Insurance companies in Georgia, grappling with a surge in lawsuits, have escalated the cost of coverage. This has prompted many Georgians to abandon their insurance entirely. Although Georgia Senate Bill (SB) 415 targets these uninsured drivers, it fails to address tort reform measures that could lead insurance companies to lower their prices.
According to Legiscan, SB 415 would sanction the employment of "automated recognition technology" to clamp down on drivers lacking appropriate insurance coverage. The bill was introduced in the Georgia Senate on Jan. 29 and is sponsored by state Senators Randy Robertson and Chuck Payne. The legislation is currently under review by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
A woman from Georgia voiced her concerns about the bill on X, formerly known as Twitter. She criticized the senators for not understanding that "car insurance in Georgia is too damn high." She argued that some individuals are driving without insurance because they simply cannot afford it. In her view, the penalties incurred from driving without insurance "are much cheaper" than the cost of maintaining coverage.
As reported by Legal Newsline, Georgia ranks among states with the highest car insurance costs nationwide. A key factor propelling these costs is a high frequency of tort lawsuits which result in "social inflation," subsequently driving up insurance costs for consumers. Attorney practices contributing to social inflation include accepting litigation financing from third-party funders - prolonging case durations - and conducting "exploitative advertising" campaigns to recruit more plaintiffs. These practices are escalating insurance costs for all policyholders.
Robertson represents Georgia's 29th District as per Ballotpedia records. He first secured his position in the state senate in 2019 after serving as a major in the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office and holding presidency at the Fraternal Order of Police Georgia State Lodge.
Ballotpedia also notes that Payne was first elected to the state senate in 2017. He represents Georgia's 54th District. Payne is a U.S. Army veteran and has previously served as a parole officer at the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.