Ignition Interlock Device Required in PA for Certain Convictions

Anyone who receives a second or subsequent DUI conviction in the state of Pennsylvania is required by law to install an ignition interlock device in any vehicle that they own. Drivers are considered to be repeat offenders if they receive a second DUI conviction within 10 years of their first conviction.

An ignition interlock device (IID) is a small hand-held breath testing device that is installed in the vehicle and prevents the driver from starting the car if the IID measures a certain amount of alcohol in the driver’s breath. Once the vehicle is started the IID will require periodic testing while the car is in motion as well in order to ensure that the driver is operating the vehicle in a sober condition.

A new revision to the DUI law in Pennsylvania is being considered by the legislature that would make DUI offenders face the mandatory installation of an IID for a first-time offender. So far 16 states have passed laws requiring mandatory installation of an IID for first-time DUI conviction.

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Are you getting car insurance for the first time or have an insurance requirement for SR-22 filing? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer auto insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Being Under the Influence can be Deadly

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) are both known to be dangerous and illegal. However walking while impaired by alcohol can be just as dangerous, even deadly.

Alcohol impairs your judgment and physical abilities including walking. Everything you might do like driving a car, walking down the street or just walking to the bathroom in your own house is comprised when under the influence.

It is estimated that up to 25% of pedestrians who have been struck by automobiles had a level of alcohol in their system. Some even had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the legal limit of .08 which is the measurement for drunk driving.

So the message is, alcohol impairs your physical abilities as well as your mental abilities, so be careful even when walking if you’ve had too much to drink.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Suggestions for Securing Your Car from Thieves

Car thieves are always on the look-out for easy targets. They look for obvious things like windows being left open, doors being left unlocked or even sun-roofs being left open. These are check-list items that you ought to do on a regular basis to keep your car from being stolen.

However there are other things you might do to prevent the loss of your car –

1. Anti-theft devices – buy an electronic security system, buy a steering wheel and column lock if your vehicle does not have one standard, install an ignition kill switch, install a fuel kill switch or other types of immobilization devices.
2. Never leave your car running, unattended or with the keys in the ignition. These are common sense items but you’d be amazed at how often they are violated.
3. Park your vehicle in a well-lit, high traffic area when you leave it. Don’t park in a parking lot out by yourself as that makes your car a target.
4. If your car is stolen, call the police as soon as possible. The earlier you get the police involved, the earlier they might be able to recover your car. They will need as much information as possible, such as the year, make, model, color, license plate number, VIN, the location where it was parked and the approximate time.

Remember, car thieves operate both day and night and they are looking for easy targets most of the time. You can do a lot to prevent the theft of your car!

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Are you getting car insurance for the first time or have an insurance requirement for SR-22 filing? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer affordable auto insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

ESC Now Required on All Automobiles

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a technology to help you avoid an accident. ESC uses computer-controlled braking to reduce the risk of rollovers in accidents and other types of accidents. It has been required on all automobiles manufactured in the United States since September of 2011. It will be phased in on all types of vehicles in the near future.

The insurance industry is saying that the reduction of accidents by the use of ESC could lower insurance premiums in the future due to the lesser number of accidents.

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Are you getting car insurance for the first time or have an insurance requirement for SR-22 filing? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer auto insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Laura’s Law Increases Jail Time and Fines in North Carolina

DWI offenders convicted for a third time in North Carolina will now face more jail time and increased fines. Laura’s Law went into effect in December 2011 and it increases the minimum jail time from 14 days to 120 days, and the maximum jail time was also increased. Maximum fines were increased up to $10,000.

Laura’s Law is named for Laura Fontenberry, a seventeen year-old who was killed by a drunk driver in Gaston County, North Carolina late last year. The driver who killed Laura had three prior convictions for drunk driving.

The new law also calls for stricter supervision while repeat offenders are on probation and they are also subject to alcohol monitoring for 120 days.

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Have you had a DUI or other driving offense that required SR22 and/or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Women can get Cheap Car Insurance

It is a not a rumor that women can get cheaper car insurance than their male counter-parts. Women are usually better drivers, therefore they don’t submit as many claims, and they tend to not drive as reckless as a man.

Women should shop around a while when looking for insurance. Men usually do not like to shop and will settle for the first or second insurance policy quoted. If women spend a little more time shopping, they will be rewarded with a cheaper policy. Several factors will help women obtain a less expensive insurance policy –

1. Women tend to drive less sporty vehicles, and rarely drive pickups. Compact four-door cars, small SUVs and vans are usually the choice of women drivers. These vehicles are generally less expensive to insure than sports cars and trucks. Therefore these vehicles could qualify for a Safe Vehicle Discount.
2. The driving record has a lot to do with the rate given for a car insurance policy. Since women get less tickets, and have less accidents, their motor vehicle record (MVR) will have less points on it and thus the rate they get for their coverage will be less. Having a clean MVR could qualify for a Good Driver Discount.
3. Some insurance companies give discounts for your credit score, for being a non-smoker, for your education level, etc.

Use the Internet to check for car/auto insurance brokers rather than going directly to an agent of a particular car insurance company that does not sell policies for other companies. Insurance brokers like Serenity Insurance work with multiple car insurance companies and can do the comparison shopping for you.

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Are you getting car insurance for the first time or have an insurance requirement for SR-22 filing? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer affordable auto insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Smart Cell Phones Distract Drivers According to GMAC Study

Results from the 2011 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test revealed that while 8 in 10 drivers say it is never safe to text, email or use their smart phone, an alarmingly large percentage of drivers use various features of their smart phones when operating their vehicles. Even with a number of states banning handheld cell phone use and texting while driving, nearly 50 percent of drivers admit to making phone calls while driving and about 15 percent of drivers admit to sending and reading text messages while driving. However; the youngest drivers in the nation are perhaps getting the message that distracted driving is dangerous, with almost three quarters of 16 to 17 year olds saying that they’ve completely stopped the use of mobile devices while driving. The vast majority of drivers between the ages of 60 and 65 have also completely stopped using mobile devices as well.

Youngest and Oldest Drivers are Less Distracted

• Seventy-five percent of drivers ages 16 to 17, and 72 percent of drivers ages 60 to 65, say they have completely eliminated all smart phone activities while driving.
• This may be explained by the fact that the top parental restriction on teenage drivers is not allowing the use of mobile phones while driving.

Phone Calls and Texting

• While stopped at a red light, almost two-thirds of drivers admitted to making phone calls and 8 in 10 drivers admitted to sending and checking for text messages.
• Fifty percent of drivers say they make phone calls while driving in slow traffic or while driving on the open highway.

Smart Phone Distractions

• Ten percent of drivers admitted to sending and reading emails and using their downloaded applications on their smart phones while operating their vehicles.
• About three percent of drivers use their smart phones to take pictures and some even update their Twitter and Facebook pages while on the road.

Distracted Driver Behaviors

• Less than one percent of all drivers say they received a ticket or a warning for using a mobile device or a smart phone in the past year.
• 8 in10 drivers reported never being distracted or even coming close to having an accident as a result of using their mobile device while driving.

A Trend in Decline?

• Fifty percent of drivers say they have completely eliminated all smart phone activities while driving.
• Thirty-two percent of drivers say they use their smart phones to call, text and email less than they used to.

“The National Drivers Test results, unveiling American’s Smartphone usage on the road, suggest that the 35 state-wide ban on texting while driving is having a positive influence on drivers,” said Stan Parker, VP of Marketing, GMAC Insurance. “We hope that by calling attention to distracted driving habits this dangerous activity will be practiced less and less and that drivers will continue to place their attention on the roads to stay safe.”

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GMAC Insurance Personal Lines Group is one of the largest automobile insurers in the United States. GMAC Insurance Personal Lines Group offers property and casualty products, including personal auto, RV, motorcycle, commercial auto and homeowners insurance. With a nationwide network of claims professionals, local independent agents and brokers and a 24-hour, toll-free claims hotline available 365 days a year, GMAC Insurance provides superior claims service for its customers.

Are you getting car insurance for the first time or have an insurance requirement for SR-22 filing? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer affordable auto insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Plan for Driving in Winter Conditions

Winter is here and with it comes all kinds of winter driving conditions; fog, rain, freezing rain, ice, snow and blowing snow. As a car owner now is the time to do some preparation so you are ready for any and all conditions as best you can.

Believe it or not, one of the things you should check on is your car insurance. Some consumers increase their liability coverage during the winter because there is a better chance of being involved in an accident due to the weather. Some also add comprehensive and collision coverage if their policy allows for the same reason.

Vehicle maintenance checkups are also a good idea. You’ll need to change your oil during the winter anyway, and a good thing to ask your mechanic is whether you should run a lighter-weight oil during the winter in your area. Also have the mechanic check all your other fluids, and test your battery. Check your tires, and replace with snow tires if needed for your driving conditions.

Just in case you get stuck due to weather conditions, it is a good idea to stock some items in your trunk for emergencies such as:

• A flashlight
• Extra batteries for the flashlight
• A quart or two of motor oil
• Tools such as common screwdrivers and wrenches
• Check to make sure your tire jack is functional
• Carry a gallon of fresh water
• Blankets and pillows
• Several decent sized candles
• Snack bars

Change your driving habits in winter conditions. Don’t drive as fast as you might otherwise. Leave early for work or appointments. Rushing to get somewhere is a recipe for disaster. When traveling on crowded streets or highways, allow more room between you and the person in front of you. Use your headlights earlier in the day so people can see you coming. Try to stay calm so you can assess the situation. Remember that not all drivers have made these adjustments!

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Are you getting car insurance for the first time or have an insurance requirement for SR-22 filing? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer affordable auto insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Illegal to Text while Driving in PA

In November of 2011, Pennsylvania became the 35th state to make it illegal to text while driving in the state. The new law takes effect in March of 2012. Police officers are now able to pull drivers over who are texting because the new law makes it a primary offense to text and drive. There is a $50.00 fine for this violation but there are no points added to the driving record for the infraction.

Pennsylvania’s new law is a total ban on texting while driving. There are seven states which have a partial ban on texting while driving – Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia. Eight states do not have any law against texting while driving – Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Ohio, South Carolina and South Dakota.

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Are you getting car insurance for the first time or have an insurance requirement for SR-22 filing? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer affordable auto insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Stricter DUI Law in OK Goes into Effect

A tougher DUI law has gone into effect in the state of Oklahoma. Anyone who blows a .15 BAC on their first DUI must have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle for 18 months. For a second offense they will have to have the interlock device installed for 4 years if they blow a .08 or higher.

An interlock device measures the amount of alcohol in the driver’s breath. The driver has to blow into the device before he can start the car, and then periodically while driving. State governments are hoping that this additional measure will deter drivers from driving after drinking. The devices are expensive and must be paid for by the offender.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.