California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi's proposal tobase rates on a driver's record rather than his or her location ismeeting strong opposition by one insurance broker association inthe state.

The regulations, which have been posted on the CaliforniaDepartment of Insurance's website, do not specifically mention ZIPcodes but instead mandate that no optional rating factor, whichincludes ZIP codes, marital status or persistency (the number ofpolicies a customer has with a carrier), can outweigh the threemain factors for determining rates. The three main factors are aconsumer's driving record, annual number of miles driven and yearsof driving experience. A department spokesman, Norman Williams,acknowledged, however, that the "biggest thing they'll do is affecthow ZIP codes are used in California."

In announcing his intent to introduce the new regulations latelast week, Commissioner Garamendi said the new rules are intendedto fulfill what he believes is the intent of California'sProposition 103, a massive reform proposal approved by voters inthe state in 1988.