We have laws, yet it's all right to break them?

[greensinestro]

We all have this headache every year, having to renew the registration on our personal vehicles. In Florida, and most other states I know of, you have to show proof of insurance before you are able to renew your tag. If I mail it in, it allows me to state on the registration what my insurance company is, plus the policy number needs to be listed. I love this being it keeps me from having to go stand in line and wait.

However, there were times I had to stand in line. One time, I saw a lady who gave the clerk a hard time because she was not able to get a new license plate free of charge. After this argument, the clerk told her she would need to see proof of insurance. This lady then fumbled around in her purse, spent nearly one long harrowing minute doing it and still would not produce her insurance card. It got to where the clerk gave up and told her it was all right, she would just get her taken care of! I don't know about anyone else, but since when was this an OK thing to do? Any time I have applied for insurance, or have moved to a new town to re-register my vehicle, an insurance card was always required before your registration renewal was approved. Yet, because of this woman's nasty, snotty attitude, she was allowed to renew without proving her vehicle was insured!

I'll let you all in on a secret though. Palm Beach county, where I live....over half the drivers here are uninsured which means either these people add insurance, then quickly cancel after they renew, or they all visit this same clerk at the tag agency that allows them to drive illegally! Go figure.

[AFpheonix]

Maybe the clerk gets a cut on the tickets issued by the cops if she gives them the plate numbers on the people who don't produce insurance?

[Drakstern]

Don't you know that laws are just suggestions?

I mean, it's not like you'll get arrested or anything for breaking one...

Sorry, slipped into an SC mindset there for a second.

[Cia]

You don't have to show proof of insurance to renew your tags in SD. They just want the card they send you and your money.

I was irked when I bought my new jeep and had to pay a full year for the plates, they don't prorate. I renewed the '93 jeep in February, bought the '03 jeep in September and plated it in October. So instead of the $17 I was hoping to pay I had to pay the full $40. It sucks have to buy plates twice in one year.

[greensinestro]

You don't have to show proof of insurance to renew your tags in SD. They just want the card they send you and your money.

That's great and all, but I don't think South Dakota has the influx of residents that Florida has. We deal with the onslaught of foreigners, and I'm not talking just about the ones from Puerto Rico, Cuba, etc. I'm also referring to New Yorkers, New Jersians, Massachusites (is that a word?), and New Hamshirians (another one?). Many of these people are the ones who either are driving illegally, or have found a way to get around our laws without getting caught. Because of the dishonesty of these people, Florida is very strict when it comes to obeying traffic laws.

[rvdammit]

Playing Devil's Advocate here, but "taken care of" could be reported to the police.

[Rubyred]

Hi Greensinestro! I live in Palm Beach too.

Considering the number of very elderly drivers we have here it's a terrifying thing to think of how many of them have no insurance.

Most of them really shouldn't be driving anyway!

[greensinestro]

Hi Greensinestro! I live in Palm Beach too.

Considering the number of very elderly drivers we have here it's a terrifying thing to think of how many of them have no insurance.

Most of them really shouldn't be driving anyway!

Got that right. How about the one-legged guy a few years back who caused a crash by using his cane as his leg for the accelerator? If memory serves, it got stuck causing him not to be able to apply the brake. So, yes, very scary indeed!

[ArenaBoy]

How about the one-legged guy a few years back who caused a crash by using his cane as his leg for the accelerator?

If this guy is at my arena I'm getting the hell out of there. IIRC don't they make cars that apply to those who have handicaps like that?

[Crosshair]

In North Dakota we can do renewals online. Just need the VIN, Registration number, and a credit card. Took me 10 minutes to do mine earlier this year. They then mail you out the new tags.

[jnd4rusty]

That's great and all, but I don't think South Dakota has the influx of residents that Florida has. We deal with the onslaught of foreigners, and I'm not talking just about the ones from Puerto Rico, Cuba, etc. I'm also referring to New Yorkers, New Jersians, Massachusites (is that a word?), and New Hamshirians (another one?). Many of these people are the ones who either are driving illegally, or have found a way to get around our laws without getting caught. Because of the dishonesty of these people, Florida is very strict when it comes to obeying traffic laws.

Actually we may not have the influx of people moving here..although we still have the stupid drivers but we are a tourist state..especially in the western half where Cia and I live. We get people from all over..RV's, motorcycles, cowboys(here for rodeos) and generally bad drivers from all over the world. We are a state that must show proof of insurance if you are pulled over by the police and let me tell you it is quite expensive if you don't have it. I am glad you don't have to show it to get your plates though! What a pain that would be. No matter where you are though, people will find ways to get around the law or rip off companies (insurance scams comes to mind) and those of us who follow all the laws must pay the price with our pocketbooks!!! Very unfair if you ask me!!

[greensinestro]

I hear you there. Thing is, in Florida, they've had to make it harder on the innocent people thanks to the dishonesty of others. In Dade County, the police were on a rampage at one time, going after uninsured motorists by going to their homes in the middle of the night and taking their license plates. Of course, those people in return claimed that was a theft, but police responded with "Those plates belong to the government, and if you are driving without insurance, you have no business being on the road. Therefore, we have every right to take your license plate." It lasted a while, until the corrupt government of Miami stepped in to protect those people.

I think I'll be moving to South Dakota soon!

[Seshat]

If this guy is at my arena I'm getting the hell out of there. IIRC don't they make cars that apply to those who have handicaps like that?

My father was a driving instructor, and once he was an experienced instructor, he decided to specialise in driving for the disabled. He worked with an occupational therapist and a specialist mechanic who did car modifications.

It's weird when your main family car has an optional left foot accelerator (hooked up out of the way when not in use), and optional hand controls for the brake and accelerator (like extra wiper or light controls), and a range of optional grips for the steering wheel (for those whose hands don't grip right).

So yes - they make cars for people with a wide range of handicaps. Or rather, normal cars can be modified for them.


Also, in Australia, the registration cost includes the cost of third party (human) insurance: you can nominate your insurer, but the registration form itself becomes the proof of having insurance. (This is for damage to people: damage to property is your own responsibility.)

[Cia]

I think I'll be moving to South Dakota soon!

Are you scared by the thought of 50,000 motorcycles in one spot for a week or buffalo or drought or mindless tourists or the occasional week or two of 100F+ weather or several months of 30F- weather or combines that take up the entire road and go a whopping 10mph? If not, come on by. If so, you might want to hide.

We do have influxes of people from different countries - mainly students who are attending SDSM&T.

Our drivers license only costs $10 and you get a unique computer generated number with a picture of four dead presidents in the background. And you still don't have to show proof of insurance.

[Rubyred]

Are you scared by the thought of 50,000 motorcycles in one spot for a week or buffalo or drought or mindless tourists or the occasional week or two of 100F+ weather or several months of 30F- weather or combines that take up the entire road and go a whopping 10mph?

How bout Daytona Beach bike week, iguanas EVERYWHERE, unbearable heat for most of the year, tourists and snowbirds, and hoards of old people who drive 5mph all the time, even on the highway?

Pshh buffalo. Bring em on. LOL!