Tell us why you're not using your car or we'll fine you!

[MinisterofDOOM]

Since the Q's transmission showed signs of imminent failure in December, I've been driving my new Lincoln.
The Q's registration expired in April, but it's been parked since December. Not operated. I start it and let it run but it doesn't drive on public streets. I got a couple reminders to register it and obviously ignored them.

Then came the infuriating insurance "reminder."
When I bought the Lincoln, I transferred my insurance policy from the Q. So the Q has been uninsured since December.
A few weeks ago I got a letter in the mail...not even from the state, but from a private insurance company they contract to do their invasion of privacy for them. It informs me that I must return a form explaining WHY I do not have insurance on my car or I will be fined $400. At first I thought it was a scam to get me to sign up for insurance, but sure enough it's legit.

What the HELL is this s***? The car isn't even registered! If I'm not driving the car, it's none of the state's smegging business why I don't have insurance on it. Sure, I absolutely support them enforcing existing laws requiring base-level insurance for cars BEING DRIVEN. But this thing hasn't been registered for over a month, and hasn't been on the road for SEVERAL months.

Nope. Sorry InsureRight. None of your DAMN business. I will insure, or not insure, whichever cars I want, however I want, and UNLESS it's being driven on public roads you can stay the hell out of my private affairs.

I don't think this would have infuriated me so much if it hadn't been for the tone of the letter and the threats of fines for going about my life in a completely legal and acceptable manner that's none of anyone's business anyway! The nosiness is bad enough, but threats of fines just pushed me over the edge. The whole guilty until proven innocent attitude is completely unacceptable.

And yes, I realize there's a good (but misguided) cause underlying this. Utah requires minimum insurance on all operated motor vehicles. But this is NOT the right way to go about enforcing that.

Oh, and as a nice way to round off the insults, the form I was required to reply with didn't even come with a reply envelope. I had to waste a stamp and an envelope on this horsepucky.

[PyR0NiAk]

They do that in Ohio, but only if the car is registered... The car not being registered and them doing it is ridiculous.

In NC, the insurance company notifies the state as soon as you remove insurance from a vehicle. Of course, this is followed up with letters from the state.

[srellim234]

Here in California you register non-operating vehicles as non-operating for a small registration fee. That registration proves to the insurance company that the vehicle is not on the streets. In your case, once the car is repaired then you would reregister it as operating and activate insurance for it.

The problem lies with too many unregistered and uninsured vehicles being driven and a court system that won't get tough on violators. Confiscate the car, fine the people and lock them up if necessary.

[MinisterofDOOM]

and a court system that won't get tough on violators.

Absolutely agreed. If they'd just make the punishment for driving without insurance actually HURT, they wouldn't need these reverse detective efforts to try and weed out the offenders.

In NC, the insurance company notifies the state as soon as you remove insurance from a vehicle. Of course, this is followed up with letters from the state.

Yeah, it struck me as odd that they didn't contact me in December when the car was registered but uninsured. They waited until BOTH lapsed/were cancelled.

[ScrapMetal]

Here in Florida a non-operating car has to be both registered and insured even if it's sitting in your backyard surrounded by dead grass and weeds, or else they suspend your license. I was driving around with a suspended license in 2006 for three weeks because I had my first S13 sitting in my dad's house with no registration or insurance while I was working on it. I didn't even know my license was suspended up until I checked it online(which I do from time to time). Pure s***, I had to register and insure a car that I wasn't going to drive and didn't drive for well over 6 months.

[seang]

What if it is in a garage?

[n00b240]

This is some wack s*** for sure. My 240 sat in my garage for 2 years without registration or insurance, and I never got a letter about it. Re-registering and getting it insured was no problem. Kinda crazy that a private insurance company will try to get a 1up on you. I wouldnt be surprised if it would be illegal for the insurance company to even insinuate a 400 fine

[MinisterofDOOM]

Kinda crazy that a private insurance company will try to get a 1up on you. I wouldnt be surprised if it would be illegal for the insurance company to even insinuate a 400 fine

They're doing it on behalf of the state. It's a service they offer. The notice actually came on State of Utah official letterhead. So the fine wouldn't be from them, they simply operate the information collection program.
Still doesn't make me feel any better about it though.

[psychofiend]

f*** the man, damn them all!

But, laws were approved by the state legislative. The enforcement on the other hand... can sometimes be pretty strange.

I have no idea what point I was going to make. hehe.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with "the man." I just want him to know his boundaries, which are well outside my garage.

[AZhitman]

Chris, if you don't fire off a letter to your local elected officials, I'll be sorely disappointed.

[mattblancarte]

Just be careful not to say anything even remotely threatening or "angry" anymore... I read an article about a guy who sent a pissed-off letter to an out-of-state elected official, and they sent the freaking F.B.I to his house to "make sure it wasn't anything serious."

[turbonxsx]

I dont drive my s13 because i cant afford a forged rebuild kit just yet but never get f*** with in New Mexico for not having current insurance or current registration!!!