Letter: Auto insurance easy to avoid

A writer recently made some very valid points concerning the epidemic of unlicensed vehicle operators and the connected rise in insurance rates ["Crack down on the unlicensed," IMHO, Jan. 12]. However, that is only half the story.

It is the uninsured drivers who cause the increase in premiums. When there is no recourse against an uninsured driver, it is our own personal injury protection coverage that has to cover the expenses.

It should be mandatory to show a year's fully paid insurance premium receipt to obtain or renew license plates. It is too easy to use insurance ID cards obtained with bounced checks.

Also, the penalty for a violation should be raised above a misdemeanor, and the fine should be increased substantially. Right now, it is cheaper to risk a ticket for unlicensed or uninsured operation than it is to pay the premium! Besides, many don't have anything to lose.

Barbara Allen-Lieblein, Shelter Island

Editor's note: The writer is a retired insurance broker.