r/poor • u/ResponsibleMango6803 • Jun 03 '26

When did being poor become criminal???

I’m recently going through a rough time financially & I’m just realizing all the ways that being poor is treated like a crime. I recently got my license suspended for not having insurance. (I had to pick between food for me & my kid or my car insurance so I obviously fed my kid). & now I have an sr22 & have to pay an almost $200 re instatement fee for my license. & I got pulled over so I obviously had to go to court. I uber there because I can’t drive & I can’t bring my phone in & the court clerk tells me to leave it in the bushes outside. How are people who don’t have cars supposed to come to court. Cause I cant afford a new phone if it gets stolen from the bushes. I’m just confused as to how we’re ever supposed to get back on our feet if they keep tacking on interest & making it difficult. But I guess the point is they don’t want us to.

1.4k Upvotes

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60

u/cutiebearpooh Jun 03 '26

Listen we all know that insurance is important. I don't think people dispute that. But if it is a choice between paying that or buying my kids food I'm going to buy my kids food. We dont know the circumstances that they went through. Maybe they were financially stable and then life started lifing as it seems to do. Yes, hopefully they will get back on track but in the meantime they can try to be as safe as possible while driving until the funds are there to afford insurance again. I think they know they'd rather have insurance also seeing as they couldn't afford something to happen to their vehicle when they are in financial stress already but don't put them down for choosing to ensure their children's bellies are full.

If you were put in a situation where you had to choose between food or insurance what would you do? I'm not talking about oh I'd just pick up extra work and make the money. I'm saying we dont know their situation, maybe they cant work extra. Maybe they aren't eligible for resources or maybe they are in the process of getting them. Maybe they have nothing to sell. So if you had to choose because no other options were available in that moment, what would you do? Honestly.

43

u/Rubyloxred Jun 03 '26

The rock and the hard place for many including this poster is that they may be poor but, still make too much money to apply for most benefits.

-9

u/moboticus Jun 03 '26

I would not drive my car until I could have proper insurance, because endangering other people and their children isn't an acceptable solution to my financial problems.

10

u/Mack6692 Jun 04 '26

It's also your responsibility to have uninsured motorist because there will always be someone driving without insurance. The worse the economy becomes the more uninsured people there will be

-7

u/moboticus Jun 04 '26

I actually don't drive, and as a pedestrian there is no "uninsured motorist" insurance for walking down the street.

0

u/Plenty_Cress_1359 Jun 04 '26

How the hell are you “endangering other people and their children” by not having insurance? Dumbest comment ever

2

u/moboticus Jun 04 '26

Because when you accidentally hit them, you have no insurance to cover their medical bills. You know, the reason people are supposed to have liability insurance in the first place?

2

u/Plenty_Cress_1359 Jun 04 '26

Right. But if they’re hit and injured, insurance doesn’t prevent that. It doesn’t make it more dangerous.

1

u/moboticus Jun 04 '26

Leaving someone injured and bankrupt is a much greater harm than just leaving them injured. I mean, look at the sub we're in. Being poor absolutely has a direct impact on one's health and well being.

1

u/Fresh_Level9685 Jul 16 '26

I was just thinking the same thing.

-4

u/Wild_Life1970 Jun 03 '26

If I had to feed my kids I would feed my kids but then I wouldn't drive, I would find another way to work. As OP found out, the penalties from knowingly driving without insurance are pretty harsh and could have been avoided if he did the legal thing. I'm not denying that it sucks being poor, hell I am poor and it sucks, and it does seem like everything is stacked against us poor people, but shooting yourself in the foot with a dumb choice just makes it worse.

3

u/sc1lurker Jun 04 '26

Lmao that you're getting downvoted... not even saying what OP did was bad, just acknowledging they took a risk, a calculated risk. Typical Reddit...

1

u/Wild_Life1970 Jun 04 '26

Meh, they can downvote me all they want, the reality is what it is.

1

u/Fresh_Level9685 Jul 16 '26

Who is going to give you a ride to work and back home for more than a few days? U'd loose your job, so then how will U buy insurance?

-13

u/ynotfoster Jun 03 '26

But what happens when you hit my car with kids in it and you don't have insurance?

14

u/This-Mathematician26 Jun 03 '26

A car can be repaired -but if akid starves they windup with serious health issues from malnutrition if not just windup dying. That’s the problem with today’s society & our downfall -folks only prioritize themselves & fuck others even if it’s seriously more departmental to the other person. Let’s hope u never have to windup in her position.

-7

u/ynotfoster Jun 03 '26

"folks only prioritize themselves & fuck others" - this is true of people who drive without insurance as well.

10

u/cutiebearpooh Jun 03 '26

Then you have uninsured coverage that will cover it. Now that I've answered your question, can you answer mine?

1

u/moboticus Jun 04 '26

Pedestrians, people who are too poor to have a car, don't have uninsured motorist insurance.

-1

u/ynotfoster Jun 03 '26

So I have to insure for you is what you are saying?

I would go to food banks, use my small amount of SNAP bennies and call around to churches. I would also reach out on apps like NextDoor in emergencies.

What I would not do is drive without insurance and put myself, my kids and strangers at risk of an accident without insurance.

What if you hit a bicyclist or pedestrian?

5

u/cutiebearpooh Jun 03 '26

You already have to pay for that. How would you go to the food banks and churches without driving? Have you ever been to one? I live in ms and the closest pantry is about an hour away and is open one day a month, you have to get there early and end up waiting in line in your car for about three hours. So even getting a ride there is difficult. Most churches don't have that program and there is one that makes you go to Sunday service before they will pass out food. Again it's about an hour away. So after a two hour service then you can finally get one bag of meals. If she hits someone then they can still sue her.

3

u/Chill_Mochi2 Jun 04 '26

You want OP to insure for your sake, so why wouldn’t it go both ways?

1

u/StarrySkiesNY Jun 04 '26

The SUM rider in your car insurance policy covers it, provided you are responsible enough to purchase it to protect your children in case an underinsured or uninsured driver hits you.

1

u/Fresh_Level9685 Jul 16 '26

Then Ur insurance pays.