California
Concerns over insurance rates spread far beyond fire-prone areas in California
ROSEVILLE — Hotter days are still to come, putting fire fears top of mind for many. However, it’s not just for homeowners who live in wildfire-prone areas but homeowners who call the suburbs home.
It’s not a new headline that insurance companies are pulling back on insuring California homeowners in high-risk fire zones, but what is new is how climate change is impacting homes in areas that aren’t typically considered a risk.
In Roseville, a homeowner was tasked by her insurance company to take photos of her home. What followed in the mail was a letter notifying her that she would be dropped by the company unless thousands of dollars worth of changes were made to the home, which was built within the last decade.
“This came as a surprise because we thought nothing has really changed,” said Nadia Melzer, a homeowner and Placer County realtor.
She’s been on both sides of a growing insurance issue that she once believed wouldn’t land at her front door or, in her case, in her backyard.
According to Melzer’s previous insurer (she’s since changed companies), her home needed updates that included trees being moved further apart in the backyard and closing soffits on the home.
On the other side of her backyard fence is an open field, which she believes is the main reason her former insurance company wanted to drop their home.
“Living here in the suburbs, I didn’t think that was anything I would have to worry about,” Melzer said.
CBS13 took these questions and concerns to Ryan Lundquist, an appraiser and housing analyst. He said that he’s heard stories like this and others locally that start with a letter in the mail about changes and end with a homeowner losing home insurance.
Tall grass, homes over 100 years old, trees close to the home, and a house near open space are all reasons Lundquist said he’s heard cited to homeowners about why their home insurance won’t be renewed.
“I’m starting to hear a lot more stories like this, and it seems like insurance companies are getting a bit nit-picky over issues,” he said.
Another trend Lundquist said he’s seen used by insurers: using drones for home inspection. He explained that a Rocklin client received notice that his home had been inspected by a drone and due to the findings, he would be dropped by his insurer.
“This is not just a California thing, but we’re seeing insurance issues in states like Florida and Texas and places where there’s been a lot of natural disasters,” Lundquist said.
Climate change, experts say, is playing a role in where some insurance companies choose to insure or renew. It’s why, Lundquist said, insurance issues aren’t limited to fire-prone areas but now in suburban neighborhoods, too.
Melzer also said she understands that fire is a concern for insurance companies but that they should support homeowners in times of need.
A 17-year-old suspect has been arrested in Texas in connection with the deadly shooting after a high school graduation ceremony in Fairfield, California last month, police said.
Fairfield police said U.S. Marshals, accompanied by department detectives, served search and arrest warrants Friday morning at a home in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The teen was taken into custody without incident on suspicion of murder and related offenses.
Investigators said the suspect fled California and traveled to Texas within days of the June 3 shooting. He will remain in custody while awaiting extradition to Solano County.
The shooting happened after Sem Yeto Continuation High School’s graduation ceremony, which was held on the Fairfield High School campus.
Police said 18-year-old graduate Jamario Baker died at the scene. Three others – an 11-year-old child and two adults, ages 20 and 25 – were wounded.
Authorities have not released the suspect’s name because he is a minor.
Although an arrest has been made, police said the investigation remains active and detectives continue to pursue additional leads.
“While today’s announcement may provide a measure of relief to some, it does not lessen the pain felt by our community,” the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District said in a statement.
Police plan to hold a news conference Monday at 4 p.m. to discuss the case and arrest.
Fairfield is a Northern California city about 40 miles northwest of San Francisco.
A California bill would let insurers monitor customers’ driving data in exchange for discounted premiums.
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, the author of AB 311, said the digital monitoring, known as telematics, rewards good driving and would improve safety. In real time, telematics technology would track data such as speed, location and how a vehicle is being driven.
“We have to slow people down,” McKinnor said. “That is the whole purpose for this bill, is driver safety.”
A voter-approved law from 1988, Prop 103, required insurance rates to be based mainly on driving record, miles driven and experience. It made California the only state in the country to prohibit telematics.
McKinnor believes the law is outdated. She argued that her bill would also help good drivers who pay higher rates because of where they live.
“Where I live definitely brings my insurance up,” McKinnor said. “If we both drive the same way, we’ll get charged the same way, instead of by our ZIP code.”
California’s Department of Insurance and consumer groups oppose the bill, citing privacy concerns.
“We can’t look behind the algorithm and see what weight it’s giving to different criteria, which is a big problem,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “Auto insurance, otherwise, is transparent. This is why the Department of Insurance is opposed, because of the lack of transparency in the algorithm.”
The proposed savings in exchange for good driving might not be guaranteed. Telematics data from the Maryland Insurance Administration showed that 31% of drivers who opted into the program saw a drop in rates, 24% saw an increase and 45% saw no change to their premiums.
“This collects an awful lot of data about people, more than they know, and it’s like having Big Brother in your back seat,” Court said.
McKinnor insisted that drivers will not be forced to enroll in the program.
“It’s still opt-in in the other 49 states,” she said. “We’re not going to make this mandatory. It’ll be a per-volunteer situation.”
McKinnor’s bill passed through the legislature’s insurance committee. It’s expected to be presented to the full Senate in August.
Huntington Beach police are vowing to prevent a potential “takeover” event being promoted across social media that they believe could get out of control.
Police said they became aware of the event from a flyer online advertising an “end of summer beach bash” in the city.
“Dear ‘Beach Bash’ organizers…” police said in an Instagram post Thursday. “Thanks for the flyer. We’ve seen it too.”
They continued, “We have no intention of allowing that to happen here.”
No further details were provided about when the event was planned to take place or the exact location.
Police and the city of Huntington Beach said they’re working to prevent the event following similar events in Southern California that resulted in violence, vandalism and other criminal activity.
One chaotic event that was held in Newport Beach on the Fourth of July ended with more than 400 people being arrested, according to police. Some partygoers were seen fist fighting, while others allegedly vandalized property and local businesses, including a Pavilions grocery store.
Newport Beach police said social media posts drew a large influx of people to Newport Pier in a short amount of time, and the event got out of control.
Huntington Beach PD warned that anyone who organizes, promotes or participates in criminal activity associated with a takeover event may be arrested or prosecuted. Charges may include incitement to riot, vandalism, theft, assault, reckless driving, unlawful assembly, conspiracy or other applicable offenses.
They also warned that juveniles would not be exempt from punishment, and parents or guardians may also be liable for damages caused by their child’s actions.
The HBPD Special Investigations Bureau has already identified individuals believed to be involved in organizing and promoting the event, according to police.
If you have information regarding this event, you are urged to contact Huntington PD’s Special Investigations Bureau at 714-536-5991.
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