Jan. 6 — Detroit mayoral candidate and Eastern Michigan Univerisity alum Freman Hendrix said Tuesday he would file a class-action lawsuit against insurance companies if they refuse to lower automotive insurance premiums for constituents.

"I advocate exercising any and all options to bring some relief to the insurance rates in this city," he said after his spokesman, Greg Bowens, discussed the position on morning talk radio. "When people literally pack up and leave this city, one of the two or three reasons they always give is their car insurance."

Even rampant automotive crime doesn't add up to what Detroiters pay in premiums, he said. Detroit's automotive rates are the highest in the United States, twice that of No. 2, Philadelphia, he pointed out.

"The city of Detroit was twice as high as the second highest city in America, and there's no reason anyone can give me as to why," he said.

Before resorting to court action, he said, he'd create a community-based safety initiative to reduce crimes like vehicle theft, speeding and accident rates in targeted neighborhoods.

Then, armed with statistics that show Detroiters are taking community action, he said he'd push insurance companies to make rates more comparable to suburban areas.

"That's where the challenge comes in," he said. "We don't believe things are equitable; car insurance rates based on a ZIP code rather than a person's driving habit is unfair. I think looking at a person's credit score as a way to determine their premiums is patently unfair."

He said he does not have a time frame for action if he's elected, just ideas to answer Detroiters' questions about how he'd address vehicle insurance premiums.

"I'm responding to the stress of what Detroiters are bringing to me," he said.