No Insurance ... Vehicle impounded

[ultrarunner]

There are several options in meeting financial responsibility in California...

Insurance with at least the minimum required coverage.

Large Companies can "Self Insure" with State Approval.

Posting a Bond with the State or equivalent deposit of funds.

I became friends with a WWII vet living in a studio apartment... nice old guy, didn't have much in the way of material things. He is the only person I know that posted a Deposit... He said he didn't have to worry about premiums and instead of paying money, he collected interest on the money he deposited.

I have no idea if other states have alternatives methods to meet financial responsibility.

Speaking of which...

A few years ago, my parked car was hit by a woman driving with no insurance, no license and the car had expired plates. The local police told me it was a civil matter as no one was injured and the DMV said their maximum penalty is Driver's License revocation... and there is nothing they could do if an unlicensed driver chooses to drive???

A rude awakening as to how things really work...

If you have nothing, there isn't much the government or anyone else can or will do to you.

 

[Ductape]

HOLEY MOLEY!!!!!



When I was in my teens and early twenties, I just had liability, which was $50 a month on my parents plan. But even when I got my DUI, it was only $100 a month back in the early 90's.

And how much was gas then? Or a house? Or groceries?

 

[Taylortractornut]

LBrown the surveyors truck was taken as it was thought to be an abandoned vehicle, I had to give him a ride to the sheriffs Dept. where the officer plainly asked the tow driver would he still get his 10 bucks. The tow driver apologized and had asked the officer if he was sure it was abandoned.
My friend managed a furniture factory in New Albany MS. He told me most of the workers were illegal with false documents and the few legal ones are instantly given whats called an International Drivers Liscence. With little or no motor vehicle training. He said it wasnt uncommon to have 5 or six employees out in a day from car accidents. Sometimes one would make a delivery in a small 3/4 ton truck and it would be in an accident had to lock the keys up. He had a break down and one employee gave him a ride home, He said he had never been so glad to get out of a car in his life. The driver was in his 30's and had only been driving 3 days He found that out later. Alot of the locals dont check illegals because that they dont return for the car in impound, or court. I got pulled over in my company truck the other day the officer had a hard time beliving that theres a such thing as fleet insurance. Took about 45 minutes of my time till an older officer could get there.

 

[SnowRidge]

I have no idea if other states have alternatives methods to meet financial responsibility.

Some do. Tennessee is one. It is similar to California's law.

 

[DocHeb]

Speaking of which...

A few years ago, my parked car was hit by a woman driving with no insurance, no license and the car had expired plates. The local police told me it was a civil matter as no one was injured and the DMV said their maximum penalty is Driver's License revocation... and there is nothing they could do if an unlicensed driver chooses to drive???

A rude awakening as to how things really work...

If you have nothing, there isn't much the government or anyone else can or will do to you.

Michigan has no-fault, so in Michigan your insurance would pay for that damage. My insurance company (State Farm) would not raise your rates for this accident. The other advantage of no-fault is that it cuts out lawyer's activity in accident claims.

 

[ultrarunner]

Michigan has no-fault, so in Michigan your insurance would pay for that damage. My insurance company (State Farm) would not raise your rates for this accident. The other advantage of no-fault is that it cuts out lawyer's activity in accident claims.

It cost me $650 to get it fixed... I only had liability, so I was on my own.

There was a move towards no-fault... it was stopped cold...

 

[2manyrocks]

"A few years ago, my parked car was hit by a woman driving with no insurance, no license and the car had expired plates. The local police told me it was a civil matter as no one was injured and the DMV said their maximum penalty is Driver's License revocation... and there is nothing they could do if an unlicensed driver chooses to drive???"

They elected not to do anything. It is probably a misdeameanor to drive without a license, without current plates and no insurance. Three separate misdeameanor offenses for which the police could have charged her.

 

[Gator6x4]

"A few years ago, my parked car was hit by a woman driving with no insurance, no license and the car had expired plates. The local police told me it was a civil matter as no one was injured and the DMV said their maximum penalty is Driver's License revocation... and there is nothing they could do if an unlicensed driver chooses to drive???"

They elected not to do anything. It is probably a misdeameanor to drive without a license, without current plates and no insurance. Three separate misdeameanor offenses for which the police could have charged her.

Sorry about the loss. Most states in fact all states have to comply with the US Constitution. "An accused has the right to confront and question his/her accuser in a court of their peers". No witness to the crime, no prosecution. If the Officer saw the woman driving he could arrest her. I bet the woman said the car was driving itself at the time of the accident and she was across town visiting her sick mother.

 

[Gator6x4]

LBrown the surveyors truck was taken as it was thought to be an abandoned vehicle, I had to give him a ride to the sheriffs Dept. where the officer plainly asked the tow driver would he still get his 10 bucks. The tow driver apologized and had asked the officer if he was sure it was abandoned.
My friend managed a furniture factory in New Albany MS. He told me most of the workers were illegal with false documents and the few legal ones are instantly given whats called an International Drivers Liscence. With little or no motor vehicle training. He said it wasnt uncommon to have 5 or six employees out in a day from car accidents. Sometimes one would make a delivery in a small 3/4 ton truck and it would be in an accident had to lock the keys up. He had a break down and one employee gave him a ride home, He said he had never been so glad to get out of a car in his life. The driver was in his 30's and had only been driving 3 days He found that out later. Alot of the locals dont check illegals because that they dont return for the car in impound, or court. I got pulled over in my company truck the other day the officer had a hard time beliving that theres a such thing as fleet insurance. Took about 45 minutes of my time till an older officer could get there.

I don't know about the laws in your home state, but in most states it is a felony for a "Public Offical" to receive monetary compensation from an individual or company in the course of enforcing a statute, ordinance or law.

 

[Ductape]

I don't know about the laws in your home state, but in most states it is a felony for a "Public Offical" to receive monetary compensation from an individual or company in the course of enforcing a statute, ordinance or law.

Apparently, a police dept. is NOT included in the definition of "Public Official". I was in the towing industry for over 20 yrs, 12 as the owner of a towing service. The city Police Dept I towed for recieved a "cut" of ALL tows ordered by said police dept.(obviously, by their own rules) The general public frequently complained that we were charging too much for towing their vehicle, but when explaining how the police dept. get a portion of their monies........ I'm unaware of ANYONE ever complaining to the police that they were a rip-off for taking money out of their pockets. Interestingly, many times i got calls from the police dept., explaining it was ahard luck case........ and could we cut the citizen a break on the cost of the tow, but never, and i mean NEVER did the police dept. offer to not collect their cut.