Tim: "Thats one of the reasons I love my '94 Grand Prix Sedan. Cops tend to look at it and keep looking past it. I've been thinking about getting a WRX, but that stands out quite a bit more than the 'family mobile'. Maybe I'll just wait for the Evo to be released in the states"

I know that smiley means you're kidding about a *stealthy* EVO! Those 14-foot high spoilers do make it easy for John Law, Old Bill et al to pick you out of a crowd. So far my choice of an old-fart generic silver WRX wagon seems to be working. Two months almost and not even a written warning!

Jim

Well, I dunno. I think the insurance companies get to dip into DMV records.

I wonder... There might be some privacy issues involved with that.

I'm on pretty good terms with my insurance agent (5 cars insured, no moving violations in 20 years, one claim for a cracked windshield in the last 10 years) and tomorrow I'll give him a call and find out how this works. Since he doesn't make any money from me unless I am insured by him, it is not in his best interests to raise my rates and make me go somewhere else for my insurance. The parent company may feel otherwise.

Hmmm...

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

So how do they tell my insurance company that I have transgressed?

I think it's the other way around. I think the insurance companies query the DMV. Not sure about this, but it seems logical. If so, they probably don't do it at frequent intervals, hence the UL about overpayment.

___________
Tony Fabris

In Australia, (as far as I know, in Victoria, anyway) you increased insurance premiums aren't the big problem when you start clocking up points. You lose your driver's license (one month per 4 points) once you reach 12 points. I think that equates to getting caught

• speeding by more than 15km/h or
  
• running a red light

four times in a three year period.

I believe this was what muzza was concerned about!

Richard.

How does this work? The department of motor vehicles does not know who is providing the driver's insurance. I mean, it could be Allstate or Geico or Joe's Shoe Repair and Insurance Emporium. So how do they tell my insurance company that I have transgressed?

Here in CA the DMV asks for proof of insurance when renewing your car registration. The piece of paper I'm required to give them has all the information - insurance company, agent contact details, policy number, etc.

Borislav

I should point out it wasn't a built up area and it was 2.30am with not a soul about...

Hugo
(feeling guilty)

Dang, I have to remember not to be using "<" in posts unless I want to start adding HTML. My bracketed comment of: [IGNORANCE ALERT: The poster really doesn't know anything about this!] disappeared as did my [NEOLOGISM ALERT!] with respect to "alacritous". I try to remain aware of when I may be making up information and/or words. My doctor says it is a very important step for me to take!

Jim

tomorrow I'll give him a call and find out how this works.

OK, here's the scoop. When the policy comes up for renewal, the insurance company checks with DMV to see if there are any violations for that particular driver. Low risk drivers with a long history of good driving (say old people driving station wagons )may only get checked every couple of years. Others that are considered higher risk (people in their 20's or 30's driving silver WRXs, for example ) may get checked even more often than their policy renewals.

There is a movement afoot for legislation to make DMV records less accessible, but I don't know what will come of that.

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

Yup. (I knew I wasn't that brain-dead! Or at least I thought I wasn't....maybe...I'm not sure...) I had dinner with my rehabilitated automotive crime-spree friend Friday eve (had some great striped bass in Fairhaven, MA) and he gave me his spin on the system in Massachusetts. The complex system is called "merit rating" or SDIP and you can find a bit of infor at: http://www.state.ma.us/eops/ar97/mrb.htm Anyhow, the state does maintain a master database of violations that insurance companies are obliged to tap into so that the increase rates for some and adjust rates downward in the form of adjustment rebates for those calmer, boring, unviolate drivers.

Jim

...for those calmer, boring, unviolate drivers.

ie. volvo drivers with hats, gloves, oversized glases and small dogs in handbags. You know how you are.

Murray 06000047
I don't think, therefore I am not.

Careful, Muzza -- I think tanstaafl has a Volvo and a small dog!

Jim

As long as he doesn't keep the small dog in his handbag while driving with hat and gloves and oversized glasses he doesn't fit in the catagory!

I knew I'd have to be really specific here!

Murray 06000047
ust increasing my post count

As long as he doesn't keep the small dog in his handbag while driving with hat and gloves and oversized glasses...

Oh, I see you've met him, then?

___________
Tony Fabris

Careful, Muzza -- I think tanstaafl has a Volvo and a small dog!

Hey-- watch it! I am highly offended here. I'll have you know that my station wagon is a Taurus, not one of those boxy-looking Volvos!

And my handbag is much too small to put a dog (even a small one) into!



tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

And my handbag is much too small to put a dog (even a small one) into!

Yeah, there's barely enough room for the empeg in that carrying case.

___________
Tony Fabris

Hey-- watch it! I am highly offended here. I'll have you know that my station wagon is a Taurus, not one of those boxy-looking Volvos!

Now you watch it - what are you implying about the looks of boxy Volvos?

I don't have a dog or oversized glasses but I do regularly get comments about my "purse" (aka empeg carrying case). I don't care as long as my empeg is protected from the elements.

Borislav

as long as my empeg is protected from the elements

...and people are talking about taking a soldering iron to the display board for a backlighting hardware hack...

Paul G.
SN# 090000587 (96GB Smoke)