New York state just loves to tell you how to spend your money.

The latest instance in the litany of state legislative pickpocketing is legislation that took effect in August requiring all drivers to carry spousal liability coverage on their vehicles. The additional coverage allows an injured spouse to sue their significant other for damages if their spouse is in an accident while driving negligently. Without spousal liability coverage, an injured spouse can’t sue their significant other and win payment.

Roughly half of the drivers in the state are married. What about the other half who don’t have a spouse to file a lawsuit? What about businesses with commercial policies that also fall under the spousal liability insurance requirement? They still have to pay the increased coverage unless they go through teh process to opt out of the additional coverage. Doing so requires contacting the insurance company and signing a form declaring the policy holder specifically doesn’t want the additional coverage. It’s doable, but should be unnecessary.

The only group in favor of this legislation is trial lawyers who stand to benefit from another way to chase ambulances. And doing so will only increase the cost of coverage further in the future — taking more money out of your pocket.

This bill should be repealed. Drivers who have been paying the additional cost should receive a refund.

And maybe some enterprising insurance company should create an insurance policy to help New Yorkers recover damages from the state’s legislative pickpocketing. That’s a policy everyone could use.