Do You Have a Liquor License for Your Business?

We want to alert you to a newly passed piece of Massachusetts legislation that will affect entities that hold a Liquor License. Governor Patrick signed Chapter 116 of the Acts of 2010 into law to be effective August 28, 2010. This law states that all liquor licensees that sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption will be required to provide proof of Liquor Liability Insurance when renewing or applying for a new liquor license. This represents a significant change to the existing insurance requirements for establishments serving liquor.

The new law requires that licensees maintain a liquor liability policy with minimum limits of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence. Whether your business is a restaurant, bar, tavern or fraternal club, we will work to help you make certain that your organization obtains the proper coverage and complies with the new law.

We advise you not to delay in putting this new mandatory coverage into place. Not carrying the required limit could jeopardize your ability to secure and maintain your liquor license. This could subsequently affect your ability to serve your customers.

For more information, please contact your Deland, Gibson agent

Did You Know...You Must Re-Register Your Leased Vehicle in the Event of a Buy-Out?’

We wanted to pass on this important piece of information regarding the registration of leased vehicles that have been 'bought-out' by customers. Several policyholders of Deland, Gibson found out the hard way that failure to immediately re-register a vehicle, which had been previously owned by a leasing company, can result in cancelled license plates. The leasing company has no obligation to maintain the registration, as the vehicle is no longer their responsibility.

Once you successfully purchase your vehicle from the leasing company, remember that the car must be re-registered in your own name. Failure to do so has left some of our insureds with invalid license plates, and, more importantly, many were unknowingly driving in un-registered cars. To make sure your leased vehicle buy-out goes smoothly, please call Deland, Gibson for more information.

Burglars May Target Your Identity

When leaving for vacation, many people make certain that valuables such as jewelry, electronics and cash are protected from home invasion. However, the Insurance Information Institute (III) has issued a warning to homeowners regarding a new item burglars are looking to steal your identity. Before you leave on vacation, Deland, Gibson wants to help protect you and your home from physical and “virtual” break-ins. Once a burglar has entered your home, they can easily find credit card information, social security numbers, and any other confidential documentation they require. Armed with this information, thieves may obtain a credit card in your name, open a phone account, and even rent an apartment. Identity theft affects more than nine million victims annually, and can cause irreparable damage to an individual’s credit record.  Besides the financial hardship caused by identity theft, victims may also be denied loans, or lose out on job opportunities.

Before you leave for vacation, Deland, Gibson recommends the following preventative measures to help safeguard your home: 

• Always keep the interior and exterior of your home well-lit to discourage potential burglars.
  

• Secure your home with additional layers of protection, such as dead-bolt window and door locks.  Besides slowing down a burglar, installing these devices may also qualify you for a policy discount.

• Invest in an alarm that signals an outside service to alert police.  Some systems could result in significant policy discounts.

• Make certain that doors and frames are made of solid hardwood or metal.  It is also important to have garage doors and tool sheds secured as well.

• Remember to turn off your computer before you leave and disconnect from the Internet.  Any personal information stored on the computer must be made difficult to access.

At Deland, Gibson, we want all our clients to enjoy the summer months.  By simply taking a few precautionary steps, you can protect your loved ones, discourage criminals, and avoid a potentially dangerous situation.