Compulsory Insurance Laws Don’t Solve All Problems
Tuesday, June 27th, 2000 Legislation & RegulationCompulsory auto liability insurance laws mislead the public into believing that the problem of uninsured drivers is solved when, in fact, many drivers will continue to ignore the law, simply because they have nothing to lose. Panelists at the regional American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) conference this month in Kalispell, discussed the pros and cons of adopting legislation requiring drivers to purchase auto liability insurance. The main problem with compulsory auto insurance is that it‘s not enforceable, said panelist Melvin Sorensen, assistant vice president and Northwest regional manager of the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII). Sorensen pointed to Washington State, where about 15 percent of all drivers are uninsured. "Interestingly, data also show that between 15 and 20 percent of Washington drivers also don‘t have valid licenses," he said.
