New program in Texas aims to keep uninsured drivers off the road

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Posted: 6:24 PM Oct 10, 2008
Last Updated: 6:24 PM Oct 10, 2008
Reporter: KXII-TV Staff
Email Address: firstnews@kxii.com

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Law enforcement agencies in Texas now have a new tool to keep uninsured drivers off the road. The Texas-Sure program went into effect last week.

Officers can immediately determine whether or not a car is insured using a license plate or VIN-number.

The system was created by the Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas Department of Transportation.

The new system is more accurate relying on insurance cards alone.

"Take the insurance card that individuals had when they drove down the highway and believe that that vehicle was insured as it drove up and down the interstates and highways of Texas. Now we can confirm that information, and try to reduce the fact that there's one out of every four vehicles on the highways in Texas that's uninsured," DPS Trooper Mark Tackett says.

Driving without liability insurance could cost you a maximum fine of $350 on top of court costs. Repeat offenders may also face a 2 year driver’s license suspension.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Does it matter? on Oct 16, 2008 at 11:34 AM
I pay outrageous auto ins prem too. If gov req's us to have ins,they sh/regulate the ins co. I'm sick of hearing about the billion $ profits they make yearly, while we pay out the @$$. I don't even have health ins. Feel like I'm playing roulette every day. Guess I'll get Health ins when gov req it too, but i'll have to sell the house and live on the street. Sick of it all.Where's my bailout $$$ ????

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 15, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Been in a hit and run by "Mother Theresa" appliques on the back window...I'm so sure no insurance and they ran for Taco Bell...(I really mean the southern border". I have 6 vehicles covered and I am by no means rich. I am very happy they are doing this, but they have to be at a hit and run to catch "them". I hope they get my ex who prints out fake insurance papers!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 15, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Here, you're paying way too much- I have 2 cars and a pickup truck, with a 17-year-old driving one of the cars, and the missus driving another car to jobs as far away as south Texas, and my premiums aren't that high. You need to do some shopping around. To the folks crying "police state", if we didn't have idiots who don't think before acting and actually were responsible, we wouldn't need insurance laws or seat belt laws- we brought that upon ourselves. On seat-belt usage: go to a hospital ER & look for a crash victim brought in who was thrown from his/her vehicle beause he/she wasn't wearing a seat belt, and may most likely be dead, if not critically injured.

Posted by: HERE Location: GONE on Oct 15, 2008 at 11:18 AM
I HAVE 2 FULLY COVERED AND 1 LIABILTY AND ITS COSTING ME 368.00 A MONTH BECAUSE I HAVE A 17 YR OLD AND NOW I AM FIXING TO HAVE TO PUT MY OTHER SON ON THERE THAT IS 16 AND NOW MY INSURANCE WILL GO UP ANOTHER 200.00 A MONTH AND THAT IS CRAZY PAYING 500.00 A MONTH THATS A HOUSE PAYMENT FOR ME AND THIS IS CRAZY. PEOPLE ARE DRIVING (SOME) BECAUSE THEY CANT AFFORD IT AND ITS GETTING TO THE POINT THAT NO ONE CAN CARRY INSURANCE.

Posted by: fed up Location: sherman on Oct 14, 2008 at 09:25 PM
OOTO thats dumb not the same at all.

Posted by: John Location: denison on Oct 14, 2008 at 09:23 PM
You all have never been hit by some sob without insurance have you? If you have you would know it su*ks bad. This is how it is they hit you get out and say o on i have no insurance.And do you know who pays to fix your car that they hit? O it's you This is why you have to have it. They should do like some outher states. If you get in a wreck and it's the outher person fault but you don't have insurnce they should not have to pay for your car. Yes you say thats not fair well if it was the outher way around same thing.

Posted by: OOTO Location: Texoma on Oct 14, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Insured is correct. Making laws that require people to carry insurance, wear seat belts or anything else certainly borders on, if not crosses, unconstitutional. The logic of insurance laws, of course, is that it might protect a driver that another might hit. Using that logic, then, I say let's ban all guns. That way, we will protect everyone because someone might commit a violent crime with one or they might kill themselves. Same logic involved in both arguments. The only difference is, in the insurance law argument, someone is getting rich.

Posted by: ME Location: HERE on Oct 13, 2008 at 04:40 PM
JANICE: I too was a single mother making difficult finacial decision. My faith in Christ is what I had to lean on during hard times. Please know I will be praying for you and your grandbabies. I agree with been there,too: contact the Whitesboro food pantry. They helped me a couple of times and now I'm stable I'm able to donate food to them. GOD BLESS YOU

Posted by: Rita Location: Oklahoma on Oct 13, 2008 at 03:36 PM
I have had insurance on one car or more for the past 30 years. I have made one claim, when a college student rear-ended me. His company refused to pay for my car & sued me over repairing his. There is another story for "Life isn't fair". At least no person was hurt. i like thea of no insurance - no gas! That is great!!!

Posted by: been there, too Location: Mom/Grandma on Oct 13, 2008 at 02:41 PM
To Me @ 1:05PM. Some ppl have internet @ work or walk to the library. To Janice, I'm not sure where you live; but you can come to the Food Pantry and get assistance. The one in Whitesboro is pretty respectable in not "advertising" your delima. I'm sure there are places in Sherman. You can also call for Food Stamps ~possibly even emergency Food Stamps. Hey, you DESERVE some help!!! You raised your kids and they took off. Plus you DO work! It's not like MOST ppl I know who just have kids to get "things taken care of..." (everything paid for for them). God bless you! Hugs to you!

Posted by: Steve Location: Grayson County on Oct 13, 2008 at 02:29 PM
JD you are right. We are slowly turning into a POLICE STATE. Scaring people into loosing their rights is the tactic. The cops are there for ONE REASON: to keep the poor from standing up against the thieving rich. This is just another chip from the stone. Insurance CEO's are rubbin' their greasy little hands at the extra cash they will be taking from your pockets. If the banker bailout doesn't convince you then you're just plain ignorant. Not much hope for the average American left. And I'm sure you're all going to go out and vote against your own interests by voting Republican. Not that the Democrats are much better. But, they don't seem to hate America and the average Joe as much. Sucks living in a red state! And, no, I'm not moving. I still have hope that rural white people will come to their senses - some day! Oh well, this probably won't make it past the censor.

Posted by: Me Location: Sherman on Oct 13, 2008 at 01:05 PM
I would pay my insurance before I would pay for my internet or any other luxary which is what having the internet is. Same goes with cable TV etc.....

Posted by: Former Insurance Agent Location: TX on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Let me first start of by saying, "Janice, I commend you and admire you for stepping in and providing for your grandchildren while their parents are being irresponsible!" Keep on keeping on! Seems like there should be some kind of assistance out there. Go looking and see what you can find. Good luck! Having been in insurance a while back, I agree with this law. Insurance is protection for you!! You purchase it to protect yourself. In the event something happens, it insures your ability to protect yourself financially. Yes...I understand that something might not happen, but lets be honest, most if not all of us are incapable of being able to cover a tragedy such as a car accident on our own two feet! I have seen the devastation brought on people who were hit by an uninsured driver or even underinsured for that matter . This law will help protect us from this happening. No...it won't totally iradicate it from happening, but it will eliminate a lot of it from happening.

Posted by: Janice Location: Texas on Oct 13, 2008 at 11:37 AM
I see my dilemma has drawn repsonse.I dont want to be in the situation Im in .The childrens parents abandond them at an early age in order to to do meth I can expect no help from them and this point I dont want them to come around and steal from me.The point I was trying to make is people are overwhelmed with the expence of living today I have 2 jobs and worried that these children will not know any family at all and the cycle starts all over.Just trying to make do with what I have.Not against insurance laws they are there to protect me too.

Posted by: Insured Location: Sherman on Oct 13, 2008 at 10:30 AM
What do people, who typically do not carry insurance, do when then injure someone or damage another persons property because they were at fault in an accident? It has been my experiance that they could care less about paying any liability out of there own pockett. This is an excellent tool and if strictly enforced, SOMEDAY WE WON'T NECCESSARILY FEEL SAFER ON THE ROAD BUT WILL KNOW THAT ANYBODY WHO IS INJURED OR WHOSE PROPERTY IS DAMAGED WILL BE COMPENSATED.

Posted by: Insurance poor Location: OK on Oct 13, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Here is a suggestion, in parts of Europe the driver must have insurance to buy fuel. No insurance, no fuel, no drive.

Posted by: Way to go Location: Denison on Oct 12, 2008 at 05:43 PM
I agree totally with this new law. My God I have to have insurance and yes it is sometimes hard to pay it each month but calculate what it is going to cost you if someone hits you or you hit someone else. It will cost you more in the long run I can guarantee it. My car has been hit by someone that didn't have a license and NO insurance and if I hadn't had my own insurance then I would have been without a car. And guess what happened to her? She got a ticket (which she probably didn't pay) and my insurance is suing her (which I will never see my money) for what? If she didn't have insurance then I'm sure she doesn't have anything to put a judgement on....get a grip ppl- get insurance just like the rest of us. And Grandma - your raising your grandchildren then I'm sorry-feed them but get the extra money from the parents/ or welfare because I know you probably are getting assistance somewhere- everyone else is.....

Posted by: Insured Location: Sherman on Oct 12, 2008 at 04:12 PM
This is ridiculous. First of all, insurance is a protection for the driver. It is stupid that the state forces you to protect yourself anyways. Just like seatbelt laws. Secondly insurance is a scam. Not only am I expected to pay somebody JUST IN CASE I wreck, but the government forces me to do so. I have never been in a car wreck in my six years of driving, however I have paid thousands upon thousands in insurance. Absolutely ridiculous. This new program is not going to help any, by the way. Just something else for the government to spend our tax money on.

Posted by: OKIE Location: TEXAS on Oct 12, 2008 at 12:46 PM
JANICE HAVE THE KIDS PARENTS STEP UP AND PAY FOR THE KIDS RAISING.

Posted by: Just me Location: Texoma area on Oct 11, 2008 at 08:54 PM
I agree, about time. I've had insurance on my car for the past 20 years & there were times when it was hard to pay due to being unemployed. If you can't afford the insurance, don't drive. A fine & suspension of the drivers license it great but add some jail time too. Let people know that this is a serious thing.

Posted by: s Location: gordovnille on Oct 11, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Your insurance is also checked when you get your vehicle inspected.

Posted by: Janice Location: Texas on Oct 11, 2008 at 08:53 AM
Today I had to make a difficult decision. I had $100 until I get paid next week.My insurance premium for the month is $75 and because I am a raising my grand daughters I needed food for them.What do you think my decision was.I will keep my trips to a minimum but these children are HUNGRY in the mornings.Hungrier than insurance execs.Now Im breaking the law .A criminal. I ask everyone ...what am I supposed to do?What would any of you do?This has become life in America today.Survival the best way you can.

Posted by: J.D. Location: Sherman on Oct 11, 2008 at 01:43 AM
The Texas dept of Insurance & the ins lobbiest have "gone on record" that this "new tool" will help keep the consumer cost of ins down. Let's break that statment down a bit. "will help"..as opposed to guarantee. Look folks,our state reps & now the DPS are now in the pocket of the insurance companies.DPS is now a tool of Texas ins companies "revunue enhancment". Rates are still going to rise & the DPS is the "muscle". Don't get me wrong now,Ins laws need to be enforced & no doubt the ins company profits WILL RISE due to consumer complience.But mark my words,the ins companies will get GREEDY & will step over that line of "reasonable ,justifiable pricing".

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 11, 2008 at 01:07 AM
1 out of 4? and a meager $350 fine that goes to the state? only the insured have to pay extra for uninsured motorist coverage and at a $500 deductable? I should cancel my insurance and just pay the fine and screw the rest of the people. a 2 year suspension doesn't stop a driver from driving, especially when he's already driving illeagally! this law doesn't doesn't do anything. try using a VIN/insurance validation to make a vehicle start.

Posted by: MR. X Location: TX on Oct 10, 2008 at 09:38 PM
GREAT! IT'S ABOUT TIME. HOPE THEY GET THEM ALL OFF THE ROAD.

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