Latest Auto Headlines
All the headlines from our Auto Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Mass. agents seek 4% auto pay raise
Jul 3 2006 // Massachusetts independent insurance agents have filed for a four percent hike in the commission they receive on private passenger auto insurance polices. If approved by Insurance Commissioner Julianne Bowler, the increase...
Michigan helmet repeal legislation nixed by governor
Jul 3 2006 // Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed a bill on June 23 that would have repealed the state of Michigan’s 37-year-old mandatory helmet law. The proposed law change pitted safety and insurance organizations against...
Twenty-five Suspects Indicted on Fraud by California Department of Insurance
Jun 30 2006 // Twenty-five suspects in connection with a major insurance fraud investigation dubbed “Operation Cashout” have been indicted, according to the California Department of Insurance. Twenty suspects were arrested...
Former N.J. Cop Gets 1-Year for ‘Chop-Shop’ Car Insurance Fraud
Jun 28 2006 // A former Hillside, New Jersey police officer has been sentenced to one year in jail and barred from public employment for taking part in a chop shop insurance scheme. Dennis Melendez, who had been on the Hillside...
Prosecutors Say Woman Planned Fatal Carjacking for Insurance Payout
Jun 28 2006 // A Des Moines, Washington woman who tearfully pleaded for her husband’s killer to come forward actually plotted his death, a crime that was staged to look like a random carjacking and left her a millionaire, King...
Court Upholds Auto Recalls by Region
Jun 26 2006 // A federal appeals court has unanimously upheld guidelines from the government’s highway safety agency allowing automakers to limit some vehicle recalls by region. Two consumer groups had challenged the National...
Regular Church Attendance Could Offer Unique Insurance ‘Blessings’
Jun 26 2006 // West Des Moines, Iowa-based GuideOne Insurance says being a faithful churchgoer could provide some real insurance blessings. GuideOne’s year old insurance product, FaithGuard, an auto and homeowners insurance policy...
Gov. Bush Signs Florida Auto Insurance Fraud Legislation
Jun 26 2006 // Anti-fraud legislation that cracks down on and reins in auto insurance fraud was signed June 26 by Gov. Jeb Bush. The action applauded by Tom Gallagher, Florida CFO, who oversees law enforcement agencies involved in...
Twenty Arrested in Los Angeles for Alleged Insurance Fraud
Jun 23 2006 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced the early morning arrests of 20 suspects involved in a staged auto collision ring dubbed “Operation Freeway Squat.” The bust targeted a major auto...
Michigan Governor Vetos Helmet Repeal Legislation
Jun 23 2006 // Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed a bill on Friday, June 23rd that would have repealed the state of Michigan’s 37-year-old mandatory helmet law. “Repealing the requirement that motorcyclists wear helmets would be...
Safety Line Crossed During Deadly N.H. Motorcycle Week
Jun 22 2006 // It’s just a narrow yellow line, but crossing it has proved deadly for motorcycle riders during this year’s Bike Week in New Hampshire. Police say bikers crossing the center line into oncoming traffic...
Mich. AAA, Coalition Host Press Conference Urging Veto of Helmet Bill
Jun 22 2006 // AAA Michigan today urged Governor Jennifer Granholm to veto legislation that would repeal Michigan’s 37-year-old mandatory motorcycle helmet law, saying that the new law would recklessly endanger Michigan...
Florida Releases Its Annual ‘Top-10 Fraud List’
Jun 21 2006 // The Florida Department of Financial Services has released its annual “Top-10 Fraud List,” summarizing 10 of the costliest or boldest securities, finance and insurance fraud scams investigated by the DFS...
Top 10 metro areas with highest auto theft rates
Jun 19 2006 // Modesto, Calif. Las Vegas/Paradise, Nev. Stockton, Calif. Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, Ariz. Visalia/Porterville, Calif. Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, Wash. Sacramento/Arden-Arcade/ Roseville, Calif. San Diego/Carlsbad/ San Marcos,...
In Mass., competition not like a box of chocolates
Jun 19 2006 // Massachusetts Rep. Ronald Mariano, D-Quincy, and the committee staffers who crafted his auto insurance competitive rating bill tried to sweeten the deal by throwing some bon bons into the box, including fraud fighting...
Maryland targets urban auto rates
Jun 19 2006 // Maryland, seeking to address the higher costs of insurance for urban drivers, recently passed legislation to require insurers to regularly review their rating territories and streamline the process for protesting...
Case Law Watch
Jun 19 2006 // Commercial Liability-Auto Bauer v Century Surety Company (Wis. App. May 2, 2006) Ruling: Unloading constitutes “Operation” under Wisconsin coverage statute. The court held that the commercial liability insurer...
News Currents
Jun 19 2006 // CAT response vehicle ready just in time for Tropical Storm Alberto Florida insurance agents rolled out a new, state-of-the-art catastrophe response vehicle just in time for the arrival of Tropical Storm Alberto. At press...
News Currents
Jun 19 2006 // State Farm adjusts rates in Texas State Farm Insurance recently submitted several filings to the Texas Department of Insurance, aiming for a balance with rate adjustments that include a reduction auto rates but an increase...
News Currents
Jun 19 2006 // California considering new mileage verification rules Insurance brokers and agents could be required to verify odometer readings for new and renewal automobile insurance policies under amendments the California Department...
