34—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 5, 1977
Amish taxis may need insurance
By DIETER KRIEG
LANCASTER - The con
troversial issue smoldering
at the present time between
the Public Utilities Coir
mission and “Amish taxi”
operators could be a blessing
in disguise, according to
State Representative Gibson
Armstrong who has kept a
close eye on the matter.
The reason is a twist in
insurance policies which
would automatically void
any vehicle owner’s
Target prices set
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
Secretary of Agriculture Bob
Bergland has announced the
1977 target prices for wheat
and feed grains.
Current legislation
requires that target prices
be adjusted from 1976 levels
to reflect the increase in the
index of prices paid by
farmers for production
items, interest, taxes and
wage rates during 1976 as
well as changes in the three -
year moving average of
yields for each crop.
The 1977 target prices are
as follows: wheat - $2.47;
com - $1.70; barley - $1.39.
Target prices represent a
floor price that eligible
producers may receive for
their crops. If the national
average market price for the
particular crop falls below
the target price, a deficiency
payment is made equal to
the difference between the
target price and the market
price. Deficiency payments
have never been made on
wheat, feed grains or upland
cotton in the four years of the
program.
Target prices are also used
as a base to determine
disaster payments should a
natural disaster strike and
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coverage who uses his car or
van for transporting the
public. Some of the “Amish
taxi” owners and operators
are conducting their services
under just such cir
cumstances. The reason for
nullification of policies is
because different insurance
rates apply for publically
hired vehicles, including
“Amish taxis.” All that is
needed to correct the matter
is for such vehicle owners to
not conceal their true status.
eligible producer’s crop.
Under such circumstances,
disaster payments are paid
if the producer is prevented
from planting a crop or if
yields are substantially
reduced. The disaster
payment rate is generally
one-third of the target price
for each commodity.
The Department also said
that the 1977 loan rates it
announced Oct. 13, 1976 for
wheat, feed grains and
soybeans are being reviewed
and a decision on final loan
levels for these commodities
will be announced at a later
date.
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Otherwise insurance policies
ceases at the moment of the
accident, says Armstrong.
The present controversy
may cause operators to seek
proper insurance coverage.
“This whole thing (con
troversy over unlicensed
taxis for the Amish) may be
very worthwhile after all,”
Armstrong told Lancaster
Farming on Friday morning.
“If we can prevent a lawsuit
from happening, it will be a
good thing,” he added. “The
Amish would not sue, but
what about the other guy,”
he asked.
Armstrong advises
unlicensed and uninsured
owners of the so-called
Amish taxis to notify their
insurance companies of the
fact that their vehicles are
up for hire. He stresses that
such vehicle operators may
think they’re insured, but
they’re not when they’re
involved in an accident while
carrying paying passengers.
Higher insurance rates
will be applicable, Arm
strong informed, but those
expenses will be offset by the
fact that this item then
becomes a deductible ex
pense. Also, a PUC licensed
vehicle operator does not
have to pay the state sales
tax on his vehicle.
A meeting was held on
Tuesday night in Refton
during which an estimated
200 people came to hear both
sides of the dispute. Most of
the drivers involved are well
meaning and perhaps
unaware of the laws or in
surance specifications,
speakers pointed out. The
Amish expressed concern
over what all this may mean
to future transportation
services to them.
According to Armstrong,
the Amish people themselves
will not be affected too
much, if at all.
He is still hopeful that the
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PUC will grant some sort of
exemption to Amish taxi
operators, but urges prompt
and proper insurance
coverage.
The Lancaster County
representative also said he
expects the PUC to come out
with another statement in
the “very immediate
future,” possibly this
weekend. As of Friday
morning the PUC had not
acted. The present status is
that a 30 to 90 day “cooling
off” period has been granted
to permit involved drivers to
register with the PUC.
F CASPIAN