not market driven which would keep costs down. Government requirements are driving prices up, forcing more and more to drive without insurance. They seem to promote a hoax about insurance making you risk free; what a scam. Anytime you are on the road you are taking a risk, it doesn't matter if the other guy has insurance or not.

mmm......the fine could be $500.00 to $ 2500.00 big difference.
Anyhow - her insurance shouldn't cost her more that $100.00 a month for that car. I think you either have to check what she's saying or get the resources to help her with her problem. The fine, is $ 200.00 for not having it with her.

Tell her to call a broker - if she's resourceful she may find one that will do it backdated to friday - the paperwork just got processed after the business day was over.

Here's a link to verify the fines:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dan.../section5c.htm

My wife got in an accident a couple of years ago, and the insurance company dinged her a point (the insurance for their internal records, not the state) because the person she hit later claimerd injury. In discussing this further with the rep, turns out that you can ask for up to $10K and get it with no problem. Apparently this is cheaper for the insurance company than disagreeing with them.

Interesting.. on the ticket it says the fine is $75

Does she just pay the fine and thats the end of it?

Taken from Ontario Ministry of Transportation site:

Insurance
Ontario has compulsory automobile insurance. This means every vehicle registered in the province must be insured.

You must show proof that you have insurance coverage before you can register a vehicle or renew your registration. If you do not tell the truth about your insurance or if you show false documents, you can be fined $500 to $2,500. You may also lose your driver?s licence for up to one year and have your vehicle taken away for up to three months.

You must insure all your vehicles for third party liability of at least $200,000. This covers you in the event that you injure or kill someone or damage someone?s property. Collision insurance to cover damage to your own vehicle is a good idea but not required by law.

When driving your own vehicle or someone else?s, you must carry the pink liability insurance card given to you by the insurance company for that particular vehicle. You must show this card when a police officer asks for it. If you do not, you can be fined up to $200.

-----------------

Did he give her a notice of some sort to bring in her insurance papers? Maybe all she has to do is pay the fine for not having the papers with her (and it says 'up to') she got a nice cop. Get her insured immediately - that's my suggestion and while you're at it, count your blessings that it wasn't because of an accident that she got 'caught'.

Been there, done that. God, being poor sucked. :glugglug

It says "failure to surrender insurance" 72hrs notice. Then it says Total payable $75. I am not sure if thats the fine she must pay if the 72hrs has passed or a fine ontop of the 72hrs.

Wish her the best of luck!

I got popped for this back in the day. The first time you're convicted the fine is UP TO $5,000 and if you get convicted a second time then your fine starts at $5,000 to 25,000 plus a suspension for a year.

To be honest though, Driving without insurance is stupid enough BUT driving without insurance AND with an expired sticker is just asking for trouble...She might as well had a sign on the back of her car asking to be pulled over ;)

Well I really apreciate everyone's feedback and help. I still have a few unanswered questions thou.

Will she get a criminal record?
Does she just pay the $75 fine and its over?

Your best bet is talking to a lawer... will cost you probably up to $200, but you will know exactly what your options are.. etc...

Do you know a cop or have a friend that knows a cop?

If so, ask them what the procedure is.

Good luck.

Dead on! I, unfortunately, made the same mistake about 4 years ago. The judge originally sentenced me to 1 year for first offense, no previous record. My insurance had lapsed for only 2 weeks! (Luckily though, after my pleading, it was reduced to 12 months probation, 40 hours of community service and about $1600 in fines/fees)

Best advice:

GET A LAWYER

I don't know the laws in Canada pertaining to it, but it is very serious here in Atlanta. Even if a lawyer may seem overkill, it tells the judge that you understand the seriousness of the charges.

Get Insurance Fast.. or besides just paying for the insurance you will be paying for a big as fine also...

Good Luck!

Yeah, here too, they make you get an actual letter from your insurance company saying you were covered on the date you were pulled over.

That's pretty standard rates for new drivers up here. Anyone with less than 6 years driving experience, especially male under 25, expect to pay $2k a year insurance, and that's not comprehensive, that's just third party personal liability, property damage.

Well, they make insurance legally mandatory, but don't set any price guidelines, it's kind of a seller's market.

$400 a month what's she 17, i doubt she's over 24...younger you are higher the rates

if you can go to jail for it, it's a felony, so yeah, I'd say so.

$5,000-$25,000 fine? Hot damn sucks to be where you live. I got pulled over for the same thing a while back only cost me $404

Yeah, even if they DON'T ask for it, in Alberta it's standard practice where a car hits a pedestrian, the pedestrian gets $1000, and has to sign off on a waiver of claim.