Towing for No Insurance
The issue: Towing vehicles for lack of insurance
The city said:
“The city has an ordinance providing for a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for not
carrying the required evidence of vehicle insurance. I am not in favor of towing cars for the violation
of not producing required evidence. The city's ordinances already provide for towing a car when a
person does not have a valid driver's license, which would include illegal aliens. Additionally, I am
informed by city staff that 70 percent to 80 percent of people cited for not producing proof of
insurance actually have the insurance but were failing to carry proof of that insurance in their car at
the time the driver was stopped."
~Councilman Robert Gilliam
AFLA says:
At last, a valid rationale for not doing something. We truly appreciate the thoughtfulness of the city’
s response on this one. And we agree with them.
There is no reason to enter into another ordinance if there are other means of enforcement that are
working.
We are a little concerned with their data. When they all said something to the effect that 70 to 80
percent of those ticketed were able to produce an insurance card in court that sounds like a SWAG
from someone at city hall who didn’t want to find out the actual number.
We like our data a little more crisp than that; something like “In October of this year 73% of those
ticketed for lack of insurance presented proof in court.” No doubt 70-80% sounds better than “a
bunch”, which was the answer given by staff a few months back when asked about crime data.
We would recommend that the city study the number of hit-and-run accidents over the next six
months and revisit the issue. In our opinion this is the best indicator of the need for an ordinance.
As an aside, Mr. Haupt from the Secretary of State’s office mentions the Social Security Verification
System is used to issue licenses. That wouldn’t be the same “inaccurate” database the legislature
banned for employer use, would it?
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The city said:
“The city has an ordinance providing for a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for not
carrying the required evidence of vehicle insurance. I am not in favor of towing cars for the violation
of not producing required evidence. The city's ordinances already provide for towing a car when a
person does not have a valid driver's license, which would include illegal aliens. Additionally, I am
informed by city staff that 70 percent to 80 percent of people cited for not producing proof of
insurance actually have the insurance but were failing to carry proof of that insurance in their car at
the time the driver was stopped."
~Councilman Robert Gilliam
AFLA says:
At last, a valid rationale for not doing something. We truly appreciate the thoughtfulness of the city’
s response on this one. And we agree with them.
There is no reason to enter into another ordinance if there are other means of enforcement that are
working.
We are a little concerned with their data. When they all said something to the effect that 70 to 80
percent of those ticketed were able to produce an insurance card in court that sounds like a SWAG
from someone at city hall who didn’t want to find out the actual number.
We like our data a little more crisp than that; something like “In October of this year 73% of those
ticketed for lack of insurance presented proof in court.” No doubt 70-80% sounds better than “a
bunch”, which was the answer given by staff a few months back when asked about crime data.
We would recommend that the city study the number of hit-and-run accidents over the next six
months and revisit the issue. In our opinion this is the best indicator of the need for an ordinance.
As an aside, Mr. Haupt from the Secretary of State’s office mentions the Social Security Verification
System is used to issue licenses. That wouldn’t be the same “inaccurate” database the legislature
banned for employer use, would it?
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE SERIES INDEX PAGE