Social Networking to Increase Insurance?

An article from ITWORLD thinks it could. The article states that social networkers who use location-based services such as Facebook Places should expect to see their home insurance premiums rise, says Confused.com. The online insurance firm, which predicted earlier this year using social networks could plead to hikes in insurance premiums, issued the warning after a burglary scam in the US saw 50 homes broken into and $100,000 worth of goods stolen.

The criminals used Facebook to monitor when web users 'checked in' to places on the social network, highlighting the fact they were away from home, and then targeted the empty properties. Confused.com also urged web users not to post home addresses or personal information on social networks, as well as turning-off location-based services and only 'following' or connecting with people you know.

For more information, read the full article here.

Glitch Delays RMV Branch Openings

WCVB-TV is reporting that the state Department of Transportation said it had to delay the opening of several of its Registry of Motor Vehicle branches until 10 a.m. Thursday because of a mainframe hardware failure within the state's Information Technology Division. Because of the breakdown, the RMV said it wasn't able to conduct system maintenance and updates and process transactions through its database which are normally run overnight.

This work must be completed before the database can be accessed for processing new transactions, the RMV said. "This is a problem that surfaced in the middle of the night which ITD immediately addressed. However, it will take at least until 10 a.m. for our database to catch up so we can begin processing transactions," said Registrar Rachel Kaprielian. "We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this presents."

Even with some branches closed this morning, customers were still able to do some transactions online by visiting http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/rmv/.

New MA Safe Driving Law

Starting September 30, 2010, The Safe Driving Law becomes effective in Massachusetts. The law creates a series of new violations, which the RMV Division, MassDOT IT staff and the Merit Rating Board are working to program and implement.



These new violations include:

1. Use of a Mobile Phone by a Junior Operator

Civil Offense- No insurance surcharge (Reporting an emergency is the only exception. Drivers are encouraged to pull over and stop the vehicle to report the emergency.)

1st offense-$100 assessment 60-day license suspension and attitudinal course

2nd offense-$250 assessment 180-day suspension

3rd or subsequent offense-$500 assessment 1-year suspension

$100 reinstatement fee for any suspension

Knowledge and road test required for reinstatement



2. Use of a Mobile Phone by a Public Transport Motor Vehicle Operator Civil Offense- No insurance surcharge-$500 assessment each offense

3. Use of a Mobile Phone by a Public Transport Non-Motor Vehicle Operator Civil Offense- No insurance surcharge (MBTA Trolley), $500 assessment each violation



4. Improper Use of a Mobile Phone by Operators 18 and Over Civil Offense- No insurance surcharge (One hand must be on the steering wheel at all times and no use of device can interfere with driving)

1st offense-$35 assessment

2nd offense in 12 months-$75 assessment

3rd offense in 12 months-$150 assessment



5. Sending/Reading Text Messages Civil Offense- No insurance surcharge

(Operators cannot use any mobile electronic device to write, send, or read an electronic message including text messages, emails, instant messages or accessing the internet while operating a vehicle. Mobile electronic device includes mobile telephone, text messaging device, paging device, PDA, laptop computer, electronic equipment capable of playing video games or video disks or can take/transmit digital photographs or can receive a television broadcast. Mobile Device does not include any equipment permanently or temporarily installed to provide navigation, emergency assistance or rear seat video entertainment. Law applies even if the vehicle is stopped in traffic.)

1st offense-$100 assessment

2nd offense-$250 assessment

3rd or subsequent offense-$500 assessment



6. Negligent Operation & Injury from Mobile Phone Use Criminal Offense- Insurance surcharge

JOL Suspensions:

1st offense-180-day suspension

2nd or subsequent offense within 3 years-1 year suspension

$100 reinstatement fee

Over-18 suspensions:

1st offense-60-day suspension

2nd or subsequent offense within 3 years-1 year suspension

$100 reinstatement fee

Additional Suspensions



The law repeals the current suspension for 5-surchargeable incidents in a 3-year period and replaces it with a new suspension for 3 surchargeable incidents in 2 years. Only violations with an incident date on or after 9/30/2010 can be factored into the new suspension calculation. However, older violations will still be considered a basis for operators that accrue 7 surchargeable incidents. Similar to the current suspension process for 5 surchargeable incidents, operators will have 90 days from the suspension notice to complete a National Safety Council course to avoid going into suspension.



EXAMPLE: An operator receives a citation on October 1, 2010 and is cited for 3 offenses on the ticket: speeding, failure to yield, and a marked lane violation. Under the new law, this driver will receive a notice that they must complete the NSC course in 90 days or have his/her license suspended until completion of the class.



Elder Driving Provisions:

License applicants, either for initial licensure in Massachusetts or license renewal, age 75 and older must conduct the transaction in a RMV office. Use of the Internet for license renewals will no longer be allowed for these applicants. All applicants, regardless of age, that obtain or renew a license in a branch office are required to undergo the RMV vision test that is given to all drivers or provide a vision screening certificate from an appropriate health care provider to complete the transaction.

For more information regarding the Safe Driving Law, please visit the MassDOT website.

MassDOT Registry Website

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Registry of Motor Vehicles website is more helpful than ever before! By visiting the website, you can save a trip to the RMV if you're looking to renew your license or registration, schedule a road test, change your address or pay a citation. You can also enter your zip code to find the closest RMV and the wait time. For more information, visit their website!

Hurricane Myths That Aren't Mythical

With Hurricane Earl suspected to touch down in New England Friday, WCVB TV has posted some helpful links for learning more about what to do in case a hurricane hits us. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shares these five myths about hurricane’s that people need to know aren’t mythical.

1. The area is under evacuation order but the weather looks great right now, so people should wait until the weather gets bad before they evacuate.
This can be one of the most dangerous decisions you can make. Evacuation orders are based on the best available information and are issued early enough to provide people with time to get to shelter. Waiting until the last minute can leave you with no escape if the storm does not behave according to forecast.

2. Only coastal areas are at risk from hurricanes.
A hurricane is not just a coastal event. The strong winds, heavy rains, tornadoes and inland flooding from weakening tropical systems can spread well inland and cause tremendous damage. For example, in 2001, heavy rainfall produced by Tropical Storm Allison caused catastrophic floods in Houston, Texas. FEMA estimated that the damages in the Houston area reached approximately $4.8 billion.

3. Winds from a hurricane can not be that much worse than winds from a summer thunderstorm.
While summer thunderstorms can produce wind gusts of more 60 miles per hour, the winds of a major hurricane can reach more than twice that speed and will be sustained for hours, much longer than a thunderstorm. Each time wind speed is doubled, the wind force increases by a factor of four. Also, minimum hurricane strength winds of 74 mph can drive a piece of 2x4 lumber through a reinforced concrete wall four inches thick.

4. The storm surge is only going to be 15 to 20 feet at worst. My condo is on the upper floor. I’m riding out the storm there.
Vertical evacuation, or escaping the rising storm surge by going to the upper stories of a building, is not always a good idea. Wind speeds increase the higher you get, so you are evacuating into a more dangerous place. Also, the high winds and water make getting help to you harder once the storm is over.

5. Why prepare for a big hurricane? When it comes, my house will be destroyed anyways.
While a hurricane’s winds can destroy even the most solidly built structures, taking some basic precautions can significantly reduce damage from a storm. Shuttering windows, bracing garage and entry doors and bringing in yard items can be the difference between destruction and minor damage.