More Uninsured Drivers Likely to be Towed in Utah - KSL.com Article

December 31, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — Uninsured drivers on Utah roadways can expect to have their cars impounded on the spot under a new law taking effect Thursday. Utah police have had the option to pull over an uninsured driver and impound their car since 2008, but the new law will require it unless there's a safety concern. Despite Utah's relatively low rate of uninsured drivers, state Sen. Lyle Hillyard, a Logan Republican who sponsored the law, said it's "a worthwhile price for the greater good" of making sure uninsured drivers don't cause a financial burden to others if they get in an accident.

In 2012, Utah had the fourth-lowest rate of uninsured drivers in the country at 5.8 percent, according data from the Insurance Research Council. Hillyard estimates Utah's rate is now closer to 3 percent, but he said the law is still needed to further crack down on those driving without coverage. 

The law gives officers discretion so they're not seizing every car, he said. The law has exceptions if the officer is concerned that seizing the vehicle would be a safety concern to the driver or any occupants or keep the officer from addressing any other public safety matters.

"It gives them more of an incentive to impound the car, but it has a lot of protection in there," Hillyard said. "For example, if it's an unsafe position or if you've got a mom and some little kids there, those kinds of things, it would protect them from doing that." 

Law enforcement officers would have to check the person against a state database of uninsured drivers. If the driver insists they have insurance, the officer must make "a reasonable attempt" to verify if the person is covered, such as calling the insurance agency. 

To read the full article go to: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=481&sid=32940627

Call Main Street Insurance at 435-674-2221 to get a quote on auto insurance!

Business Travel Risk

As we are in the new year, employers look to address the needs of their employees and the enterprise, an item that is often overlooked is coverage for the many risks posed by business travel. This exposure increases exponentially when international travel is involved and foreign voluntary workers compensation leaves critical gaps in coverage, especially when medical care is needed.  The best business travel accident coverage includes key components to address global travel risk, such as:

• Security evacuation
• Emergency medical evacuation (air ambulance when needed)
• Out-of-country first-dollar medical coverage
• Medical consultation and prescription drug assistance
• Security training for new international travelers
• The full range of complementary travel services with web access and a single point of contact
• Unique accidental death & dismemberment benefits for catastrophic travel events

If your employees are regularly traveling in other coverages please call Main Street Insurance Agency at 435-674-2221 for more information.

Vacant Buildings - Winter

Many insurance companies do not like to cover vacant buildings. Also, many insurance policies have exclusions for certain losses if the building is vacant/unoccupied. Here are a few tips to help you prevent a loss:

Remember to maintain heat throughout your building, including unoccupied portions. Failure to do so could result in no coverage for a claim.

You should also drain water from pipes or systems that are not needed in order to prevent freezing pipe claims, which may not be covered under your insurance policy.

If you have a vacant building and you want to make sure you are covered right, please call us at 435-674-2221 or visit our website at www.msiagency.com.

Wood Stove Safety Tips

When the colder temperatures start to set in, many homeowners will turn to their fireplace, wood or pellet stoves as an additional heat source. While these heating tools can provide warmth and comfort, if you are not careful, they can also be a hazard. Keep in mind the following precautions to help ensure a safe winter season.

Keep your fireplaces and wood stoves clean

• Have your chimney, fireplace, wood or pellet stove inspected and cleaned by a licensed chimney specialist. They should be maintained annually to help ensure they are functioning safely and efficiently. 
• If you have a wood burning, insert or pellet stove, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for additional guidance related to operation and venting.
• Be sure to keep the area around the hearth clear of debris, decorations and any other combustible materials.

Keep fires burning safely

• Be sure the flue is open before lighting your fire to help ensure the fireplace will vent properly. Do not close your damper until you are sure the fire is out.
• When starting a fire, only use a match or commercial firelighter. Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Glass doors of a fireplace should be kept open while burning a fire. This allows the fire to receive enough air to complete combustion and help reduce creosote build-up in the chimney.
• Metal mesh screens should remain closed whenever your fireplace is in use to help keep embers in the fireplace.
• Only use dry wood in your fireplace. Wet wood can increase creosote buildup that can lead to chimney fires.
• Do not burn plastic because it can release toxic chemicals as well as cause damage to your chimney, fireplace or wood stove.
• Never burn a Christmas tree in your fireplace as the sparks from the burning needles can increase the risk for a chimney fire. Also, do not burn cardboard boxes, wrapping paper or trash in your fireplace.
• Never leave a fire in a fireplace unattended. Before leaving the house or going to bed, you should make certain to fully extinguish the fire.
• Allow ashes to cool completely before disposing of them, and never empty them directly into a trash can. Place ashes in a covered metal container located at least 10 feet* away from your home and any other building.

Keep the outside of your home and your chimney safe

• Firewood should be stacked at least 30 feet away from your home.
• Your roof and chimney should be kept clean of leaves, pine needles and other debris. Prune trees and branches to keep well-away from your chimney.
• Install a chimney cap with spark arrester to help keep debris, leaves, branches and animals out, and to help prevent burning embers or sparks from escaping and creating a fire hazard.

Keep the inside of your home safe with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

To help make your winter even safer, we recommend that you take the time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. A smoke detector is the most effective way to detect smoke from a fire and signal an alarm so that you can get you and your family out safely. A carbon monoxide detector can alert you to the buildup of this dangerous odorless and colorless gas. Make sure you test the detectors monthly, and after you change the batteries to ensure they work properly.

Call Main Street Insurance Agency at 435-674-2221 for more safety tips or to get a free quote.

Have Fun, Stay Safe This Holiday Season

Whether your holiday plans take you to the road, the skies or the sea, or keep you at home, there are some steps you can take to ensure safety doesn't take a back seat to fun.


We hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Give us a call at Main Street Insurance at 435-674-2221 to get a free quote. We write home, auto, business, workers compensation, bonds, life, health, and more.

Prevent: Pipe Freeze - Breakage - Water Damage

$3.4 billion in property damage from winter storms in early 2014

According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, 25% of businesses involved in a major property disaster do not reopen. Watch the video below to learn PHLY's POINT strategy for protecting your organization from freezing conditions.

Look at this video that gives some good ideas on how to prevent water damage:

Call Main Street Insurance at 435-674-2221 for more risk management ideas or contact us on our website at www.msiagency.com.

Know Your Policy

We don't want you to suffer a loss and not be covered properly. When things change in our lives (buy new furniture, children get married, etc.), we often forget to call our agent and update our policies to match the changes in our lives. Give us a call at 435-674-2221 and we can review your policy (even if it is not with our office) and make sure you are covered correctly.

Submit for a new quote at www.msiagency.com

Fireworks Safety

200 people on average go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the mount around the 4th of July.

Before you heat out and celebrate, read the #fireworks safety tips from The National Council of Fireworks Safety: http://ow.ly/y8rC1

Main Street Insurance Agency 435-674-2221.
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Don't Leave Kids/Animals Alone in Car

Summer is here in Southern Utah. We have to take precautions to help protect our children.

Here are some risks involved:

• It only takes 10 minutes for the temperature to increase 20 degrees.
• Cracking windows does little to keep the car cool.
• With temperatures only in the 60s, your car can heat to well above 110 degrees. Since our outside temperature in Southern Utah can be 110 degrees imagine how hot it can be in your car.
• A child's body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult's.
• Heatstroke can happen when the temperature is as low as 57 degrees outside.
• A child dies when his/her temperature reaches 107 degrees.

Please keep these risks in mind when you think about running into the store for only a few minutes and thinking about leaving your child in the car. For more ideas go to www.safecar.gov.

Main Street Insurance Agency www.msiagency.com 435-674-2221.

Quickly enter your information here to get a home or auto quote.

Bicycle Safety

Adjust your bicycle to fit: 1-2" between you and the top tube (bar) for a road bike and 3-4" on a mountain bike. #BikeSafetyMonth Read more: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pe dbimot/bike/KidsandBikeSafetyWeb/

Give us a call at 435-674-2221 or contact us on our website at www.msiagency.com to learn other safety tips for personal and business operations.