By State Representative, Leon D. Young
Leon D. Young
Last week ushered in a new era for countless Wisconsin motorists. The state mandated auto insurance requirement, passed last year as part of the state budget, took effect June 1. This new law has the potential to give rise to unforeseen consequences, unintended by the Legislature.
Under the new mandatory requirement, all Wisconsin drivers must have car insurance. Law enforcement agents, during routine traffi c stops, can now ask for proof of insurance, along with the usual request to see a valid driver’s license. Failure to produce the necessary documentation can result in a possible forfeiture, which can range anywhere from $50.00 to $500.00.
Moreover, if you have an accident without insurance, your license can be suspended and you could be required to pay for damages and buy insurance before your license is reinstated.
Faced with this new reality, who in their right mind would not opt to buy car insurance? Unfortunately, there are many in our state that won’t adhere to the new mandatory requirement-not because they choose to be defi ant, but simply because they can’t afford it.
For many low-income residents in our state, automobile access is an essential part of their economic viability. It either affords them the ability to get to and from work or gives them greater fl exibility in their employment search.
The City of Milwaukee, which has the largest concentration of minorities in the state, has indicated that its police department will extend a 90-day grace period before implementing the law. This is good news in the short run, but it’s far from being a real, long-term solution for individuals struggling to survive in a tough economy. Wisconsin now becomes one of 48 states that require mandatory car insurance. Unlike many of these other jurisdictions, Wisconsin’s rate of uninsured drivers is relatively low-about 15 percent. With that being the case, why was this law enacted in light of the unequal impact it will have on marginalized residents in our state that rely on their cars for economic survival?
Wisconsin’s mandatory car insurance law has the potential for creating a new caste system: motorists that can afford the outrageous insurance premiums versus low-income motorists that can’t — who are now exposed to serious legal jeopardy.