Texas Cities Cracking Down on Uninsured Motorists
Uninsured motorists on our roads is a serious problem in Texas. The Malvern, Pa.-based Insurance Research Council counted insurance claims by people hurt by uninsured drivers with claims against insured drivers and estimated 14 percent of the nation's drivers don't have coverage.
The 2006 study, its most recent available, found Mississippi led the nation with 26 percent of its drivers uninsured, followed by Alabama (25 percent), California (25 percent), New Mexico (24 percent), and Arizona (22 percent).
Texas came in 12th, with 16 percent of its drivers uninsured.
In response, many cities are fighting back by instituting mandatory towing of vehicles if the driver is not insured. San Antonio is leading the effort among major Texas cities, instituting its “tow-now” policy in 2006. In 2007, city police impounded 14,950 vehicles for lack of insurance. So far this year, 8,874 vehicles have been towed.
View the whole story from the San Antonio Express News.
