S.C. Governor Sanford vetoes hike in minimum liability limits

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has vetoed a measure that would have raised the minimum liability limits for auto insurance policies.

The governor said he vetoed the bill because he believes it would increase automobile insurance rates, adversely affect low income drivers and reverse the recent decline in the number of uninsured motorists.

“It should be the choice of the consumer to seek higher protection and reduce their own personal liability in the event of an accident and not as a result of government fiat,” Sanford wrote in his veto message.

The legislation sought to hike the minimum liability coverage to $25,000 for bodily injury for each person injured in a wreck, $50,000 for all people injured and $25,000 to cover property damage. The existing

required limits are $15,000 for bodily injury, $30,000 for all people injured and $10,000 to cover property damage.

The governor also vetoed a bill aimed at allowing the state attorney general a freer hand in prosecuting price gouging cases during a time of emergency, citing the potential for abuse in having both the emergency

declaration and prosecutorial decision made by the same person.