July 18, 2000

Thousands of drivers on our roads do not have automobile insurance.

In fact, as many as one in ten drivers have no way of making sure they can pay for damage it they're involved in an accident.

The state of Utah this week is planning to get tough with those without insurance. News Specialist Jed Boal explains how.

Frosty Sorensen is riding a road of bad luck.

Eight weeks ago, a drunken driver plowed into his truck in front of his home. That driver had no drivers license and no insurance.

Frosty Sorensen/Crash Victim: I WAS OUT THE WHOLE TRUCK. IT'S UNDRIVABLE. IT'S BEING TOWED THIS WEEK.

Sorensen borrowed another truck from his brother.

Monday morning he was driving to work and another drunken driver slammed into him and took off.

Frosty Sorensen/Crash Victim: I WOULD HAVE CREAMED HIM IF I HADN'T SWERVED. HE DIDN'T HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE.

That driver was not insured.

Frosty Sorensen/Crash Victim: I'M SURE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS IN THIS SITUATION...LEFT HOLDING THE BAG. NOW I HAVE TO RE-INVEST IN ANOTHER TRUCK.

He's right. There are 75,000 drivers out there with no insurance, and the D.M.V. is cracking down.

Later this week, the division will mail out the first wave of warnings to uninsured drivers. They get 15 days to prove they have insurance. If they cannot, the state will strip their registration.

Viola Bodrero/DMV Director: OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A PROBLEM, SO MUCH SO THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED TO MAKE THE PENALTIES STRONGER.

The state started a data base to track uninsured motorists 5 years ago. But, the state is getting tough now.

Jed Boal/Eyewitness News: ONE IN TEN DRIVERS OUT HERE IS UNINSURED. BUT, THAT'S DOWN FROM ONE IN FOUR FIVE YEARS AGO. SO THE DATA BASE APPARENTLY IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

Craig Dearden/Public Safety Commissioner: WE'RE HOPING THE PENALTIES HAVE A DETERRANT AFFECT. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THAT AFFECT IS.

Sorensen is galled other motorists may avoid his troubles.

Frosty Sorensen/Crash Victim: ANY STEP IS REALLY GOOD.

The state hopes to force 10,000 drivers to comply in the next three months.

Under the old law, police handed out very few citations unless the driver was pulled over for something else. Now, once the registration is revoked, police can pull over the car and impound it.