YOUR COMMENTS

wow, one of the great reasons I was going to move myself and my business to New Hampshire is to avoid these overbearing laws on the citizen. Meanwhile I read you're erecting signage that is a waste of tax dollars. Looks like someone is trying to be a little Massachusetts. . . I might as well stay in the People's Republic and not bring my 200 available jobs into the "live free or die" state. Not a smart move Manchester.
- Tony Jankowski, Salisbury, MA

In reference to the mand auto insurance, there are two ways to prevent losing a 20,000$ vehicle to an uninsured motorist: 1)drive a 500$ clunker, 2) get collision insurance. The collision insurance method has worked fine for 80 years; the mand insurance hasn't worked for 80 years.

The deer cause lots of car damage, why not try to get the deer to purchase liability insurance????

There are many in New Hampshire can buy auto insurance, not have enough money in their wallet for food, and can then go on food stamps to get something to eat. I have two studies on www.foodstampstudy.com that show an increase in food stamps due to mand auto insurance. If these laws are causing an increase in food stamp nrs, it is required to note this in the fiscal note of the auto insurance law, yet this is not noted in the fiscal note and the budget director looks to be violating state law. (Yes, I know food stamps are free to New Hampshire, but the administrative costs are not.

Dr Robert Maril also has a study on the internet. Type in to the Yahoo search engine: "The Impact of Mandatory Auto Insurance upon Low Income Americans"

If the New Hampshire budget director isn't going to follow the law, maybe no one else should. I will bet the New Hampshire budget director 1,000$ that the 1985 Santa Fe food stamp skyrocket was caused by the 1984 New Mexico auto insurance law.
- Don Birkholz, Broadus, MT

I do not have auto ins, and I do not intend to get it, unless I have a really nice car. Currently, I drive a P-O-S, and cannot afford to pay for ins. If people like me want to take the risk that if we cause a accident we can be held responsible , then so be it. When I do get a nicer car I will get auto ins, but to have it be mandatory?...live free or die!!!
- Jen, Manchester

Ed, What precisely needs to be fixed is that driving is a privilage, not a right. Anyone who thinks they are responsible enough to drive a motor vehicle should be financially responsible as well to protect themselves against causing damage, injury or death to another motorist.
- Brian, Manchester

I would be hard pressed to see if those "Meet Our Judges, Exceed The Speed Limit" and other signs meet the state's MUTCD. These signs are a waste of taxpayers money and only make visitors laugh at them as they pass by. Someone should check with the DOT in Concord to see what is considered a 'legal' sign and if it can be posted around Manchester. IF they are illegal, then the person responsible for making the request to put them up should pay a fine or something of that sort.
- Robert M Tarr, Manchester

At a recent Public Safety/Traffic committee meeting, Ed Osborne proposed erecting signs that read "Smile, you may be on camera" on certain streets in Manchester on which people are prone to speed. Unfortunately for Mr. Osborne, the actual installation of highway surveillance cameras is illegal per RSA 236:130. This leads me to conclude that either Mr. Osborne is either severely ignorant of his own state's laws, or he believes that telling lawbreakers that his city is breaking the law to catch them is a good thing. From the same committee meeting, I also learned that Manchester has several illegal (they don't meet the state's standards) four-way stop signs around the city. Perhaps Manchester's politicians should concentrate on trying to bring our own city into compliance with state traffic laws before proposing new ones, eh?
- Jeremy J. Olson, Manchester

You should ask my friend who was hit by a uninsured driver what she thinks. She lost her car, which was totalled. She was in the hopital for over a week and 1/2. So now she's out of a car and has thousands in medical bills, missed a couple weeks of pay. No big deal, right? Again, try telling that to my friend (who still has trouble walking, by the way)
- John G., Merrimack

What many may not know is that insurance mandates are pushed by LAWYERS. This is their bread and butter. Taking large amounts of unearned monies from people who have NO SAY in how it is spent.

When the attorneys get a hold in OUR state, it is DOOMED. Thankfully we have a large citizen legislature that is ACCOUNTABLE to the PEOPLE. I will personally scream until my last breath if this idea gets any traction here.
- Steve, Manchester

Manditory insurance does not stop an uninsured morotist from hitting you. As the stats show it is less likely in NH as the number of the insured is higher. I moved back to NH from FL and believe me the rates are cheaper like 50%. While in FL I went many times without insurance because I could not afford ins and living. Here is NH I have no problem paying for my insurance because I am paying $87/mo for two cars instead of 180 in FL. Do the math. You still need uninsured motorist coverage in the mandated states should you want to be protected. I feel for anyone that has been hit by and uninsured, however, it could happen anywhere...let us be the responsible people and keep Boncord and the insurance co out of it.
- Ryan Lehoullier, Londonderry

To Shawana/Manchester....because some people cannot afford insurance dosen't make them lazy
- Sheri, Claremont, NH

As an older driver, I have bolstered my
insurance in the area of "damage by
an uninsured driver". The uninsured
driver will not be liable for this, nay,
only my insurance company.
Unfortunately, this is one of the few
options availible to you to protect
yourself while on the road.
- Paul, Bedford

I remember some 20 years ago being in high school and looking into getting insurance. At $3,000.00 a year for a policy there was no way that I could afford it. It came down to paying my rent and food or having insurance on my car. I would have loved to have had coverage at the point but it wasn't a viable option. Auto Insurance is a great thing to have - worried about being hit by an uninsured motorist add the coverage... it isn't that much and at least you are covered. We don't need Big Brother telling us what choices to make!!!
- James Keane, Manchester, NH

I find it disturbing that a majority are naive enough to support mandatory insurance. I moved to New Hampshire last year from Montana, where insurance is mandatory. I found that it New Hampshire the cost of insurance is about half the cost. When there is no mandate, there is no monopoly. Stay free, New Hampshire. Don't follow the herd!
- Rich Angell, Grafton

What happened to "Live Free or Die"
- John, Candia

Let me rephrase what I wrote earlier.

Having a mandatory insurance law does NOT make people get insurance!!!!! They may get it for the week that they need it to get their registration renewed but then they cancel it (or just stop paying it altogether).

Mandatory insurance allows the insurance companies to INCREASE their premiums.

Learn from the mistakes that other states have made, do NOT support anyone who votes for mandatory insurance.
- Shawn Perreault, Milton, NH

I too came from Ct and found my rates DROP substantially. I went from paying $1200.00 for one vehicle ( I have a perfect license and are I am over 35) to paying just $400.00 for the same vehicle! They crammed mandatory insurance down the throats of the CT residents and boy did we pay for it. Just another example of Uncle Sam trying to run our lives. My son was hit by an unisured driver, ( it totaled his car) but he had her license yanked and she came up with money real quick. I do not see a problem.
This will just be more heaped on our already taxed police, DMV and judicial systems, trying to keep track of who has it and who doesn't.
The uninsured motorist dollars will not go away by having mandatory insurance.
The insurance companies will be the only ones to profit.
Keep NH free and let's not let them foist Massachusetts ways on us. It's not working for them and it's not going to work for us.
If you think you have trouble paying your bills now- just support these deep pocketed politicians and see how far it gets you. Remember, YOU are paying all their bills.
- Pauline, Franklin

Taxes going to the state are bad enough; the state trying to force you to do business with select private companies is simply too much. I refused to buy a car when I lived in Massachusetts because of auto insurance laws, and when they finally passed that law down there requiring people to buy health insurance, I moved up here. If New Hampshire is trying to simply create more criminals, they'll pass this: I, for one, will absolutely not buy auto insurance just because the state is trying to force me to. And if New Hampshire tries to tie insurance to registration, like they do in Massachusetts, I'll sooner just let my registration lapse, which means they won't be getting that big chunk of change from me anymore, than purchase insurance. (Anyone remember the recent Lauren Canario brouhaha? Looks like we’ll have more people following in her tracks.)
- Jeremy J. Olson, Manchester

Auto insurance yes, Mandatory, let the cities and town's decide together if they want it to be enforced. Manchester should not be the only city to decide what our state needs. We should ask those what they opinion is before we ask our state to pass the bill into law. Our city government officials should stick to questions on the ballot that refer to the city that they live in only. When it comes time to elect a governor, place the question on the ballot then and if a majority says they would like it, then bring it up to Concord for review. Just remember that insurance companies will be able to adjust their prices higher IF it becomes a law and then you will have higher unemployment rate and people losing their homes or apartments because of such higher fees. We must remember that not everyone makes more than 60k per year in NH.
- Robert M Tarr, Manchester

I don't think there should be mandatory insurance...with one caveat. If someone is uninsured and hits someone, their fault, they can be held responsible in a civil suit for the full extent of the damages. That'd let the problem solve itself, and also deal with the illegal aliens who never get insurance anyway.
- Mike R., Bedford

I've always had auto liability insurance, at even greater than the State suggested level, worn a seat belt and helmet... and never needed a law to help me with my decision.
- John Edward Mercier, Belmont

I moved from CT to Manchester, NH and saw my auto insurance rates go from $1100/yr to over $2400. Some quotes I received were over $3000. Every single insurance rep I spoke to advocated quite bluntly that I was moving to the highest rated area in the state for auto insurance. It doesn't matter what the statistics say regarding our raking to other states' uninsured motorist ratios. The simple fact that NH gives its drivers THE OPTION to have auto insurance makes driving in the state a greater financial risk to insurance companies, thus we pay through the nose compared to our neighboring states. It is disturbing how NH penalizes the responsible citizens to subsidize irresponsibility. Insurance is a necessity, not an option when considering most uninsured motorists lack the financial resources to rectify an accident.
- John, Merrimack

Two years ago in January, my daughter was hit broad side by someone who had no auto insurance and did not make a stop at a STOP sign. Luckily she and her passengers were not seriously hurt, although she did receive minor injuries. Her vehicle was nearly new and the damages were over $12,000. Still not enough to total the vehicle. It was several days after the accident that she found out that the person had no insurance. From then on, it was a struggle for her to get everything handled by the police and her own insurance company. She was inconvenienced for about two month while her car was being repaired. For privacy reasons, she has no idea how the insurance company or the state DMV handled the case of the uninsured motorist. Was she incovenienced as well and did she go through the same agony as my daughter?? I believe that every vehicle operator should have liability insurance. Driving a vehicle is a privilege and there are certain responsibilities with that and one is driving with insurance.

Thanks
Sheila
- Sheila, Warren

I would imagine that everyone who has written a comment opposing mandatory
insurance has never been hit by a uninsured motorist, let me tell you from someone who has been hit several times by one, its not pleasant,why should I have to pay extra to cover myself from drivers that do not care about having insurance.
When I wanted my first car (16yoa) my Dad would'nt let purchase a car unless I had car insurance and he made sure I kept it insured. It's called being a responsible driver and caring about other drivers that share the road with you.
Thank you for reading my comment, and have a nice day
- Roger Beauchamp, Manchester

response to George:
Unfortunately, premiums don't go down when the insurance market is forced. They do precisely the opposite, and in fact can skyrocket. This happens across the board, as the now mandatory health-care law in Mass is proving. Rates have about tripled there since that law has been enacted. Also, the insurance companies will not voluntarily lower their premuims when they're forced to accept risk. They will have to do the opposite because the risk pool is greater. When NJ forced the market years ago, some companies pulled out completely, like Geico. Coincidentally, Geico will not sell insurance in either Mass or NJ because of the extensive risk pool. NJ finally intervened to stop companies leaving by declaring a law that forced the companies to sell auto insurance IF they wanted to sell home owners insurance. And in NJ at ont time, you couldn't even shop around for the lowest price. You were put into a pool called assigned risk, and gouged accordingly. You didn't even know right away who the insurer was, and it could take a week or 2 to find out. I know because I went through it after an accident, where I was rear-ended while stopped art a red light. It went on for months, and my car sat in a lot for almost 2 months before it was repaired. And my premium skyrocketed, even though I was not at fault in any way. My wife works in Mass, but is insured in NH, so she enjoys the benefits of low rates and has the freedom to travel anywhere in the country. I promise you that we will all be sorry, some VERY sorry, if NH decides to force an auto insurance program on us. We'll all pay through the nose for it, much more so than now. Anyone who can't afford insurance today will certainly not be able to afford it after this proposed law could take effect.
- ED, Bennington

Laura, I have no insurance, and I've been pulled over in Maine. They asked for proof of insurance, and I told them it wasn't required in NH, and that was good enough for them. No ticket. No sr-22. I choose not to buy auto insurance because they always try to weasel out of paying claims. They are nothing but a bunch of parasites.
- DM, Manchester

Doing this will increase insurance rates not lower them, just take a trip south of the boarder to a mandated state and look at the difference in the cost of policies.
We will have instant criminals in low income households who can't afford it, or better yet we will have a higher unemployment rate from those now afraid to drive who can't afford a policy. The fact that we have choice is what keeps the cost down, and our numbers reflect higher numbers of insured drivers than those in mandatory states. Why do we who do not mandate have a higher rate of insured drivers than those that don't .... bottom line cost. If we make it mandatory we will not only loose some of our insurance companies as Mass. did but we will see increased government regulation and an increase in cost. It's not broken so it does not need to be fixed.
- Jenn, Andover

We do not need mandatory insurance for anything. And any politician stupid enough to try to push it onto New Hampshire is going to get slapped upside the head by the voters. Are you listening politicians? We are watching what you do on this issue and you will pay the price when it comes time to vote.
- Bob Hoskins, Derry

I don't understand why this state does not already require everyone to have insurance. Driving is a privilige and if you can't afford insurance then you shouldn't be driving. The fact is that everyone WITH insurance pays more for "unisured motorist" insurance. So many of you are saying "this is not needed" and "we don't need mandatory insurance" however I bet you'd change your minds should you ever get hit by an uninsured motorist. Personally, I work too hard to pay for my PRIVILIGE of driving and don't think that a lazy few should cause me to pay higher premiums to cover THEM in case THEY hit ME. Way to go Ed Osbourne this is absolutely needed!
- Shawna, Manchester

As the Union Leader aptly points out, Only six states have lower percentages of uninsured drivers." With that said, I fail to see how the need for mandatory insurance has manifested other than Ed's Osborne's misfortune. While Ed and I find common ground on a number of issues, this one we do not. As shown in any number of policy studies, mandatory insurance fails to decrease the number of people insured. What mandatory insurance does is to create cash cows for Insurance companies. Having resided in Texas, California, Florida and South Carolina, I distinctly recall having to pay rates that I found objectionable. In New Hampshire, My present insurance company offers a number of incentive discounts that would surely go away if a mandate were to rear its ugly head. It is true that one can operate a motor vehicle without insurance, but if a crash occurs, that same driver will be required to file proof of financial responsibility. An insurance mandate would only take away the special incentive rate I get for combining my homeowners, auto and other insurances. I will nevere support an insurance mandate.
- Rick Olson, Manchester

Big Brother Big brother let me in the Out of starters are invading. LOL Look plane and simple NH is Live free or Die The politician in office now have passed more big brother laws than any in resent history. We don't need a big brother or its laws. As stated we have a higher insured rate than most other states in the country. Your insurance covers you if hit by a non insured. And if a non insured Cant pay your insurance back Not only do they lose their license, But they must also Carry an SR22 just like a person convicted of DUI. So big brother go sit down let us tend to ourselves we don't need you Democrats or Republicans telling us how to behave or what to do. Our taxes are obviously not enough for you now you want to take kick backs from the insurance industry and make us pay what some cant afford. Go Pound Sand. LIVE FREE OR DIE NH. Obviously the current Politicians don't want us to live free. Bad big brother.
- Tim, Manchester

I grew up and spent most of my adult life in Connecticut where there was a mandatory insurance law. This law drove up the cost of insurance, guaranteeing that many could not afford auto insurance. The ones that could not afford it were also the ones who would least likely be able to pay for any damage they cause. Insurance in this state is fairly inexpensive now but will not remain so if we get mandatory insurance. Mandatory insurance is a bad idea for everyone.
- Bob L, New Boston

So now the people of Manchester want to create a low-income class of violators who are just trying to get to a low wage income job with their uninsured autos so they can pay for a home to live in. Paul don't blame the uninsured for your choice to not pay the extra money for a better policy. No one forced you to take a cheaper policy. Accidents happen thats why they are called accidents. When it comes to uninsured drivers maybe the State in their wisdom and need to force more rules upon the public should create a State wide mandatory Liability Insurance program that is paid for by charging a fee as part of your registration that automatically enrolls a registered driver into the Liability Insurance program. Uninsured motorists are like the Elderly with their medications. There is a choice to be made to either get the daily medication at the "outrageous" pharmacy prices or use the money to pay for the electric, the heat, and food to survive. The only ones that will gain from a mandatory policy will be the Insurance Industry. Now instead of having profits in the Millions of dollars they will have profits exceeding Billions of dollars while the State and the local communities are paying for policing the mandatory policy. That doesn't make a lot of sense Manchester.
- Brian, Lancaster

Regarding your article on “Mandatory auto insurance”. In this case, I have to agree with Manchester referendum organizer Ed Osborne. It is time New Hampshire has a mandatory auto insurance law. We are always told “A driver’s license is a privilege” and if you can afford to own a vehicle, then you should have the responsibility to pay should you be involve in an accident. Should New Hampshire become a “Mandatory auto insurance” State, then the Legislature should also enact laws to force all insurance companies to reduce the premiums because they’d be collecting more money from more automobile owners. I think it’s time for the State to stand behind and protect the little guy and not the big conglomerates insurance companies like they usually do. I’d also like to mention the statement by Deborah O'Loughlin, legal coordinator at the state Insurance Department who said New “Hampshire falls between 8 and 10 percent uninsured, while Massachusetts, which has compulsory insurance, has 15 percent uninsured drivers”. How can you compare New Hampshire with Massachusetts? Massachusetts has at least three times as many residences and drivers as New Hampshire. I would hardly consider these figures accurate. Time to get back to the drawing board.
- George Lessard, 459 Ddubuque St. Manchester, New hampshier 03102

I would like to comment on this as a person who just left a mandatory auto insurance state (AZ). I truly feel sorry for Paul and the situation that he was put in, however, from my experience with mandatory auto insurance, there will always be a certain percentage of people who will NEVER carry mandatory auto insurance no matter the consequences. Either way, you are hosed when they hit you. Also, if they know that they will lose their license, they won't even bother to stop after a crash. They will keep on driving like nothing ever happened. Ever try to get your insurance company to pay for a 2000$ traffic accident when the other person drives off? Good luck. You will spend a month dealing with the insurance company as they wait for the police to find the culprit. If you only get a partial license plate number, it can take longer.

Meanwhile, your insurance rates have gone up (even if you have a spotless record) because the insurance companies know that you need insurance so they can/will charge as much as possible.

Mandatory car insurance is a horrible idea and the only people to benefit are the insurance salesmen and the insurance companies.
- Shawn Perreault, Milton, NH

One thing alot of people do not realize, is that NH doesnt require insurance, but all the other NE states do. So, if you are stopped for a motor vehicle violation in VT, ME, CT etc, and have no insurance; you will now be required to have an SR-22 which is prove of insurance for a minimum of 3 years. An sr-22 means your rates are higher because you are considered a higher risk because of no insurance to begin with. It would be better for NH to have a mandatory Insurance requirement; due to the safety of others such as P.Dusseault's story above; and hopefully make drivers more responsible as they are driving. either way, if you are busted driving in Mass, or anywhere that is an insurance state, you are going to be required to have proof of insurance for a minimum of 3 years. Why not save yourself the headache and just be a responsible driver to begin with?
- laura upton, Franconia NH

We don't need another mandatory law.
- Sharon Previe, Alton Nh

It is time for the legislature to start listening to people instead of lobbyists. In Berlin, there are a large number of $200 cars driving around and none have insurance. Auto ownership includes some degree of financial responsibilty. I'm tired of seeing stiffs ride around in junk cars and when they hit someone, "oh well"....Thanks Manchester!!!
- Paul Grenier, Berlin, NH

It seems to me that we're trying to fix something that isn't broken. If we already have such a low rate, then what precisely needs to be fixed? If NH forces the insurance market, then you'll see exactly the same result as Mass and NJ. Both of those states force the market, and my rates in NJ 20 years ago were fully triple what they have been up here for 20 years. As I recall, my insurance rate when I left NJ was 3000/yr in 1988. Myu insurance premiums here and now are 1/10th of that amount approximately, and I have full coverage. This is just another example of lawmakers making busy-work. Porbably nothing much better to do, so lets pass some laws. We can't be law makers if we're not making laws,right? I'm a conservative, but I sometimes think that the free staters might actually be on to something. Auto insurance is not a problem in NH, and we shoul;dn't let Concord or someone who has been rear-ended make us all suffer for their inconvenience. it simply isn't fair, and it is completely un-necessary. I speak from personal experience when I say forced insurance, and God forbid no-fault are problems we don;t need in NH.
- Ed, Bennington

Enacting legislation when none is necessary. It's the Democrat way. Nothing burns them up more than discovering another facet of our lives not controlled or limited, in some way, by the government. What most of us call freedom and individual responsibility, they call a dangerous "loophole" that must be closed at once - more often than not "for the children".
- Bruce M., Brentwood

Just another example of how gov't is trying to rule our lives. This is the state where we Live Free or Die. I think it will be time to change the state motto soon. The statistics are showing that we are more responsible than most of the country when it comes to uninsured drivers all on our own. Also I feel that insurance companies could raise rates on account of demand, the fact that we would have no choice in getting insured. Whats next become a No Fault state?
- Ryan Lehoullier, Londonderry

my wife got rearended last january on manchester st. in concord by a person with no insurance. thank god my wife was ok! but i had over $2000.00 damage on my car. my wife was hit by an uninsured motorist. the state of N.H. requires me to have coverage for uninsured motorists if i have car insurance which i pay every year. the point is i had to come up with $500.00 for my deductible and car rental while my car was being repaird fortunately i had the money and not living paycheck to paycheck. this accident not even my wifes fault but because i have always paid uninsured motorist money i am still out money wow! what a system N.H has by the way it took 5 months but i have received $250.00 for my deductible but i am still short $250.00 of my hard earned money do you think the state of N.H. cares as long as they get their money each year to put plates on uninsured motorists vehicles they look the other way.
- Paul Dusseault, Allenstown N.H.