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Shocking Newspaper Headlines or cliches about the coverage of the hillsborough disaster by the sun..?

February 5th, 2012

Question by sam: Shocking Newspaper Headlines or cliches about the coverage of the hillsborough disaster by the sun..?
Hi i need a good headline or clichey (bad spelling) about the sun’s coverage of the hillsborough disaster.

Best answer:

Answer by quatt47
The Sun newspaper controversy

The controversial front page On the Wednesday following the disaster, Kelvin MacKenzie, then editor of The Sun, a British tabloid newspaper with national distribution owned by Rupert Murdoch, used the front page headline ‘THE TRUTH’, with three sub-headlines: ‘Some fans picked pockets of victims’; ‘Some fans urinated on the brave cops’; ‘Some fans beat up PC giving kiss of life’.

The story accompanying these headlines claimed that ‘drunken Liverpool fans viciously attacked rescue workers as they tried to revive victims’ and ‘police officers, firemen and ambulance crew were punched, kicked and urinated upon’. A quote, attributed to an unnamed policeman, claimed that a dead girl had been abused and that Liverpool fans ‘were openly urinating on us and the bodies of the dead’.

In their history of The Sun, Peter Chippendale and Chris Horrie wrote:

‘As MacKenzie’s layout was seen by more and more people, a collective shudder ran through the office [but] MacKenzie’s dominance was so total there was nobody left in the organisation who could rein him in except Murdoch. [Everyone] seemed paralysed, “looking like rabbits in the headlights”, as one hack described them. The error staring them in the face was too glaring. It obviously wasn’t a silly mistake; nor was it a simple oversight. Nobody really had any comment on it—they just took one look and went away shaking their heads in wonder at the enormity of it. It was a “classic smear”.’
Following The Sun’s report, the newspaper was boycotted by most newsagents in Liverpool, with many refusing to stock the tabloid and large numbers of readers cancelling orders and refusing to buy from shops which did stock the newspaper. The Hillsborough Justice Campaign also organised a national boycott which was less successful, but certainly hit the paper’s sales.

MacKenzie explained his reporting in 1993. Talking to a House of Commons National Heritage Select Committee he said “I regret Hillsborough. It was a fundamental mistake. The mistake was I believed what an MP said. It was a Tory MP. If he had not said it and the chief superintendent (David Duckenfield) had not agreed with it, we would not have gone with it.” MacKenzie would repudiate this apology in November 2006, saying that he only apologised because the newspaper’s owner Rupert Murdoch ordered him to. He said “I was not sorry then and I’m not sorry now” for the paper’s coverage. MacKenzie refused again to apologise when appearing on the BBC’s topical Question Time on 11th January 2007.

The Sun itself issued an apology “without reservation” in a full page opinion piece on 7 July 2004, saying that it had “committed the most terrible mistake in its history.” The Sun was responding to the intense criticism of Wayne Rooney, a Liverpool-born football star who then still played in the city (for Everton), who had sold his life story to the newspaper. Rooney’s actions had incensed Liverpudlians still angry at The Sun. The Sun’s apology was somewhat bullish, saying that the “campaign of hate” against Rooney was organised in part by the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo, owned by Trinity Mirror, who also own the Daily Mirror, arch-rivals of The Sun. Thus the apology actually served to anger some Liverpudlians further. The Liverpool Echo itself did not accept the apology, calling it “shabby” and “an attempt, once again, to exploit the Hillsborough dead.”

Some other newspapers also detailed the same allegations on the same day, which apparently originated from a source within South Yorkshire Police attempting to divert blame, but The Sun attracted particular opprobrium for its use of the huge “THE TRUTH” headline and its subsequent refusal to issue an apology, something the other newspapers were quick to do.

On 6 January 2007, during their team’s FA Cup defeat to Arsenal at Anfield, Liverpool fans in The Kop held up coloured cards spelling out “The Truth” and chanted “Justice for the 96″ for 6 minutes at the start of the game. The protest was directed at both Kelvin MacKenzie and the The Sun, as well as the BBC for employing MacKenzie as a presenter.

To this day, many people in the Liverpool area refuse to buy The Sun as a matter of principle, and the paper’s sales figures within Merseyside have been very poor since the day the original story was printed – as of 2004, the circulation in Liverpool was down to 12,000 copies a day, 200,000 fewer than previously.

The Reaction of other Clubs
The Hillsborough disaster did not only touch clubs in England but the disaster was known worldwide and touched clubs around the world.

On 19th April 1989 (the following Wednesday of the disaster), a European Cup semi final between AC Milan and Real Madrid was played. The referee blew his whistle 6 minutes into the game to stop play and hold a minute’s silence for those who lost their lives tragically at Hillsborough. About 20 seconds into the silence the Milan fans on the Curva Sud began to sing Liverpool’s anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone as a tribute to those who died. This was a gesture that many Liverpool fans would not forget and there has been great respect between a core section of Liverpool and AC Milan supporters since that night.

Although I’m a Manchester United fan I’ve never bought a copy of The Sun since that day and i won’t have it in the house. I feel solidarity with Liverpool fans for the tragedy. No-one deserves to die like that. God rest them all.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

What does anyone know about www.l-lifeinsurance and lost life insurance policies and finding them?

January 31st, 2012

Question by Holy Ghost: What does anyone know about www.l-lifeinsurance and lost life insurance policies and finding them?
I am curious as to whether or not anyone has used this service, and if so how did things work out for them.

Best answer:

Answer by Steve S
I have always directed people to the Medical Information Bureau, I have attached there link below. This is a good place to start and look for missing policies.

What do you think? Answer below!

5 Questions about flood insurance …

January 27th, 2012

5 Questions about flood insurance …
So how safe are local homes and businesses? Not as safe as you might think, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, which runs the National Flood Insurance Program. Joseph Amorosi Jr. of Nationwide's Amorosi Insurance Agency in .
Read more on Buffalo Business First

Flood insurance mandatory when you live in flood zone
By Stephen McLamb – bio | email Living in a flood zone means your home can end up flooded anytime it rains. It also means flood insurance is mandatory. Keith Lang is dealing with flood insurance right now. He believes he's in a 500 year flood area.
Read more on WAFF

Flood insurance shock
They have received notices from insurance companies that their next premiums will skyrocket if they want to take out flood cover. The Goulburn Post has seen an NRMA insurance renewal notice sent to an Albert Street property owner (who asked that her …
Read more on Goulburn Post

7 things you need to know about distracted driving

January 26th, 2012

Nick DiUlio

Most of us have had the urge on more than one occasion. It’s the “need” to respond to a text or answer a call or check email while driving. Well, according to a study published in December 2011 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it turns out that most of us are giving into this urge — and, oh, what a dangerous urge it is.

In this slideshow, we highlight six findings of the traffic safety agency’s study and tell you one more thing: how distracted driving can affect your auto insurance.

Troy Anderson

Mold mania swept the United States a decade ago after lawsuits filed by celebrities Ed McMahon, Erin Brockovich and Michael Jordan stoked fears about “killer mold.”

Now, a new threat has emerged – a “house-eating fungus” that can devour homes in months. But the devastating fungus known as poria incrassata pales in comparison to perhaps an even bigger danger – the fact that many home insurance policies now contain caps or other coverage limits on mold and fungus claims.

In a lawsuit that some experts say could have national ramifications, Los Angeles residents Walter and Judy Moore allege that their home insurer, Seattle-based Safeco Insurance Co., acted in bad faith and engaged in unfair competition. The Moores allege that the company initially said it would cover a poria claim, but then backed out after learning it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix their 1,500-square-foot home. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom Mission Revival home was built in 1924; it sits in a quaint, upper-class neighborhood.

The couple alleges that Safeco told them a $ 10,000 coverage limit applied only to fungus cleanup costs, not to subsequent repairs, but then told them the $ 10,000 limit applied to all losses, including repairs.

A ‘huge insurance scam’?

“This is essentially a huge insurance scam we’ve uncovered where people are not getting what they are paying for,” says Judy, who managed the couple’s rental property in the south of France until they were recently forced to sell it after the fungus invasion. “I know we are not an isolated couple who have somehow had the incredibly bad luck to find out our $ 1 million home is really only insured for $ 10,000.”

Walter, a corporate trial attorney and a former Los Angeles mayoral candidate, alleges in the lawsuit that Safeco failed to disclose on its home insurance declarations, or summary, page the policy limitations for mold or fungus damage. Safeco wrote on its declarations page that the policy would pay hundreds of thousands of dollars — enough to rebuild the home — but an “Additional Property Coverage” provision states the company will pay only up to $ 10,000 for fungus damage and cleanup, Walter alleges.

The lawsuit was filed in February 2011 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

When consumers buy or renew a policy, Safeco sends them a California Residential Property Insurance Disclosure form – showing policy limits valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. No mention is made of a $ 10,000 limit for any covered losses, Walter alleges.

“There are much broader ramifications for all consumers,” says Walter, a Georgetown University graduate and former editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. “I think if most consumers saw something on their declarations page that the policy limit could be as low as $ 10,000, they would switch insurance companies. You couldn’t replace your car for $ 10,000, much less your home.”

Safeco’s defense

Brenda Harrison, a spokeswoman for Safeco, declines to comment on the Moores’ suit. Safeco is a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual, a Fortune 100 company that’s the country’s fifth-largest property and casualty insurer.

Judy Moore stands in the under-repair home she shares with husband Walter. Judy says they’re victims of a “huge insurance scam.”

Jeffrey Crowe, an attorney for Safeco, explained in court documents that the company investigated this “unusual” case and learned water had entered the house through a vent pipe on the roof that was cut during an earlier remodeling project. This allowed rain to seep behind the walls, permitting the wood-decaying fungus to grow. Safeco later determined the loss wasn’t covered because of the policy’s exclusion for “continuous or repeated seepage or leakage of water.” Although the declarations page didn’t identify the policy’s “Special Provisions” regarding fungus, Crowe says the company covers only as much as $ 10,000 for fungus-related losses.

The case was scheduled to go to trial Jan. 17, 2012, but the judge dropped that trial date. A new trial date hasn’t been set. The Moores have asked the judge to issue an injunction prohibiting Safeco from selling or renewing any home insurance policies in California until it revises its declarations pages and discloses the $ 10,000 fungus limit.

“They know this could do severe damage to them,” Judy says. “If we get a permanent injunction against Safeco that requires them to start telling the truth about what they are selling then there could class-action lawsuits in every state. It would not be, ‘Do you owe people money, but how much do you owe every single one of your policyholders?’”

‘Hideous lack of transparency’

Daniel Schwarcz, an associate law professor at the University of Minnesota Law School who is an expert on home insurance policies, says the Moores’ lawsuit could lead to greater disclosure of exactly what home insurance policies cover.

“There is a hideous lack of transparency about policy coverage, about what companies pay out on and how the process works,” Schwarcz says. “All this information is really hidden from public scrutiny. It’s a real regulatory problem. It’s a problem our courts could fix by forcing insurers to pay claims unless they are really clear to policyholders beforehand about what is covered and what is not.”

The ‘mold rush’

Mold and fungus have been around for centuries and are found everywhere. In the United States, there are more than 100,000 species of fungus. Some species like poria can cause extensive property damage; poria is a soil-inhabiting fungus that has shown up recently in homes in Southern California, Northern California and states along the Gulf Coast.

Other types of fungus can cause health problems ranging from runny noses, coughs and sinusitis to more serious upper respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis. Certain types of mold can produce toxins. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found no conclusive evidence that inhalation of these toxins is associated with brain damage, memory loss or a lack of energy – as feared a decade ago during the “killer mold” scare.

Before 2000, the few mold-related claims insurers saw generally were settled for a few thousand dollars. But mold and fungus kicked up a furor a decade ago with multimillion-dollar lawsuits by McMahon and other celebrities, and with headlines like this one from Time magazine — “Beware: Toxic Mold.” In one highly publicized case, a Texas family abandoned their mansion and won a $ 32 million jury award in 2001 against Farmers Insurance. An appeals court later reduced the amount to $ 4 million.

Nationwide, mold-damage payouts soared, more than doubling from $ 1.3 billion in 2001 to nearly $ 3 billion in 2002, according to the Insurance Information Institute. From 1997 to 2002, mold-related claims rose from $ 229 million to $ 589 million in California alone. At the time, traditional home insurance policies did not exclude mold and fungus damage.

Attorneys held mold-damage seminars for homeowners in the early part of this century, says Pete Moraga, a spokesman for the Insurance Information Network of California, a nonprofit group supported by the insurance industry.

“They called it the ‘mold rush,’ ” Moraga says. “ ‘Mold is Gold’ was a name of a seminar showing attorneys how they could make a lot of money on this.”

Mold limits become the norm

After a spike in mold-related lawsuits, many state insurance regulators excluded or limited mold coverage on home insurance policies. Mold contamination is covered under these policies only if it is the result of a covered peril, according to the Insurance Information Institute. A covered peril is a type of risk that an insurance policy covers.

For example, the costs of cleaning up mold caused by water from a burst pipe are covered in most policies because water damage from a burst pipe is a covered peril. But mold caused by water from excessive humidity, condensation or flooding is a maintenance issue for the property owner and is not covered. Every state except Arkansas, New York, North Carolina and Virginia has adopted mold limits for home insurance policies.

“The insurance industry reacted en masse to the Texas verdict and put caps across the board into homeowner’s policies regarding mold,” says Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a nonprofit advocacy group for insurance consumers. “Then it became a big political issue, and some state legislators intervened when they thought the caps were too low. In some states, you’ll see a $ 5,000 max on mold. Other states have nothing on their books. But the insurance companies almost across the board have limited coverage for mold damage.”

Certain states allow insurers to establish sub-limits — either as a percentage of policy limits or as a fixed dollar amount — for mold cleanup. While some insurance companies prefer to create a total exclusion, others exclude mold but offer an attachment to the policy that makes coverage available at an additional cost.

Walter and Judy Moore let their neighbors know what they think of their home insurance company with a handmade sign on a hedge in their front yard. The message, spelled out in large white letters, says “SAFECO SUCKS!”

As a result of states letting insurers exclude mold as a covered peril, the Insurance Information Institute was unable to figure out how much insurers paid out in recent years for mold claims. However, the institute does track losses caused by freezing and water damage, which includes mold-related claims. From 2005 to 2009, those losses increased from 15 percent of all home insurance losses to 24 percent.

When comparing home insurance coverage, Patricia McConahay, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Insurance, says people should carefully read the policies to determine whether mold claims will be paid. If a consumer has a mold claim, McConahay says, he should submit it to his insurer. If the claim is denied, he should contact his state’s insurance department. The department will investigate to determine whether the claim was wrongly denied, McConahay says.

Reversing course

The Moores, the Los Angeles couple, filed a complaint in February 2011 with the California Department of Insurance against Safeco for undue delay and unfair denial of their claim. The complaint alleges that Safeco denied the couple’s claim twice before finally approving it, but only after a long delay that gave the fungus time to spread throughout the house.

“Before I allowed anyone to tear up our home, I double-checked with the claims adjuster, in writing, that the $ 10,000 amount was for only remediation, and the amount for the repair necessary was not part of this $ 10,000,” Judy says. “The adjuster responded in writing that, yes, the $ 10,000 limit only applied to the remediation part of the claim. He also asked me to get new bids for repair.”

The Moores’ lawsuit alleges Safeco then reversed its decision to avoid the increased repair costs resulting from the delay.

Contractors estimate it will cost $ 350,000 to $ 750,000 to fix the Moores’ home, which was valued at $ 950,000 before the fungus invasion, Walter says.

‘A big case for consumers’

The complaint also asks the California insurance commissioner to require Safeco to provide customers with copies of all insurance documents that “fairly and accurately disclose” what losses are covered. The department has informed the Moores that it will wait until the court case is over before taking any further action.

“I think it’s a big case for consumers,” Walter says. “I’m not a class-action lawyer, but I think some consumer lawyer should jump on this and sue them to recover the difference between the protection homeowners are paying for on the one hand and the protection they are actually getting on the other hand.”

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13.01.11 Kerry Adams talks about Earthquake Issues in Christchurch

January 24th, 2012

Kerry Adams, Director of Dodd & Associates Limited, talks about earthquakes issues in Christchurch and responds to media reports about insurance and Inland Revenue. Kerry also talks about the recently announced grant from Red Cross for assisting with legal and accounting fees. This video is intended as a guide only and should not be relied upon as a definitive answer. Every business is different and if a particular topic is relevant to your business guidance should be sought from one of the experienced accountants at DAA. This is extremely important.
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What do you think about the health insurance law they are trying to pass?

January 11th, 2012

Question by His Love: What do you think about the health insurance law they are trying to pass?
Who wouldn’t love to have health insurance. Most people don’t have it because it’s too expensive and they can’t afford it right?

Well how now if the law is passed people who don’t have health insurance will be fined. Health insurance isn’t cheap.

I don’t know about you but to me that is really unfair to people who can’t afford it. Especially in this economical times. I would love to have health insurance.

What is your opinion?

Best answer:

Answer by Gregg
You hit the nail on the head, Soon. Everyone will pay & costs will not go down. I remember when we had discretionary auto insurance. You didn’t have to have it. Everyone said the cost would go down if everyone had it. Some may think that they can get by without paying. That is wrong thinking. You remember when banks got bailed out? Well, then you must know that the government now has your banking account info. They will also pass the trade & cap to pay for it (again). The purpose of trade & cap is to make you use less energy. So all forms of energy will cost double what they are now.

What do you think? Answer below!

Couple allegedly arguing about life insurance policy before murder-suicide

January 6th, 2012

Couple allegedly arguing about life insurance policy before murder-suicide
Tia Jordan's aunt told News 12 — before going to interview with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office — that Emanuel and Tia were having an argument over a life insurance policy. Tia's aunt says Emanuel wanted her to take out another policy for his …
Read more on WRDW-TV

Ameritas Life Completes Acquisition of Texas Company
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and its affiliated companies provide a wide range of insurance and financial services to customers throughout the United States, including life insurance; annuities; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; …
Read more on MarketWatch (press release)

SEC Sues Texas Life Settlements Firm, Alleges Deception
Federal securities regulators filed suit against a Texas-based provider of so-called “life settlements,” accusing it and three top executives of defrauding shareholders by overvaluing the life insurance policies it buys from its customers. …
Read more on Insurance Journal

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High Converting! Gum Disease Cure! – !truth About Gum Disease

December 27th, 2011

High Converting! Gum Disease Cure! – !truth About Gum Disease
Super High Converting Gum Disease Cure Site With Awesome Sales Letter Filled With Real Content. Earn .22 Per Sale! Find Out How You Can Cash In Too: Http://www.truthaboutgumdisease.com/affiliates
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The Truth About Auto Insurance Fraud Reports

December 21st, 2011

The Truth About Auto Insurance Fraud Reports

This video message is to educate people about why insurance companies love to talk about fraud so much. This video lets you know that it’s all about bigger profits for the companies if you don’t file claims because of fear of being falsely accused. This video is the real truth, investors want bigger payouts and that’s the reason for high insurance premiums. The rate increase is not because of fraud, it’s because of greed. You have paid for insurance and if you have been in an accident, so called fender benders as insurers like to call them then you need to be checked by a doctor/chiropractor to make sure you’re okay and don’t have permanent injuries that can cost you big money later on because if the insurance companies don’t pay then the taxpayers will have to foot the bill if you can’t. The damage could be minor for the car but major to your body and you need to be properly compensated
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Wood-burning stoves stoke concerns about homeowner’s insurance

December 20th, 2011

Neil Bartlett

Sales of wood-burning stoves are heating up. The number of U.S. households being heated with wood jumped by 34 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s a bigger increase than for any other type of heating fuel.

Using a wood-burning stove as primary or secondary source of home heat can be a great way to cut your energy costs. But it also brings up questions about your home insurance and concerns about safety.

The number of U.S. households being heated with wood jumped by 34 percent from 2000 to 2010

Insurance concerns

Loretta Worters, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit Insurance Information Institute, suggests that before you install a wood-burning stove, you should contact your home insurance agent. If a home fire is triggered by a wood-burning stove but you didn’t notify your insurer about the stove, your policy might be voided, Worters warns.

Normally, if a home fire is caused by a wood-burning stove, it will be covered under a standard home insurance policy.

“Anytime a homeowner makes a structure change, it’s always advisable to talk with their agent early in the process,” says Jeff Reinig, senior vice president of home product management at Farmers Insurance. “It could change the amount or pricing of insurance.”

Proper installation is critical

Worters says the resurgence of the wood-burning stove as a source of home heat has led to a growing number of fires that can be traced to careless installation or misuse of a stove, Worters says.

“From an insurance standpoint, fire is always the primary concern,” Worters says.

For example, a fire sparked by a recently installed wood-burning stove destroyed a home in early December 2011 in Redding, Calif., according to media reports. The damage was estimated at $ 175,000.

Worters notes that some home insurers may require proof of certification indicating that a wood-burning stove was installed properly. Without the certification, she says, your home insurance premium might increase slightly.

While the potential for a large-scale fire from a defective wood-burning stove is worrisome, Reinig says the most common insurance loss he’s seen related to wood-burning stoves is from embers flying out of a stove, damaging carpets and floors.

“The more tile and other ceramic underneath and around the stove, the less chance there is for damage,” Reinig says.

Some home insurers may be less likely to provide coverage if a wood-burning stove is your only source of home heat. “We don’t like to see the wood stove as the only source of heat,” Reinig says.

The heat is on

More than one-third of Americans use wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and other fuel-fired appliances as primary sources of home heat, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

In two states, households using wood as a primary heat source more than doubled from 2000 to 2010, according to the Census Bureau. Michigan saw a spike of 135 percent; Connecticut experienced a 122 percent increase. In six other states, wood heating grew by more than 90 percent:

• Massachusetts — 99 percent.

• New Hampshire — 99 percent.

• Maine — 96 percent.

• Rhode Island — 96 percent.

• Ohio — 95 percent.

• Nevada — 91 percent.

“Heating with wood may not be hip like solar, but it’s proving to be the workhorse of residential renewable energy production,” John Ackerly, president of the nonprofit Alliance for Green Heat, says in a statement. The alliance promotes the use of wood as fuel for heat.

As of 2010, about 2.4 million households used wood as a primary heat source, the Census Bureau says. The bureau says 57 percent of U.S. households that primarily heat with wood are in rural areas, 40 percent area in suburban areas and 3 percent in urban areas.

Safety precautions

The Insurance Information Institute says you should make sure any wood-burning stove you buy is made of sturdy material, such as cast iron or steel. When choosing a stove, look for one listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another recognized testing lab.

Used stoves should be checked carefully for cracks and other defects. Especially important is to check the legs, hinges, grates and draft louvers. Ackerly notes that many Americans are dusting off old, inefficient wood-burning stoves for their homes.

If you live in a mobile home, be sure your stove is approved for use in that dwelling.

Once your wood-burning stove is properly installed, don’t forget about maintenance. Here are some tips from Maine Mutual Insurance and the National Fire Protection Association:

1. Get your wood-burning stove, as well as a coal-burning stove, fireplace and chimney, inspected and cleaned professionally each year.

2. Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home.

3. Make sure a fire extinguisher is within easy reach of the wood-burning stove.

4. Burn only dry, seasoned wood.

5. Start the fire with newspaper or kindling — never with a flammable liquid, such as lighter fluid or gasoline.

6. Keep the doors of your stove closed unless you’re loading wood or stoking a live fire.

“The most efficient wood stove is not going to save any money if the end result is a house fire,” the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension warns. “Since the wood stove is a potentially dangerous device, treat it with respect and show proper adherence to installation procedures.”

For more information about safely using a wood-burning stove, visit the website of the National Ag Safety Database.

Gina Roberts-Grey

The National Transportation Safety Board touched off a torrent of kudos and criticism when it recommended a nationwide ban on texting and talking on a cellphone while driving. On Dec. 13, 2011, the federal agency urged all 50 states and the District of Columbia to adopt laws that prohibit two of the main causes of distracted driving.

Yet for many American motorists, texting bans already are a reality. Thirty-five states and D.C. ban text messaging for all drivers. In 32 of those states and D.C., texting while driving is a primary offense. That means a cop can pull you over solely for sending a text while driving.

So, among the states that crack down on texting while driving, which ones have the harshest laws? InsuranceQuotes.com did some digging to come up with the 10 toughest states for drivers who are caught texting behind the wheel. Our review took into account fines and penalties.

1. Utah

Utah is a state known for Mormons and mountains. It’s also known for its strictness when it comes to texting while driving.

Utah is tougher on texting behind the wheel than any other state.

In Utah, the fine for texting while driving soars as high as $ 750, the second highest in the country. But it’s the rest of the state’s anti-texting law that earns Utah the distinction as the toughest state for texting. If you get into an accident while texting and driving in Utah, you face serious jail time (up to 15 years) and up to a $ 10,000 fine. If there’s a fatality, you could be charged with a third-degree felony and face even more jail time and fines.

2. Illinois

The face of Illinois’ most revered political figure, Abraham Lincoln, appears on the penny. And if you’re pulled over for driving while texting in the Land of Lincoln, it could cost you a pretty penny. Illinois is the state with the highest fine for texting while driving — up to $ 1,000.

As is the case in several other states, Illinois’ law covers similar activities like instant messaging, email or surfing the web while driving. In Illinois, texting while driving is a moving violation. Pile up three moving violations in a year, and your license will be suspended.

3. Wisconsin

The fines for texting while driving in the Badger State could cause even Aaron Rodgers, the multimillion-dollar quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, to shudder.

Beginning in December 2010, Wisconsin upped the penalty ante for texting drivers. Now, first-time offenders can be fined as much as $ 400. Second-time offenders can rack up a fine of up to $ 800. By comparison, first-time drunken drivers in Wisconsin face fines up to $ 300.

Furthermore, a Wisconsin motorist who’s got a driving-while-texting notch on his record can rack up four points against the driver’s license. A driver whose “point bank” reaches 12 in 12 months will have his license suspended for two months. The more points a driver has, the more violations he has committed.

4. California

California cops issue an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 texting-while-driving tickets every month.

Californians may have the image of being laid-back, but the state is anything but casual when it comes to texting while driving.

In California, a first-time texting offender is slapped with a fine of $ 159, says Chris Cochran, a spokesman for the California Office of Traffic Safety. “Tickets are being written at an estimated average of 15,000 to 20,000 per month,” Cochran says.

You can’t even get away with texting at a red light in California. In November 2011, a California court ruled that motorists can’t talk or text on a cellphone while waiting for a traffic light to turn green.

5. New York

Lady Liberty frowns on texting while driving.

In June 2010, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that makes texting a primary offense. First-time offenders can be hit with a $ 150 fine. A state tax of $ 85 may be tacked on. A texter who’s caught in the act also gets two points on his driving record.

6. Connecticut

Two of Connecticut’s best-known residents, Martha Stewart and David Letterman, had better watch it if they’re tempted to text while driving.

Connecticut law allows for fines of $ 100 for a first texting violation, $ 150 for a second violation and $ 200 for subsequent violations. Furthermore, judges in Connecticut no longer must suspend a texting fine when a driver provides proof of purchase of a hands-free cellphone before his court date.

7. North Dakota

North Dakota may be small when it comes to population, but it’s mighty when it comes to texting while driving. The fine for a texting offense in North Dakota is just $ 100. But the possible two penalty points on your driving record for texting while driving will add to the pain.

8. Georgia

Offenders of the Peach State’s texting-while-driving law may not feel so peachy when they go to court. A texting offender can be hit with a $ 150 fine and have one point put on his driving record. Georgia’s law covers texting as well as surfing the web, checking email and using instant messaging while driving.

9. Michigan

Motorists in the cradle of America’s automotive industry may want to put the brakes on texting while driving. A first-time texting offender in Michigan faces a $ 100 fine. A subsequent offense can result in a $ 200 fine. You can be punished for driving while texting if the phone is in your hand or in your lap.

10. Oregon

Get stopped for texting while driving in one of the greenest states in the country, and you could end up paying some green. Fines for texting while driving in Oregon climb as high as $ 142.

While Oregon’s fine for texting while driving isn’t too harsh, the state gains some respect for its anti-texting attitude.

In January 2012, Oregon will toughen its stance against texting while driving by closing a legal loophole. The loophole allowed drivers to text or talk on their cellphones for business purposes. That activity will be prohibited when the new law takes effect.

And could even tougher laws be on the horizon? Results of a poll taken by Pemco Insurance show 42 percent of drivers in the Portland area think texting violations are serious enough to warrant more than the $ 142 fine. In fact, nearly one-third of drivers in the Portland area think the texting-while-driving fine should be at least $ 250.

The lowdown on texting while driving

Mary Bonelli, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit Ohio Insurance Institute, says texting-while-driving laws are designed to make roads safer for drivers and passengers alike. But she acknowledges that no anti-texting law is perfect.

“Although well-intentioned, texting bans may be one of the toughest laws to enforce … . But that said, having such laws in place serve as a deterrent. There’s a segment of the driving population who will be less inclined to text while driving if they know it’s against the law. Over time, this may have a positive cumulative effect,” Bonelli says.

But is that deterrent really working?

A 2010 study by the nonprofit Highway Loss Data Institute found no reduction in crashes in states with texting bans compared with states without texting bans. In fact, researchers actually found a slight uptick in crashes in three states with texting bans.

Russ Rader, a spokesman for the institute, says: “We were surprised by that finding, and we’re not sure why an increase in crashes would occur. It could mean that drivers are trying to hide their phones below window level, increasing the distraction. We still need to understand more about the effects of the laws.”

These laws are aimed at reducing what some have called a traffic epidemic. In 2010, more than 3,000 people were killed in distraction-related car crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The distractions included texting while driving.

“It has taken us years to finally understand the dangers of driving while intoxicated, and we need to do the same for texting,” says Loretta Worters, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit Insurance Information Institute.

One thing that we do understand about texting is that it can bump up your auto insurance rates.

While insurance companies use different factors to determine rates, each point tacked onto your driving record could boost the cost of your auto insurance by roughly 15 percent, says Eric Hurt, an agent at SIG Insurance Professionals in Dallas. So if you live in a state that assesses points for moving violations, a texting conviction could mean more money out of your pocket. A traffic violation is taken into account by an auto insurer for at least three years, Hurt says.

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