C & S Insurance wishes you all a happy & safe 4th of July weekend!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Texting Ban & Vision Tests Coming Soon to MA
In an article from the Boston Herald, the issues of texting while driving and vision tests for those 75 and older is being discussed by the House and Senate of MA. Elderly drivers, responsible for at least two deaths in the past year, will have increased vision tests but don’t have to complete a road test under safe driving legislation Beacon Hill lawmakers agreed on June 23rd. Texting while driving is also banned in the bill, but drivers over the age of 18 would still be able to chat on the phone while driving, according to a copy of the compromise legislation.The bill still needs to be approved by both the House and Senate before being sent to the governor for final approval. The measure was backed today by a joint transportation committee. The legislation comes after months of wrangling and after the deaths of two people when elderly drivers were behind the wheel.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
New Homeowner Oil System Upgrade
The new fact sheet put out by the MassDEP, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, states that by July 1, 2010, you must upgrade your home heating system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to your furnace. By making a relatively small expenditure now, you can prevent a much greater expense in the future. Massachusetts has a new law to address oil leaks from home heating systems (see Chapter 453 of the Acts of 2008).
This law has two major provisions that require:
•the installation of either an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with protective sleeve on systems that do not currently have these devices
•insurance companies that write homeowner policies to offer coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil.
Most homeowner policies do not currently include such coverage, leaving many to pay for costly cleanups out of their own pocket. Although it is mandatory that insurance companies offer this coverage, the insurance is an optional purchase for homeowners. The effective date for both provisions is July 1, 2010. However, to be eligible for the new insurance coverage, homeowners must ensure that their oil heating systems are in compliance with the new law.
Homeowners who have been certified to be in compliance with (or exempt from) the leak prevention measures qualify to purchase insurance that:
•provides "first party coverage" of at least $50,000 for the cost of cleaning up a leak to soil, indoor air, or other environmental media from a home heating system at the residence itself and reimbursement for personal property damage
•provides "third party coverage" of at least $200,000 for the cost of dealing with conditions on and off the insured's property because the leak from this system has or is likely to impact groundwater or someone else's property. The coverage also includes costs incurred for legal defense, subject to a deductible not to exceed $1,000 per claim.
This law has two major provisions that require:
•the installation of either an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with protective sleeve on systems that do not currently have these devices
•insurance companies that write homeowner policies to offer coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil.
Most homeowner policies do not currently include such coverage, leaving many to pay for costly cleanups out of their own pocket. Although it is mandatory that insurance companies offer this coverage, the insurance is an optional purchase for homeowners. The effective date for both provisions is July 1, 2010. However, to be eligible for the new insurance coverage, homeowners must ensure that their oil heating systems are in compliance with the new law.
Homeowners who have been certified to be in compliance with (or exempt from) the leak prevention measures qualify to purchase insurance that:
•provides "first party coverage" of at least $50,000 for the cost of cleaning up a leak to soil, indoor air, or other environmental media from a home heating system at the residence itself and reimbursement for personal property damage
•provides "third party coverage" of at least $200,000 for the cost of dealing with conditions on and off the insured's property because the leak from this system has or is likely to impact groundwater or someone else's property. The coverage also includes costs incurred for legal defense, subject to a deductible not to exceed $1,000 per claim.
Happy Summer!
Now that summer is finally here, it's hard not to think about all the fun things that summer brings. Summer time means enjoying the open seas with a nice boat trip, a weekend get-a-way in your RV with family and friends, or taking a long ride on the open road with your motorcycle. These are the things that make summer time special, but if you don't have the right coverage, it could turn your summer into a big headache. With C & S Insurance, we offer motorcycle, watercraft and recreational vehicle insurance! Call us today at 1-888-245-2618 or visit our website for more information!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Thank YOU for voting!
Road Test Scheduling Now Online
MyFoxBoston reported this morning that the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is now offering online scheduling for road tests. Until now, 16 1/2 year olds would have to call a Registry branch, wait for what seems like forever, then schedule the road test. It's reported that the telephone scheduling generated about 260,000 calls annually, slowing the delivery of other business. NOt only can you schedule your road test online, you can even pay the $20 exam fee and the $50 license cost once you've passed the exam. Just by logging on to MassDOT, you're saving a visit to the Registry branch. Officials say the initiative is part of an effort to make the agency more efficient.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Spring Time Surprise for Teen Drivers
MassDOT Registry of Motor Vehicle inspectors and local police surprised teenage drivers in 60 communities during a recent state-wide educational sting designed to encourage safe driving during the prom and graduation season. Dubbed "Operation Graduation," enforcement teams set up unannounced safety checks at high schools to reward teen drivers who were in compliance with junior operator mandates. The states graduated license law is being credited for a 75% drop in teen driver deaths since the law took effect three years ago. "Although our statistics show that fewer teenagers are involved in fatal crashes, as part of Governor Patrick's commitment to safer roads, we want to ensure all beginner drivers make good choices about celebrating after the prom or graduation ceremony," said Registrar Rachel Kaprielian who was part of the undercover team at Milton High School. "This is a positive outreach campaign that also drives home the consequences of violating junior operator laws and driving recklessly." Vehicle crashes are still the number one cause of death among teenagers. Statistics show that one third of Massachusetts drivers will be involved in a traffic crash during the first year they are licensed. In the three years the new zero-tolerant penalties against junior operators took effect, traffic fatalities in this age group fell 75% percent and they received 52% fewer speeding tickets. Preliminary reporting on the sting operation showed 82% of the 9740 teen drivers who were stopped by the check-points passed the safety inspection and were rewarded with key chains, pens and other handouts. To learn more, read the article here.
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