Traffic Fines based on Income

[my5cents]

It's always been like that. You get a free pass ("forgiveness") on the first claim, but thereafter your premiums go up, which could be costly, indeed. But, is that really not good enough of a deterrent from violating traffic laws, so that we need to introduce the "income" factor as well? What's the logic here?

The comment was in respect to someone living in BC but having AB plates and insurance. There is no "forgiveness" for breaches of coverage.

As for premium increase after a claim (called the Claims Rated Scale), yes they don't bump your rates if you've been claims free for several years.

[BC Landlord]

The comment was in respect to someone living in BC but having AB plates and insurance. There is no "forgiveness" for breaches of coverage.

Half of my neighborhood here drive vehicles with AB plates, myself included. It's just convenient for insurance purposes. And btw, who is to tell where my residence is, other than me? And it's not some "cheating". Even if it was, what would be worse, .. me living in BC with AB's D/L, or a drug dealer getting a free pass on traffic violations?

[my5cents]

Half of my neighborhood here drive vehicles with AB plates, myself included. It's just convenient for insurance purposes. And btw, who is to tell where my residence is, other than me? And it's not some "cheating". Event if it was, what's worse, .. me living in BC with AB's D/L, or a drug dealer getting a free pass on traffic violations?

"who is to tell where my residence is" ,,,, ah,, your adjuster when place a claim.

"what's worse, me living in BC with AB's D/L, or a drug dealer getting a free pass on traffic violations ?" - Well I for one don't support fines being based on income. If income based fines were to be implemented, my suggestion would be to increase fines for the wealthy, not reduce fines for low income drivers.

As for "what's worse", for who ? If you have a serious collision with a large financial loss, your insurance company will pull out all the stops to investigate. You will cooperate with their investigation or your claim will be denied for not cooperating. If that happens you will have to sue your insurance company and through the course of examinations for discovery and demands for documentation to support you suit, you will produce the documents they ask for or once again you will loose.

Things like which province you filed your income tax, which home you applied for the home owner's grant, etc etc.

You are fooling yourself if you think an insurance investigation won't find out. You might want to do a cost benefit analysis on the "convenience" of living in BC and insuring your vehicle in AB.

[BC Landlord]

"who is to tell where my residence is" ,,,, ah,, your adjuster when place a claim.

My insurance covers me driving anywhere within North America, as much as I please. What exactly would that adjustor do? FYI, Alberta insurance providers don't go by BC laws. Unlike the ICBC, they are private enterprise. What matters is the contract in between me and them, period.

[spooker]

"who is to tell where my residence is" ,,,, ah,, your adjuster when place a claim.

My insurance covers me driving anywhere within North America, as much as I please. What exactly would that adjustor do? FYI, Alberta insurance providers don't go by BC laws. Unlike the ICBC, they are private enterprise. What matters is the contract in between me and them, period.

Keeping all your AB insurance and the rest is fine until you get caught and have to pay the fines for not having followed the BC laws that require you to change over to your place of residence ... sure, there are tricks to keep your official "residence" over there but that's if you feel the complications are worth it ...

[Patron]

My insurance covers me driving anywhere within North America, as much as I please. What exactly would that adjustor do? FYI, Alberta insurance providers don't go by BC laws. Unlike the ICBC, they are private enterprise. What matters is the contract in between me and them, period.

Keeping all your AB insurance and the rest is fine until you get caught and have to pay the fines for not having followed the BC laws that require you to change over to your place of residence ... sure, there are tricks to keep your official "residence" over there but that's if you feel the complications are worth it ...

I agree, scam the insurance companies all you want but they win if your in an accident

[my5cents]

My insurance covers me driving anywhere within North America, as much as I please. What exactly would that adjustor do? FYI, Alberta insurance providers don't go by BC laws. Unlike the ICBC, they are private enterprise. What matters is the contract in between me and them, period.

Where you "can drive" has nothing to do with the jurisdiction you live in.

You are the one who said you lived in BC: "What's to be investigated? There are so many people (myself included) driving vehicles with AB plates and living here. Nothing illegal about it."

OK, is your vehicle correctly registered ? No it's registered in AB and you live in BC.

What does an insurance company require (any insurance company) ? Your vehicle to be correctly registered.

When ICBC rates were higher than AB rates, if it was perfectly OK to live in BC, while having a vehicle registered and insured in AB, but kept and driven in BC, do you think British Columbians just didn't feel like saving money ? No,, they wanted to have actual valid auto insurance, because paying a few dollars more (if in fact rates are still higher in BC) and really having insured is a lot better than "saving" a few dollars and not having any insurance, makes the AB insurance nonsense.

What does an insurance company require when applying for insurance ? Tell the truth on the application. (that includes where you live).

OK, now your driver's license.... You have 6 months after becoming "ordinarily resident" in BC to obtain a BC driver's license. If you have a claim, you are not a legally licensed driver. Your claim will be with an AB insurance company, will they cover you in that circumstance ?

So:
• Vehicle improperly registered
• False statement on insurance application (you had to have said you lived in AB)
• Not legally permitted to insure an out of province vehicle in AB
• No valid driver's license

https://ama.ab.ca/articles/how-car-insu ... ks-alberta

• Who Can Get Car Insurance in Alberta ?
  Any Alberta resident with a valid driver’s licence can get car insurance so long as you can provide the proper paperwork and information required

[BC Landlord]

So:
• Vehicle improperly registered
• False statement on insurance application (you had to have said you lived in AB)
• Not legally permitted to insure an out of province vehicle in AB
• No valid driver's license

To satisfy your curiosity, I am officially an Alberta resident (primary residence), living in BC (mostly). My insurance, registration, and my D/L (all AB issued) are valid and up to date. No laws broken, whatsoever. And I don't care what the ICBC says. They are not my insurer, nor is anyone timing my presence in BC.

[normaM]

^^^ if you live here most of the time why don't you have BC coverage?
I trust if not this means if you need medical attention you'll drive back to AB

[GordonH]

So:
• Vehicle improperly registered
• False statement on insurance application (you had to have said you lived in AB)
• Not legally permitted to insure an out of province vehicle in AB
• No valid driver's license

To satisfy your curiosity, I am officially an Alberta resident (primary residence), living in BC (mostly). My insurance, registration, and my D/L (all AB issued) are valid and up to date. No laws broken, whatsoever. And I don't care what the ICBC says. They are not my insurer, nor is anyone timing my presence in BC.

Don’t PO any of your current neighbours or tenants.

[BC Landlord]

^^^ if you live here most of the time why don't you have BC coverage?
I trust if not this means if you need medical attention you'll drive back to AB

No, it's cheaper in AB. And btw, I can have any medical attention I need here, all covered by Alberta Blue Cross. But that would take us far off the topic, which is "fines based on income".

[my5cents]

No, it's cheaper in AB. And btw, I can have any medical attention I need here, all covered by Alberta Blue Cross. But that would take us far off the topic, which is "fines based on income".

There is only one correct jurisdiction to register/insure your vehicle. If you don't and you happen to get involved in a claim, your insurance company WILL examine your details in minute detail.

You may be insuring your vehicle and hold the correct DL and everything is OK. (strange you've been intimating your a BC resident and "out of convenience register and insure your vehicle in AB)

If you've had to "slant" any of the information that you've provided to register/insure your vehicle or get or renew your DL, you're likely not going to be insured when you need it.

[GordonH]

No, it's cheaper in AB. And btw, I can have any medical attention I need here, all covered by Alberta Blue Cross. But that would take us far off the topic, which is "fines based on income".

There is only one correct jurisdiction to register/insure your vehicle. If you don't and you happen to get involved in a claim, your insurance company WILL examine your details in minute detail.

You may be insuring your vehicle and hold the correct DL and everything is OK. (strange you've been intimating your a BC resident and "out of convenience register and insure your vehicle in AB)

If you've had to "slant" any of the information that you've provided to register/insure your vehicle or get or renew your DL, you're likely not going to be insured when you need it.

Private insurance companies will do most anything to try to deny a claim.

[my5cents]

Private insurance companies will do most anything to try to deny a claim.

Yes, and that's why you need to make sure you don't give them anything to base a denial on.

[wascobi]

the law is to be applied equally to everyone. this seems a bit punitive to those that have been successful, and the impoverished get a break. seems like a cash grab to me...