Auto Arson, Highway Safety Subject of New Mighigan Laws

Michigan Gov. John Engler recently signed several bills that would help crack down on auto arson, improve young driver training and prohibit passengers riding in open pickup truck beds on the highway.

Of special note is House Bill 4332, which requires motorists to report vehicle fires or explosions to law enforcement as well as their insurer before they can collect insurance payment for damages. The law also requires a sworn affidavit from the policyholder detailing the cause of the accident, which enables insurers and law enforcement to hold the policyholder civilly and criminally accountable should evidence of fraud emerge.

House Bill 4392 prohibits passengers from riding in open pickup truck beds on the highway. Truck bed accidents claimed four lives in Michigan and 126 nationally in 1999. Other beneficial new laws include: Senate Bill 1173, which prohibits the mass disclosure of expiration dates on worker’s compensation policies for marketing purposes.

That effectively bars third parties from using and selling the dates–important proprietary information compiled by insurers–to compete against them by soliciting employers for business. House Bill 5959, which repeals the 44-year-long prohibition on insurance company political action committees at the state level in Michigan. The law, which took effect Jan. 11, now allows insurers to form PACs and donate to candidates running for state offices.

Topics Auto Michigan