New Mexico has one the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the county, and there are few consequences for those who drive without coverage.According to the Insurance Information Institute, if you are in a crash in New Mexico, there is a 25% chance that the other driver doesn’t have insurance. Deep dive: Target 7 InvestigatesThat means your insurance company is on the hook, and your rates could go up. This has been a problem for the Land of Enchantment for decades and we are learning little has been done to protect you when you drive.“It’s very sad. And it’s one of those things that the crash pretty rough on people,” said Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy Connor Otero. “And, then, if you add financial responsibility on top of it.”For decades, New Mexico has had the highest rate of uninsured drivers in the country. And, most recently, we rank second only behind Washington, D.C.“In New Mexico, that’s 24.9%, which was among the highest percentage of uninsured drivers in 2022. And we’re seeing that again in 2023,” said Loretta Worters of the Insurance Information Institute, which tracks uninsured drivers. “One of the big issues is inflation, right? It’s a big driver throughout the country. But, you know, same with New Mexico, which has prompted some vehicle owners to just suspend the purchase of mandatory on and liability insurance.”The problem is so bad that law enforcement in Bernalillo County alone catches people driving without insurance about 80 times a week.“It’s something that we run into daily, unfortunately,” Otero said. “It’s a huge issue. We run into it constantly after traffic stops or crashes. What we find out people don’t have insurance. Or they might not have the proof on them at that point in time.”Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeThere are consequences in New Mexico — at least under the law — If convicted of driving without insurance you can be fined up to $300, have your license and registration suspended and go to jail for 90 days.”There are penalties,” KOAT Legal Expert John Day. “There are some teeth to these laws that require you to have auto insurance. And if you get caught without it, you could be doing time in a county jail and paying a hefty fine.”Day says the state does have some good laws. New Mexico is one of 14 states that allow judges to sentence people to jail.“New Mexico laws tend to fall. somewhere in the upper middle range of the penalties,” Day said. “I mean, there are a lot of states that don’t even provide for as many, penalties and punishment as New Mexico does. I think the issue is, you know, the enforcement of it.”The state’s motor vehicle department has a system to keep track of motorists whose insurance expires. They then suspend the registration. Law Enforcement can run license plates to find out if MVD took action.Target 7 looked out a handful of citations drivers received for not have having proof of insurance. Most of the time the citations are getting tossed when the driver comes in and proves they have insurance.“Is there enforcement of the law, or is it simply, something that’s ignored? Or are judges enforcing the law and, punishing people who don’t follow the law by having sufficient insurance,” said NM Rep. Bill Rhem, R-Albuquerque. “The problem is the individual buys a 30-day policy so he can go to court as soon as he walks out of the courtroom. He calls the insurance company, cancels it, and gets a refund.”Rhem has been trying to pass legislation to stiffen the penalties. One of his bills — which failed — would have given law enforcement the ability to take license plates away from people without insurance and replace it with a special sticker.“You look at the individuals who are out on the road, who are, if you will, the victims of a car crash and the other driver is uninsured,” Rhem said. “I mean, they’re injured. And they have no remedy, basically to make them whole again.”New Mexico ranks 22nd in the nation for the average out insurance policy.Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for free
New Mexico has one the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the county, and there are few consequences for those who drive without coverage.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, if you are in a crash in New Mexico, there is a 25% chance that the other driver doesn’t have insurance.
Deep dive: Target 7 Investigates
That means your insurance company is on the hook, and your rates could go up. This has been a problem for the Land of Enchantment for decades and we are learning little has been done to protect you when you drive.
“It’s very sad. And it’s one of those things that the crash pretty rough on people,” said Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy Connor Otero. “And, then, if you add financial responsibility on top of it.”
For decades, New Mexico has had the highest rate of uninsured drivers in the country. And, most recently, we rank second only behind Washington, D.C.
“In New Mexico, that’s 24.9%, which was among the highest percentage of uninsured drivers in 2022. And we’re seeing that again in 2023,” said Loretta Worters of the Insurance Information Institute, which tracks uninsured drivers. “One of the big issues is inflation, right? It’s a big driver throughout the country. But, you know, same with New Mexico, which has prompted some vehicle owners to just suspend the purchase of mandatory on and liability insurance.”
The problem is so bad that law enforcement in Bernalillo County alone catches people driving without insurance about 80 times a week.
“It’s something that we run into daily, unfortunately,” Otero said. “It’s a huge issue. We run into it constantly after traffic stops or crashes. What we find out people don’t have insurance. Or they might not have the proof on them at that point in time.”
Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
There are consequences in New Mexico — at least under the law — If convicted of driving without insurance you can be fined up to $300, have your license and registration suspended and go to jail for 90 days.
“There are penalties,” KOAT Legal Expert John Day. “There are some teeth to these laws that require you to have auto insurance. And if you get caught without it, you could be doing time in a county jail and paying a hefty fine.”
Day says the state does have some good laws. New Mexico is one of 14 states that allow judges to sentence people to jail.
“New Mexico laws tend to fall. somewhere in the upper middle range of the penalties,” Day said. “I mean, there are a lot of states that don’t even provide for as many, penalties and punishment as New Mexico does. I think the issue is, you know, the enforcement of it.”
The state’s motor vehicle department has a system to keep track of motorists whose insurance expires. They then suspend the registration. Law Enforcement can run license plates to find out if MVD took action.
Target 7 looked out a handful of citations drivers received for not have having proof of insurance. Most of the time the citations are getting tossed when the driver comes in and proves they have insurance.
“Is there enforcement of the law, or is it simply, something that’s ignored? Or are judges enforcing the law and, punishing people who don’t follow the law by having sufficient insurance,” said NM Rep. Bill Rhem, R-Albuquerque. “The problem is the individual buys a 30-day policy so he can go to court as soon as he walks out of the courtroom. He calls the insurance company, cancels it, and gets a refund.”
Rhem has been trying to pass legislation to stiffen the penalties. One of his bills — which failed — would have given law enforcement the ability to take license plates away from people without insurance and replace it with a special sticker.
“You look at the individuals who are out on the road, who are, if you will, the victims of a car crash and the other driver is uninsured,” Rhem said. “I mean, they’re injured. And they have no remedy, basically to make them whole again.”
New Mexico ranks 22nd in the nation for the average out insurance policy.
Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for free
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.