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Thursday, May 7, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Sun Archives
- Insurance verification (4-30-2009)
- Bill would hand DMV contract to one company (4-29-2009)
- Localities to spend more than $1 million on lobbyists (2-1-2009)
- The lobbyists behind the lawmakers (2-1-2009)
Former Assembly speaker and current lobbyist Richard Perkins said the state could make more than $100 million a year in higher fees and added insurance premiums if the Legislature requires it to hire a company to automatically verify vehicle insurance coverage.
Perkins acknowledged before the committee that only Michigan-based InsureNet, which has hired Perkins as its lobbyist, qualifies for the contract under Assembly Bill 504. It is the only company that meets the strict requirements of a law enforcement organization, he said.
But, Perkins said, the Assembly committee could prevent the state from “giving away the store” in a contract with InsureNet by putting conditions or limits on how much the company could make under the contract.
AB504 would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to contract with a third party to automatically verify which vehicles are insured.
Perkins told lawmakers InsureNet would set up cameras around the state to photograph the license plates of passing vehicles. The plates would be checked against insurance company databases and when an uninsured vehicle is spotted, a citation would be issued to its registered owner.
Law enforcement would also be able to check in real time which drivers are uninsured, even out-of-state drivers.
“You’ve all heard deals that are too good to be true as I did when I sat on this committee for 14 years,” Perkins told the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. “So how can that be so?”
He said the company would pay for “millions of dollars in upfront costs” to establish the program and in exchange would get a percentage of citations issued through use of the technology.
“Clearly, you could put parameters on what the percentages could be, so you’re not quote-unquote giving away the store,” he said.
DMV Director Edgar Roberts expressed concern that the bill would circumvent laws requiring bids to be open to many potential contractors.
Dennis Colling, the DMV’s chief of administrative services, said “a single company that qualifies is certainly negotiating from a position of power.”
Only Assemblyman Joe Hogan, D-Las Vegas, expressed concern about potential problems the state could encounter negotiating with a company it’s required by law to hire.
“I want to make sure we’re not overpaying or, heaven forbid, underpaying for the contract,” he said. “I’m intrigued, this is an exciting process. But it’s going so fast, I’d like a little more time.”
The bill was not voted on Wednesday.
Here come the cameras. First on plates, then at traffic lights. Expensive tickets out of the blue, with no recourse for appeal. Grinning judges, smirking cops, big money for the City. Sometimes I think Henderson is the incubator for public employee abuse. Shoot the Ice Cream Lady, so what? Our prosecutors will lie us out of anything. Richard Perkins is a cocky SOB being paid 120G large by the city to lobby for more and more money. And now this attempt to extort more money for his latest con job. When will it end?
We don't need more big brother cameras to watch our every move. Simply enforce the current law. Follow Colorado's lead and impound the car of any unlicensed driver on the spot. Could do the same if they don't have proof of insurance.
The legislature needs to know that the state DMV checks insurance on a daily basis without cameras. This Insurenet and it's spawn, Perkins, will get near 30% of every $250 reinstatement fee instead of that money going to the state. Every registration - every day - is computer checked in Carson City DMV headquarters for insurance ALREADY!!! (Will insurenet want some of that money also???) And, don't believe that Insurenet is going to pay for all the cameras being put in place - that price will fall to the taxpayer. This is an amazing scam by Perkins and Dr. Goldfinger (Miller). Beyond the invasion of privacy - too much is left unanswered - such as vehicles being towed, vehicles that are registered that don't have license plates (perfectly legal with temporary registrations), etc. The state will assume the liability of lawsuits - not insurenet - you can bet on that.
Only one state - Delaware - has signed on for this "service." Back in 2003 and that was just an exploratory contract. Nothing has been implemented in Delaware that this company is promising. This is one of the most amazing scams I've ever seen. Perhaps I'm naive - but a quick internet seach proves this company is a total scam. Hey - I have a bridge that's for sale....
Sounds like a great idea. Not only should the uninsured have to pay a fine, they should have to go to the dmv with their auto, pay the fine or have their license plates taken away. Uninsured drivers don't belong on our roads. Our police should be doing better things with their time than checking insurance cards. The idea of cameras and automatic billing will make everyone buy insurance and in turn reduce hit and runs, lower everyone's cost of insurance and provide funds to pay for accidents and injuries. If you don't have anything to hide then you don't have to worry about the cameras looking at your license plates. The days of following the law and being an honorable man are over...they only way to make people comply is to hit their pocketbook. It's a sad fact and somebody will profit from it. If this company has the ability and technology go for it. Nevada Fire....what did you find that said it was a scam? Give us some websites to check on. Thanks and don't forget to renew your insurance!