Takko: Uninsured motorists ‘drive up costs for the rest of us’

Longview lawmaker’s bill captures committee approval

Feb. 7, 2008

OLYMPIA – It’s estimated that between 17 percent and 20 percent of Washington drivers are uninsured, “and when they get into car and truck accidents out on our roadways, they drive up costs for the rest of us,” said state Rep. Dean Takko, D-Longview.

Takko is prime-sponsoring a measure (House Bill 1046) requiring that motor-vehicle owners who fail to provide proof of financial responsibility must pay a $50 penalty. The vehicle-owners would have to provide proof of financial responsibility the next time they register their vehicle.

Last night (Feb 6, 2008), the measure won approval in the House Transportation Committee, of which Takko is a member.

Takko explained that his bill would also establish a program to randomly sample no more than three percent of Washington’s registered vehicle-owners to see if they have insurance. The registered owner of the selected vehicle is notified by mail and required to provide proof of financial responsibility for the vehicle within 45 days, according to Takko’s measure.

Terms of his legislation direct that the state Department of Licensing would use any proceeds from the penalty, after payment of the administration and collection costs of the program, to fund public-information campaigns about the new law.

“The combination of the random sampling of vehicle owners regarding the financial-responsibility requirements and the education component of this new state policy should significantly reduce the number of uninsured motorists,” Takko pointed out.

He noted that the state’s “Click It or Ticket” seatbelt campaign also uses a combination of education and enforcement “and this program has enjoyed very good success.”

According to a recent study, the number of uninsured motorists in Illinois went from 17 and a half percent down to four and a half percent with the introduction of a similar uninsured-motorist law in that state.

House Bill 1046 information: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1046&year=2008

For broadcast-quality audio on this issue, or to arrange TV or radio interviews, contact Dan Frizzell, House Democratic Caucus broadcast coordinator, at frizzell.dan@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7208.