AZ Law To Tow Uninsured Cars Takes A Nose Dive

The state of Arizona had put forth a proposal for a bill that would have allowed uninsured vehicles to be towed. The bill was called SB 1165 and it was defeated in a final vote of 6 to 7. By law right now, a driver who is involved in an automobile accident while uninsured can still leave the scene of the accident.
Under the bill, these drivers would have had their vehicles towed and impounded because they lacked an insurance policy on them. Because this law was defeated, it will have a big impact for drivers. The main reason behind the defeat was that an electronic database would have been used to verify if a vehicle has up to date auto insurance coverage.
The issue was that between three and four percent of vehicles in the state have the wrong VIN numbers on them. This scared politicians who feared the backlash from passing the bill. If the bill had been passed as is, then the media would have jumped on the first case where the wrong vehicle was towed for being uninsured. The one question left behind is how does the state deal with the twelve million uninsured vehicles that are being driven on public and private roads every single day?
The electronic database could be re-vamped so that it would have the right information to track down the vehicles that are uninsured. Most auto insurance companies will report lapses in coverage to the DMV. If the DMV could have an up to date system then it could be used by law enforcement officials so that they can tow the right vehicles. Relying on a VIN number alone is very dangerous which is why the bill was not passed. In the first place. It might be time for used cars to have their VIN numbers verified by a system. Then, if they are wrong they could be updated at local auto mechanic locations. Arizona mandates that people have car insurance coverage. If a person does not follow the law that is in place then they face various penalties. The first offense comes with a $500 fine and the license plates and registration on the vehicle will be suspended for three months. This penalty is a good one to have in place because it is much more severe than a slap on the wrist such as a written warning or a fine alone.
However, if the driver was involved in an automobile accident on their first offense then the fine would actually be minimal when taking into account the fact that they caused an accident. This causes other policy holders to have to absorb the costs because that driver lacks the necessary auto insurance coverage that is required by law. O
n the second offense, the license plates and registration are suspended for nine months and a fine of $750 must be paid. The third offense is a fine of $1,000 and the license plates and registration of the vehicle are suspended for a period of one year. With the defeat of this bill, it shows that Arizona drivers have a huge problem. When you have an influx of uninsured drivers in a bad economy, then you will face rising auto insurance premiums.
Insurance companies cannot afford to keep picking up the tab when it comes to uninsured drivers in the state. It is important for drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage because this can be a great protection for people who get involved in automobile accidents with people who are uninsured. Many drivers do not have this coverage in the state but it is more and more becoming a necessary thing to have. Law enforcement officials need to do more to be able to track down those individuals who are breaking the law. An electronic database could be a good start to accomplishing this goal. Yes, the VIN number issue could be an obstacle but there are great ways to utilize technology to do this.
Politicians should consider a new approach to the towing issue. It is a good idea to tow and impound uninsured cars after automobile accidents so that they do not have the opportunity to do it again and again to other drivers. It is not fair for people to break the law and then punish other drivers with much higher insurance premiums. Auto insurance companies need to work with politicians in Arizona so that new proposals can be made and passed so that the problem can be tackled in a way that is as fair and as effective as possible.