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Gateway to DV

I rarely agree with Mark Smith, but this time he has a valid point about Pahrump missing one of the biggest sales pitches around.

When you shop at stores, mini-marts and such, you rarely see anything about Death Valley. You would expect to find signs, on the main highway, promoting the ease of access from two entrances.

Death Valley shirts, postcards and other items should be easily found for purchase.

I think it is time to stop thinking of Pahrump as a bedroom community to Las Vegas and to try to make it a tourist destination. Death Valley is a world renowned attraction, so it is natural that Pahrump should cash in on the ease of advertising.

How about erecting a billboard coming into Pahrump, or tourist attraction sign beside the road for information for tourists? How about some businesses stocking souvenirs and advertising such?

Time to move forward.

MYRON BISHOP

Auto insurance and credit rating

This letter is in regard to the auto insurance rates charged the good citizens of the state of Nevada and is being sent to all the major elected officers in the state of Nevada.

Are you aware if you have bad credit your auto insurance rates automatically are increased?

Tell me, sir, what does your credit have to do with automobile insurance rates? One of the popular insurance companies did a two-year study and came up with the premise if you fall on bad times you are a bad risk and raise your premiums.

All my life I've had excellent credit. I'm sure that is the case with thousands of people living in Nevada and across the United States who have lost their homes in foreclosure.

After a financial crisis we found we could not maintain the home any longer. I was lucky to have my mortgage bought by a company who understood my situation and let me get out of the loan with a "deed in lieu of a foreclosure. Before this was settled, the mortgage was listed, temporarily, as a foreclosure.

We were told "foreclosure" would be taken off our records. That is what showed up on our credit reports.

When my vehicle insurance came due the insurance company had increased our rates by approximately 30 percent. Reason: bad credit.

Tell me, sir, what does one have to do with the other? I guess it does increase their profit margin.

1. Auto insurance is mandatory in the state of Nevada.

2. The insurance companies demand the premium in advance with no guarantee they won't cancel your policy for some minor infraction.

3. Insurance companies want or need to know how good a driver you are or how bad you are, the DMV has all that information. That's why the laws are so rigid regarding keeping our drivers license current and for the area in which you live. The DMV is very cooperative, as I know you are aware.

4. Now, if you lose your job, lose your home to foreclosure, lose your good credit rating, the insurance company says, "Congratulations, now we are going to raise your auto insurance. They really don't care there just is not enough money to handle another increase.

You know if you have an accident, they raise your premiums. If you have too may infractions or moving violations, they will also raise your premiums. I guess this is understandable and should be expected by the policyholder.

When you fall on bad times due to things beyond your control, such as the foreclosure rate throughout the United States, should the automobile insurance companies be allowed to penalize the policyholder when their credit rating has been caused by something beyond their control?

I would like to see you control insurance companies' invasion of our privacy. North Carolina, California and Alaska have laws prohibiting insurance companies from requesting a credit report when you apply for auto insurance. Oregon allows the insurance company to request credit information, but the customer has the option of not giving them that information.

When I go to buy a house or car, they don't want to know what my driving record is just so they can raise the price of the car or house.

DON MCCULLOUGH

Jail conditions intolerable

Conditions at the Nye County jail in Pahrump, as reported by area news media, are not merely unacceptable, they're intolerable.

Frankly, I find it puzzling that Sheriff DeMeo hasn't moved heaven and earth to correct this critically deficient public safety issue. I'll return to this point momentarily.

From published accounts, I gather in the recent past the Nye County commissioners have made what may be described as half-hearted efforts in providing a confinement facility sufficient to the needs of their jurisdiction. That this situation has been permitted to exist over an extended period speaks volumes concerning the inadequacy of local government administration, policies and procedures, and is an indictment of state oversight.

Lack of funding is cited for Nye County's failure to build and staff a new confinement facility. Perhaps a study was done, which as so often seems to be the case hereabouts, pretty much ended further planning and promulgation.

Much of my experience in law enforcement and corrections was gained in Florida, a region that for multiple reasons has one of the highest internee populations in the country. True, Florida has the necessary tax base to properly support jails in 69 counties, as well as a state prison system, housing inmates numbering in the tens of thousands.

Such volume is by no means something to brag about, but the point is public safety and the administration of justice can't be assigned a secondary role, as they are fundamental to and essential components of modern society.

Certainly, even in the best of times it is difficult to identify sources of revenue. With economic conditions being what they are, the challenge is formidable.

However, our governing body can ill afford to sideline tough problems, which impact virtually every citizen. I dare say in connection with the jail, even one successful civil action against Nye County could exceed the cost of operations for many months -- years perhaps.

Lest anyone, ordinary resident or member of local government, be inclined to shrug and declare in the words of a former president, "Bring it on," the taxpayers of this area could find themselves up the proverbial creek.

As to Sheriff DeMeo's possible options.

Again, referencing Florida, a county sheriff is a "constitutional officer." As such, on those occasions when county government cannot or will not fund portions of the sheriff's budget, which have been deemed critical, that officer has the authority to make a direct appeal to the state legislature for necessary funding.

If this is not the case in Nevada, it would behoove the several sheriffs to seek a statutory amendment. Moreover, regarding jail conditions, one is persuaded Nye County has remained in perpetual violation of state law, which appears to be reason enough for Sheriff DeMeo to bring this matter to the attention of our state attorney general.

Let us hope before the worst happens, responsible authorities will be moved to remedy an egregious deficit in public safety.

RALPH BAZAN

More choices better than too few

The Pahrump Regional Planning Commission shouldn't be interfering with the personal finances of its constituents ("RPC won't ease restrictions on payday loan businesses," May 15).

Commission members fail to realize that when short-term payday lenders close their doors, their customers are often forced to resort to less desirable and more expensive alternatives to make ends meet.

Contrary to the commission's claims, a Dartmouth College study found that a 2007 ban on payday lending in Oregon hurt borrowers who were forced to turn to more expensive alternatives like bounced checks, overdrafts and credit card cash advances.

A New York Times Magazine article last year also noted that payday loans are a valuable financial tool offering easy-to-understand conditions, with "no surprises, no hidden fees" (unlike many banks, which are offering these same kinds of loans but without being demonized by media and political elites).

Borrowers are best served when they have more choices to pick from, not fewer.

TIM MILLER

Center for Consumer Freedom