Insurance Rates and Prop. 213

Your Oct. 18 editorial on Prop. 213 failed to mention one very important fact: Prop. 213 only affects people who break the law. Readers won’t be confused about the initiative once they have the facts--Prop. 213 will stop people from cheating the system when they break the law and drive drunk or without insurance and then expect to be rewarded following an auto collision.

The fact is that law-abiding drivers spend more than $1 billion every year to protect themselves against uninsured motorists. Law-abiding citizens are also being penalized at the expense of drunk drivers and uninsured motorists because they can be sued by these illegal drivers--even if the illegal driver is at fault. Prop. 213 corrects this injustice.

Californians are tired of footing the bill to protect themselves against people who break the law and refuse to take responsibility for their actions. Higher premiums for uninsured motorist insurance is an unfair consequence of people who drive uninsured and fail to contribute to the system. One billion dollars a year is an outrageous subsidy for uninsured drivers. Add to that a lawsuit by a drunk or uninsured motorist and it’s downright insulting.

There is nothing confusing about preventing lawbreakers from profiting from their crimes while at the same time making auto insurance more affordable. Prop. 213 does that in a fair and just fashion.

CHUCK QUACKENBUSH

Insurance Commissioner

Sacramento