Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Fairness for responsible drivers

Published (4/29/2011)
By Kris Berggren
Share on: 



Rep. Pat Mazorol (R-Bloomington) wants uninsured Minnesota drivers — who may represent as many as 20 percent of those on the road — to pay their auto insurance premiums as required by law.

He believes HF730, which he sponsors, would create an incentive for them to do so by limiting accident damages they could collect, and by increasing from $200 to $600 the penalty for not having auto insurance.

The bill was approved April 27 by House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee and sent to the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee. Sen. Paul Gazelka (R-Brainerd) sponsors a companion, SF243, which awaits action by the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

An uninsured driver would only be able to collect out-of-pocket costs, such as medical care or lost wages, but not noneconomic damages including pain and suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment or disfigurement.

Exceptions would be made if the uninsured driver was injured by another motorist operating a vehicle under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.

The committee debated several situations in which a driver might experience unintended consequences for failing to pay an insurance premium. One was “Millie,” a hypothetical 72-year old retiree who, confused about paying her bills, forgot to pay her premium and then lost an arm in a car accident. Under the bill she would not be able to collect any damages except the cost of her medical care.

“I know where your bill is aimed. But you’re shooting buckshot,” said Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights). He unsuccessfully offered an amendment that would have specified that the limit on noneconomic damages apply only to those who knowingly fail to pay their auto insurance premium.

Rep. Tim Sanders (R-Blaine) said that in Minnesota, “Your policy doesn’t terminate with one lapse of payment.” Instead, notices are normally sent and a policy retained at least for a grace period. Therefore it would be unlikely that one incident would cause someone like Millie to become uninsured.

Session Weekly More...


Session Weekly Home



Related Stories


Minnesota Index: Doing business in Minnesota
Facts and statistics on Minnesota's business climate
(view full story) Published 2/17/2012

Jobs bill is brewing
Specialty brewers seek license to sell onsite beer
(view full story) Published 4/29/2011

Minnesota Index: Cheers!
Facts and statistics on the brewing industry in Minnesota
(view full story) Published 4/1/2011

Minnesota Index: Philanthropy and giving
Figures and statistics on philanthropy in Minnesota
(view full story) Published 1/28/2011