Insult to injury? Texas town joins trend of imposing 'crash tax' on accident victims

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Fox News:

Think getting into an auto accident is bad? It's about to get worse. Starting March 1, one Texas town will start charging drivers extra to respond to wrecks.

"That really ticks me," Missouri City resident Meredith Johnson told KENS5.com. "I can't believe that. That's crazy!"

She isn't alone in her frustration.

Cash-strapped municipalities across the country have started charging victims for responding to accidents and other emergencies. Sometimes a person's insurer will pick up the tab, but a growing number are refusing to -- that means on top of paying for vehicle damages and insurance hikes, motorists are now being slapped with thousands of dollars in additional fines.

The fee, known as a "crash tax," covers the costs of first responders that come to the aid in the event of an accident. The tax has been expanded in more than 50 cities in 26 states, but there is a growing backlash against the practice.

In Missouri City, Texas, drivers involved in an accident will be charged up to $2,000 even if they don't call for help. According to Fire Chief Russell Sander, insurance companies will be forced to pony up the cash, not victims.

Ten states so far have agreed that saddling victims with additional fines sends the wrong message and have outlawed it. They include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Bills prohibiting local governments from charging accident response fees have been introduced -- but not yet passed -- in Arizona, California and Michigan, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

Still, there are many other places that continue to tap the misfortunes of drivers to keep their communities from bleeding red ink. In Colorado, a measure that would ban cities from levying the taxes to recoup fire, ambulance and police costs by finding drivers at fault for accidents has made steady gains among state lawmakers in the House but has run into opposition with Democrats.

A crash tax was implemented in Fraser, Mich., in 2011. City manager Richard Haberman told The Associated Press the intent wasn't to gouge residents.

"We're just trying to cover costs," Haberman said.

________

 

Tar and feathers can cost less...

[Valin]

Fox News:

Think getting into an auto accident is bad? It's about to get worse. Starting March 1, one Texas town will start charging drivers extra to respond to wrecks.

"That really ticks me," Missouri City resident Meredith Johnson told KENS5.com. "I can't believe that. That's crazy!"

She isn't alone in her frustration.

Cash-strapped municipalities across the country have started charging victims for responding to accidents and other emergencies. Sometimes a person's insurer will pick up the tab, but a growing number are refusing to -- that means on top of paying for vehicle damages and insurance hikes, motorists are now being slapped with thousands of dollars in additional fines.

 

I can see defense attorneys smiling.