Heil Mein Automobilenfuhrer!
I received a letter recently from the State of Utah regarding vehicles which I own and for which they could find no record of insurance.
The letter read, in part:
"Dear Motorist:
Utah Code Annotated 41-12a-301 requires that all registered motor vehicle owners shall maintain liability insurance in effect at any time that the vehicle is operated on a highway or on a quasi-public road. To enforce motor vehicle insurance laws, an authorized designated agent known as Insure-Rite, Inc. must match motor vehicle registration and drivers license records with insurance records each and every month. At this time, Insure-Rite, Inc. is unable to locate a liability insurance record on the vehicle(s) listed below."
It goes on to say:
"Please respond by November 22, 2004. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of the vehicle registration by The Division of Motor Vehicles, and payment of a $100 reinstatement fee will be required. Law enforcement will be advised that your registration is no longer valid. Vehicles operated on a public road or highway without registration may be impounded. Also, Utah law provides for a minimum/mandatory fine of $400 to be assessed for operating an uninsured vehicle on Utah roadways."
Interesting... I did some digging on "Insure-Rite, Inc." and found out that, according to their website's FAQ (www.insure-rite.com) page, a law was passed in Utah in 1994 that required registered owners of vehicles to respond to queries as to their vehicle's insurance status (hence the letter I received).
Here's what else I found: in 1995, Insure-Rite, Inc. donated a total of $9,950 to various campaigns for public office. Most of these campaigns were for the state legislature and most of those being elected are still some of our most well-loved legislators: Marty Stephens ($250), John Valentine ($250), Greg Curtis ($200), Don Bush ($100), and others. You can find a complete list on the state election's website: http://elections.utah.gov under the "contributions" link.
A further look at the bills passed in 1994-95 shows that HB 33 (the referenced bill on Insure-Rite's FAQ page) was voted for by most of those who received contributions from Insure-Rite, Inc... Thank yous for a job well done on their behalf??
Anyway, I wrote the following response to Insure-Rite, Inc. regarding their...uhh...inquiry:
Hallo, Insure-Rite, Inc.:
Heil der automobilen fuhrer! Danke for your letter of November 2, 2004. It is appreciated that you are doing such a good job as enforcer of der Reich's laws, which are created for all of The People's safety and well-being.
While I do not wish to be contentious and appear to be a contrary to the wishes of or call into question the leadership of der Reich, I must contest your assertion that I do not carry the required auto insurance as you state.
I believe that this is nothing more than a simple mistake in der fuhrer's otherwise exemplary database of information. Please reference ze enclosed papers which will validate this assertion on my part.
Danke again for your hard work in ensuring the positive future of der Reich.
Heil mein Fuhrer!
--Aaron Turpen
-----
Got comments? Email me, dammit!
The letter read, in part:
"Dear Motorist:
Utah Code Annotated 41-12a-301 requires that all registered motor vehicle owners shall maintain liability insurance in effect at any time that the vehicle is operated on a highway or on a quasi-public road. To enforce motor vehicle insurance laws, an authorized designated agent known as Insure-Rite, Inc. must match motor vehicle registration and drivers license records with insurance records each and every month. At this time, Insure-Rite, Inc. is unable to locate a liability insurance record on the vehicle(s) listed below."
It goes on to say:
"Please respond by November 22, 2004. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of the vehicle registration by The Division of Motor Vehicles, and payment of a $100 reinstatement fee will be required. Law enforcement will be advised that your registration is no longer valid. Vehicles operated on a public road or highway without registration may be impounded. Also, Utah law provides for a minimum/mandatory fine of $400 to be assessed for operating an uninsured vehicle on Utah roadways."
Interesting... I did some digging on "Insure-Rite, Inc." and found out that, according to their website's FAQ (www.insure-rite.com) page, a law was passed in Utah in 1994 that required registered owners of vehicles to respond to queries as to their vehicle's insurance status (hence the letter I received).
Here's what else I found: in 1995, Insure-Rite, Inc. donated a total of $9,950 to various campaigns for public office. Most of these campaigns were for the state legislature and most of those being elected are still some of our most well-loved legislators: Marty Stephens ($250), John Valentine ($250), Greg Curtis ($200), Don Bush ($100), and others. You can find a complete list on the state election's website: http://elections.utah.gov under the "contributions" link.
A further look at the bills passed in 1994-95 shows that HB 33 (the referenced bill on Insure-Rite's FAQ page) was voted for by most of those who received contributions from Insure-Rite, Inc... Thank yous for a job well done on their behalf??
Anyway, I wrote the following response to Insure-Rite, Inc. regarding their...uhh...inquiry:
Hallo, Insure-Rite, Inc.:
Heil der automobilen fuhrer! Danke for your letter of November 2, 2004. It is appreciated that you are doing such a good job as enforcer of der Reich's laws, which are created for all of The People's safety and well-being.
While I do not wish to be contentious and appear to be a contrary to the wishes of or call into question the leadership of der Reich, I must contest your assertion that I do not carry the required auto insurance as you state.
I believe that this is nothing more than a simple mistake in der fuhrer's otherwise exemplary database of information. Please reference ze enclosed papers which will validate this assertion on my part.
Danke again for your hard work in ensuring the positive future of der Reich.
Heil mein Fuhrer!
--Aaron Turpen
-----
Got comments? Email me, dammit!
posted by Aaron Turpen @ 8:39 AM
2 Comments:
At 6:34 PM, November 20, 2009 ,
Anonymous said...
I got a similar letter in my mail today as well, sent to me ostensibly from the state of utah, yet the reply-to address is insure, rite inc, a private company.
i agree, this is bizarre and makes no sense. why is a private company contacting me about a state matter?
i have never heard of insure rite before and i don't understand why i'm not supposed to reply to the DMV--
who are these guys and how did they end up with control of insurance matters in utah?
At 7:22 PM, November 20, 2009 ,
Aaron Turpen said...
Now that we have left the Socialist Republik of Utah for the greener pastures and neighborliness of the Republic of Wyoming, I look back on this post and laugh.
Here in Wyoming, you are required to present three items when registering your vehicle: $75, proof of ownership, and validation of your VIN.
The last is done by a cop, you can stop any of them and ask or go to the cop shop across from the county building - it's free, they just verify the VIN matches the ownership papers (bill of sale or title), sign it saying so (with ID #) and you're good to go.
No safety, emissions, or any other inspections. If you screw up and your car breaks down, falls apart, causes an accident, etc., etc. you are THEN liable. Not before.
Total registration cost for my pickup in Utah: $114 ($70 registration, $40 smog check, $4 license fee)
Total registration cost for my pickup in Wyoming: $75 (with plates).
I won't mention other tax rates here, like sales tax (4.6%), property tax (ours is 1/3 of the UT rate for 3x the property/house), and so forth...
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