DRIVER FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM

As of September 1^st, the Texas Driver Financial Responsibility Program ends. This means that any suspended licenses will be eligible for renewal and surcharges that are due will be dropped. In the past, I was all for the Financial Responsibility Insurance Program in Texas. We have entirely too many uninsured motorists here. Rarely are Both drivers insured when a traffic accident occurs. Therefore, the state has required those who are insured to include under insured and uninsured motorist coverage. This means paying higher rates for this extra coverage.

The High Cost of Insurance Lapse

Last I checked, over 40% of Texans were said to have been driving around without liability insurance. And now that the law has been really cracking down over the past several years, that number has dropped to 20%. So, yes, to me it has been a good thing. Then again, insurance rates are so very high that I can understand how some drivers cannot afford to pay for it. If you get caught without insurance because you couldn’t afford it, how could you possibly pay the fines, impound fees and the surcharges (approximately $250 per year for a total of three years). In addition, getting cited for driving without insurance is an item that stays on your driving record forever. I would think this would possibly flag you (as would a DWI) that you have allowed your insurance to “lapse” and may allow it to happen again. If anyone will even insure you after allowing your insurance to lapse, you will have to pay extra for an SR-22, making your insurance even higher. You could also have your license suspended, so how can you even work to pay for all of this, let alone pay for your insurance now?

Allowing Offenders To Recover

So, this is good news for those who have been in a perpetual revolving door of fines and surcharges and unable to pay them. Removing surcharges means the price of moving violations and DWI’s will be going up. But, I suppose that’s a risk we take. That’s a risk that comes now with a higher price.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson

Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Driver Financial Responsbility Program – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Daun Thompson: Daun Thompson has spent years acting in both film and theatre which has been paramount in launching her onto the comedy stage (incidentally, without a helmet, resulting in a nasty concussion). Being a funny girl is a full time job. A job that she hopes that one day will come with dental benefits and a 401K. Unlike her work, she is biodegradable, yet flame retardant. And gentle to the touch. Her goal in life??? For strangers to approach her and ask "Didn't you used to be somebody?" In the late 1980's she cut her teeth at the Velveeta Room on 6th Street in Austin, Texas ... the original room with the stripper pole. From there, she moved to northern California and worked with many comedy icons, like Mitch Hedberg, Marc Maron, Colin Quinn, Vic Dunlop, Huck Flyn, Michael Mancini, Doug Ferrari, Shang and Brian Posehn. Daun has been a licensed driver safety instructor and trainer with Comedy Defensive Driving for over 9 years. Her knowledge of driving safety laws keeps her readers informed and engaged with her blog adventures. She still continues to do stand-up comedy, sometimes in a reclining position...just to be different.