Licenses at stake

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Now that the state of South Carolina has recently partnered with the insurance industry to more effectively identify motorists who are driving without automobile insurance, the state has responsibly followed with a tougher law that should discourage drivers from taking the wheel without coverage. Drivers who allow their coverage to lapse will lose their licenses more quickly.

South Carolina has one of the highest rates of uninsured motorists in the country. About one in four drivers takes the wheel without coverage. That means all drivers in this state are penalized by higher premiums because all drivers are assigned a higher risk by the insurance industry. Too often those involved in accidents with an uninsured driver face unpaid medical and car repair bills.

Under the old law, an uninsured motorist was notified and given 45 days to establish coverage. Under the new law that notification period has been cut to 20 days. Drivers who establish coverage within the 20 days get to keep their licenses and face a $5 per day fine. Total noncompliance can now costs a driver as much as $400 — $200 to reinstate the license and a $200 maximum fine for allowing insurance coverage to lapse.

This is undeniable progress. But the ultimate measure of whether this law is working will be found in the rate of uninsured motorists. If this effort to strengthen the law doesn't encourage more drivers to maintain coverage over the next few years, then lawmakers should mandate even stiffer penalties. Drivers who play by the rules shouldn't have to pay for those who don't.