Editor:

The letter concerns The Observer rant (10/23) about the ranter's son's Jeep that was totaled when Mr. Williams hit and killed David Huerta.

I disagree with the findings of the state insurance commission. Under the state financial responsibility law for motor vehicles, everyone who operates a motor vehicle in New Mexico must have a motor vehicle insurance policy so they can be able to pay for damages arising from an accident they caused. Uninsured motorist coverage is an option you pay extra for. Somebody had to have legal insurance coverage.

The law mandates that both drivers must have coverage to be able to pay for damages arising from a motor vehicle accident, injuries from an accident and property damage.

The state mandates the minimum insurance coverage you should have to drive on New Mexico roads. It states the type of insurance you're supposed to have and what you're supposed to do. You're supposed to report the accident to the police department and get a police report on how the accident occurred and the damage to the vehicle.

It's clear under state law that you cannot have just one type of insurance, just uninsured motorists. It would clearly make the law a joke, as no one would be able to be compensated for the damages to his/her vehicle unless the other driver was uninsured.

A driver should not operate a motor vehicle without insurance in New Mexico or anywhere else in the country. The purpose of the law is to protect the driver's right to have their vehicle's damage repaired and to get a rental vehicle while it's being repaired without having to pay extra for it.

Mandel Wittie

Rio Rancho