ARIZ. SENATOR WANTS TO DENY FUNDS TO DRIVERS WHO LEAVE KEYS IN CAR

January 23, 2006

Glendale, Ariz., Republican Sen. Linda Gray is pushing legislation that would allow insurers to refuse to reimburse drivers if companies can prove that the keys were left anywhere in the vehicle, and not just the ignition, according to The Arizona Daily Star.

Gray’s proposal also would allow insurers to refuse to pay for items stolen from cars in similar circumstances, the paper said.

Arizona has the second highest rate of auto theft in the nation, according to. Enrique Cantu, director of the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority. AATA estimates that one in five stolen vehicles were unlocked. Cantu estimates theft of running vehicles was no more than 2 percent of all stolen cars. He said there is no data on how many thieves had access to car keys.