Foreign Drivers Get Kansas Car Insurance

At least two insurance companies in Kansas are foreign insurance drivers who have driver's license.

State law does not prohibit companies from this, and supporters of the practice say that it guarantees that all drivers are protected in cases.

But critics have raised concerns about traffic safety and national security.

Farmer's Insurance Group office manager Claudia Villatoro said was that insurance from foreign driver’s licenses, regardless of their legal status, by about a year.

"It's helping people," Villatoro said. "Every time they have an accident, they are covered."

Farm state also guarantees the drivers who present valid foreign license, but will give policyholders 12 months to obtain U.S. or Canadian law license, according to Tamara O'Connor, public affairs supervisor for the company.

Those who do not have a valid U.S. license after that time not risk their policies renewed, she said.

Under the rule of law, all vehicles registered in Kansas must carry auto insurance. Drivers must provide proof of insurance when filing or renewing a vehicle registration.

Critics, fans

Members of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, which the chapters in Kansas, are among the critics who claimed such insurance policies threaten national security.

Chris Simcox, president of the group, said that deeply wonders how insurance companies are probing the drivers' backgrounds for criminal activity in other countries.

"How is it possible to ensure public safety?" he asked.

But Luis Figueroa, legislative staff attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said the insurance companies who offer such policies are in the best position to risk analysis.

"In our view this is definitely a positive sign, although I think we do legislature should encourage people to obtain state driver's license," he said.

Figueroa said of the license application process requires people to be regularly tested on their driving skills on the road and learning, which encourages safe driving.

Figueroa is assisted local immigrant advocate groups, who lobbied in Topeka in Wichita in such cases.

State Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, introduced legislation last session, which is cracking on illegal immigrants by revoking business licenses and imposing civil penalties on any Kansas business found to have employed illegal immigrants, among other projects. Legislation was rejected.

She asks if insurance companies are considering legal status in comparison with illegal in the decision as to ensure that such drivers. She wonders what qualified insurance companies to accept or reject the use by motorists driving foreign law.

"If they are in the country legally, and then the temporary insurance is not a bad idea," she said. "When anyone uninsured on the roads are bad."

State requirements

Neither the Kansas Department of Insurance or the Kansas Department of Revenue, which oversees the registration and vehicle tags, a policy aimed at preventing drivers with foreign driver's license from obtaining insurance in Kansas, spokesmen for both organizations said.

Immigration spokesman for the group routinely lobbied for illegal immigrants to have access to the U.S. driver's license or a license, so they can insure their vehicles.

But in 2007, state law says license applicants must have a social security number, which is controlled by the federal government, or else the government to verify identity, such as a visa or birth certificate.

Insurance companies, who have a problem with foreign license offer a reasonable solution, said Villatoro, insurance of farmers, is to make sure all drivers are safe.

"I think that the better for them to be insured than not said Villatoro, who advertises services in the area of bilingual and Spanish-language media. "It affects other people."

State farms, which also sell policies, said in an e-mail reply, "Although recognize immigration and national security concerns surrounding this issue, but do not believe that it is appropriate to take a position on issues which are outside our areas of knowledge."

Being responsible

It is unclear how many vehicles in Kansas, who are insured with a foreign driving licenses have been registered in the State Department of Revenue from the Department vehicles.

Breakdown of approximately 2.56 million vehicle registrations in 2006, according to the department in its latest report. In 2005, processed about 2.53 million vehicle registrations.

Critics said that the issue of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants appears to reward them for breaking the law.

Larry Magill, Executive Vice President for the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents, is concerned about whether insurance companies are responsible by offering such policies.

"Looking at another way to a breach of immigration law in order to prevent someone from driving without insurance, which does not appear to be responsible solutions to the problem in my opinion," said Magill.

The Association does not resolve the matter, Magill said, because it was not brought up.

Magill said he wonders whether drivers insured by a foreign driver's license are familiar with U.S. law traffic, such as which side of the street, to drive on.

Simcox, the Minuteman group, said his organization may consider lobbying lawmakers to pressure insurance companies to stop issuing such policies