Thread: Uninsured drivers in San Antonio take a pounding

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Uninsured drivers in San Antonio take a pounding

Web Posted: 02/28/2006 12:00 AM CST
Lomi Kriel
Express-News Staff Writer

Close to midnight on a recent cold Saturday, an old white van rattled into the city's impound lot, tucked away in a rural pocket on the South Side. The door opened to reveal nine dark-haired heads, including one little boy licking an ice cream treat. They were there to pick up Juan Carlos Rodriguez's car, which was towed the day before when he made an illegal turn, and the officer discovered the 1989 beige Cadillac wasn't insured.

But first, Rodriguez, 28, had to change the title since the car wasn't in his name. Then he purchased some insurance. By the time he'd bundled his family together, hitched a ride from his pastor and reclaimed his car, he'd spent at least $300.

"No me gusta," said his wife, 25-year-old Ida Rodriguez. "This is unfair."

But it was on the premise of fairness that city leaders adopted a policy last year requiring motorists to show proof of auto insurance. It was intended to protect insured motorists from those without it.

Between Jan. 1, when the policy was implemented, and Feb. 22, the city towed about 1,252 cars, with 228 coming from accidents.

Ida Rodriguez said auto insurance is too expensive for a family like hers, with three small mouths to feed and a mountain of bills.

But others, like city police, who issue about 59,000 insurance citations annually, and the countless many who've been financially pinched when involved in fender-benders with uninsured drivers, say it's unfair and unsafe when drivers go uninsured. They hope the city's new "tow-now" policy will force more people to get insurance.

In San Antonio, uninsured drivers are "a significant problem," said Lt. Scott Bell, the department's unit director for the vehicle storage facility. Across the state, about one in five motorists are uninsured.

So during its annual budget proceedings, the Police Department touted the idea of towing the cars of uninsured drivers and requiring proof of insurance and ownership before those cars are released. While the premise was to crack down on uninsured drivers, it is also expected to pour an extra $1.7 million into city coffers.

Bell said uninsured vehicles are almost doubling the number of impounds at the lot on Growdon Road. Since Jan. 1, an average of nearly 25 cars are towed to it each day. About 10 percent go unretrieved.

San Antonio's policy is the first of its kind in a major Texas city, although Dallas recently approved a modified two-year pilot program. That program, which takes effect in April, targets only vehicles involved in accidents. The Houston City Council is expected to consider a similar policy soon.

A smattering of other Texas cities such as DeSoto, Corsicana, Plano and Rosenberg also tow cars of uninsured motorists, as do Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago and Philadelphia. The practice in Commerce, one of the first Texas cities to do so, ignited a lawsuit, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed the policy, saying it doesn't violate due process because state law requires drivers operating a vehicle to have insurance.

Some City Council members in San Antonio and Dallas have worried the program unfairly impacts minorities and the working poor, who often cannot afford insurance.

J. Robert Hunter, who specializes in insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, questioned whether such policies were effective in pushing people to obtain insurance. He's studied programs such as the one in San Antonio and said they don't work — mostly because poor people, who typically don't have insurance, also typically have limited assets to protect.

And, he added, it doesn't make economic sense to pay $100 in insurance every month for a second-hand car purchased for a few hundred dollars.

In some cases, Hunter explained, uninsured motorists whose cars are impounded simply buy another used vehicle.

When the question is, "Do I feed my child and myself or do I buy liability insurance? People just won't do it," he said.

Bell disputes that. He pointed to anecdotal evidence that showed an increase in purchased car insurance over the last several weeks.

And in Corsicana, Police Chief G.M. Cox said it's worked. The city began impounding the cars of uninsured motorists last May. In June, officers issued 187 citations for no liability insurance. In December, it was 70.

He also questioned the perception that programs like San Antonio's unfairly impact minorities.

"We've been able to show that there's not an inordinate amount of minority vehicles towed over another," Cox said. "And as far as it hampering poor folks, well, unfortunately, if you don't have the money to buy insurance, you shouldn't be driving a car in Texas."

Bell argues that poor people actually benefit from these policies. When a poor person is injured by an uninsured driver, he has to bear the cost alone, he said, which can be much more devastating than for someone with a higher income.

Insurance companies, while hopeful, say it's too early to tell whether these programs are as effective as what they're touted to be, said Jerry Johns, president of the Southwestern Insurance Information Service, an insurance trade association.

"But we're fairly confident that these policies will at least help," he said, pointing out that in some parts of the state, such as the Rio Grande Valley, uninsured motorists make up almost 50 percent of all drivers. "We're hopeful that these kinds of programs will create at least a sense of responsibility."

It did so for Mark Saenz.

The 20-year-old employee at Furniture Factory was pulled over early one Saturday while speeding on his way to work. When the officer discovered his Honda CRX had no insurance, the city impounded his car, pushing Saenz to sign up.

"I was just being lazy," he said. "There was no excuse."



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lkriel@express-news.net

Bull! In Ky. you have to show proof of insurance, or you don't get your tags. The insurance card has to be up to date.

Insurance companies shouldn't be allowed to sell insurance to anyone, for just a short period of time.

When are our politicians going to stop crying for these people? When will they stop telling us.."but they cannot afford this." "It's not fair, they are poor." ?????

The rest of us have to follow the rules, and shouldn't have to pay for their car's repair if it is hit by someone without insurance.

They're criminals, remember? They don't want to obey any laws that might inconvenience them. Like obeying our immigration laws, using false documents, driving without a license, etc, etc.

Most states require proof of insurance before you can get your tags. The illegals get the insurance and maybe make one premium payment and then quit paying. I believe NC just passes a no insurance/impound law.

"And as far as it hampering poor folks, well, unfortunately, if you don't have the money to buy insurance, you shouldn't be driving a car in Texas."