Automobile Insurance Rates Drop
Re “State’s Auto Insurance Rates Drop Broadly, Agency Says,” Jan. 3: Having read Harvey Rosenfield’s comment, “People are just not as concerned [about the cost of insurance] because Proposition 103 has worked, but there is more left to be done,” I almost fell out of my chair! Yes, auto insurance premiums have recently gone down by single-digit percentages. But wasn’t Proposition 103 supposed to return overpaid premiums to consumers? I am still waiting for mine.
The cost of auto insurance in urban L.A. is still unaffordable to many youthful drivers, and to those on the economic lower rung. A typical L.A. resident may pay double the rate of suburban or rural drivers. As a result, about half of Southern California drivers are uninsured, which allows the insurance companies to justify the doubled rates for those of us in the insurance pool. Truly meaningful reductions in premiums will not happen unless all drivers are forced to insure their vehicles.
It is counterproductive for so-called consumer organizations to bemoan the strict enforcement of Proposition 213, when this is the only hope for affordable insurance coverage.
THOMAS OATWAY
Valencia
* Re your Jan. 3 article on the new law for penalizing drivers without insurance: My full-size car was totaled late last year by an uninsured driver who ran a stop sign. I should be furious and welcome the new law, except that the driver who hit me was not an irresponsible young kid, he was not an undocumented immigrant. He was a man depending solely on his $800 monthly Social Security check.
He lives in a residential area of West L.A. that is not served by public transportation. To walk to the nearest shopping mall or food store would take him a minimum of half an hour each way, which creates a problem for him because he has arthritis in his knees. His car is over 10 years old, but an insurance policy would still cost him over $800 a year.
Before we vote for laws to penalize all uninsured drivers, let’s pass laws that would require insurance companies to be more humane in assessing limited-income earners more realistic premiums.
GORDON L. FROEDE
Los Angeles
* A new law, SB 1111 (Dec. 30), holds the last registered owner of a vehicle responsible for any tow charges and fines for that vehicle. If I sell a vehicle, how can I make the new owner register it? I report to the DMV that the vehicle was sold and release liability and even report the mileage, and I’m still responsible for the actions of the buyer. The law needs to be reworked.
With the new law showing proof of insurance before one can register a vehicle (which I think is good), I would guess that a lot more unregistered vehicles will be on the road, and the abandoned-vehicle problem will be magnified. If a car is found not registered, it should be impounded immediately and sold. This money might cover abandoned vehicles.
J.H. HOLLEY
Torrance
