Speak Out 10/13/14

Uninsured

motorists

Is it me or are there others in Poplar Bluff who attract uninsured motorists? In less than a year I have been hit twice. We have been forced to carry the burden of making repairs to one vehicle. This latest accident killed my great gas mileage car so now I have to drive my pick. We can take them to small claims court, but how do you get something out of someone who has little or nothing? But as the current Missouri laws are, they get off with a $230 fine and a $60 ticket. To date these two accidents have me $5,500.

Insurance laws in Missouri does not cover an uninsured motorist for damages only injuries unlike Arkansas which covers both injuries and vehicle damage. Missouri legislation should pass laws like Texas which increases the penalties on uninsured drivers. In Texas, if you stopped and you do not have prove of insurance your car is impounded and the driver goes to jail. Missouri and other states should follow Texas's example. The car stays impounded until proof of insurance is provided and DOT is notified when vehicle insurance lapses. Good grief, my husband was notified by DOT when his medical certificate had lapsed. C'mon, people, if you have money to buy cigarettes, drink beer or alcohol, eat out, go the movies or buy lottery scratch offs and dog food, you have enough to buy money to buy liability insurance. Liability does not cost that much, but the loss of my car has cost me quite a bit. Sincerely, Insured and Broke.

Downtown never will be same

There will never be a downtown like there used to be. We had lots of nice stores and they brought Walmart in and they all went out, so that's the last of them in town. It will never be the same! Thank you.

Mayor breaks tie

Would somebody please educate our mayor that she does not vote on an issue unless there is a tie?

Slow down

Yeah, we have some new speed limit signs out here on CR 572 with 30 miles an hour off of T Highway. There's a lot of people that keeps running up and down through here like they are on a race track and there's kids who gets out here and rides their bikes up and down this road sometimes and people need to be cautious of the little ones out here. Sometimes my animals get out of their pen or something and they might get out in the road.

I'd really appreciate it if people would slow down. I don't drive like that. Thank you very much.