To those who say we should not require compulsory automobile insurance in the territory, we say that is irresponsible.
Sure, some people think it has been nice to "get away" with not having to insure vehicles for all these years since a previous Legislature, in its infinite wisdom, did away with it back in the ‘80s.
But what about the people who haven't gotten away with it? The ones who have been the victims of drivers with no insurance? The ones who have been injured and out of work because of an accident — or whose cars have been totaled? What about them? What do they say about a $250 insurance premium every year to protect them?
And what about the drivers deemed at fault? Would they have rather have paid $250 to protect themselves or $2,500 or much more in settlements?
Not only do we endorse compulsory auto insurance but we believe the law should go a step further to include mandatory no-fault insurance.
No-fault or Personal Injury Protection — known as PIP — covers the insured driver and occupants of the insured vehicle for bodily injury due to an accident. It is mandatory in most states and costs an additional $50 to $100 a year.
In many states the insured party is covered up to $50,000 for medical expenses, lost wages and additional expenses resulting from an accident.
In exchange for this kind of protection, drivers give up the right to sue unless their medical expenses exceed a certain amount — usually somewhere between $1,000 and $2,500.
That's how we lost our compulsory insurance in the territory in the first place. The Legislature considered no-fault but wanted a $250 threshold; the insurance companies wouldn't go for it.
It is a responsible plan to protect the innocent from the irresponsible and it prevents costly and sometimes ridiculous lawsuits.
But until the day that we approach mandatory no-fault again, we at least need to have some basic protection for responsible people.
If you can't afford $250 a year for liability insurance, you can't afford the cost of the injuries you could cause with that car and therefore shouldn't be driving it. Driving a car is not an entitlement — it is a privilege. And it comes with responsibilities.
