AccidentTax.com is a Web site opposed to the practice of municipalities charging accident response fees when police or fire department personnel respond to a traffic accident. The role of the police and fire department should be to serve and protect not serve and collect. An additional fee for emergency services creates a hidden tax - we call it the "Accident Tax." 

Chicago Suburb Imposes Crash Tax on Visitors
Flossmoor is the latest Chicago suburb to levy accident response fees.  This controversial action is also very unpopular according to a FOX Chicago TV viewer poll. Bob Passmore of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America says that charging a crash tax isn't very inviting to people who want to come and do business in your town.  More>>   

Concerns about Accident Response Fees Discussed on Los Angeles Radio Station
The highly-rated Los Angeles talk radio station KFI-AM interviewed Association of California Insurance Companies President Sam Sorich who put a spotlight on the problems and unfairness of accident taxes, also know as crash taxes.  The hosts on the John and Ken Show expressed outrage and called these fees double taxation. More>> 

Communities around the San Francisco Bay Area Consider the Accident Tax
KPIX-TV in San Francisco reports that many California drivers may soon pay an accident response fee.  Many local governments in California are looking to increase revenues by billing out-of-towners if they are unfortunate enough to have an accident while visiting, shopping or just passing through.  More>>

Check out http://www.calcrashtax.com/ for more information

Janesville Hits Non-residents with Accident Response Fee
Resdients of Janesville dodged a bullet but visitors beware -- they could face accident response fees totaling $400 to $500 under an ordinance adopted by the city council.  A recent web poll conducted by the Janesville Gazette shows that 75 percent oppose the idea. More>>

Lookout Shelbyville, KY - The Accident Tax May be Coming to You
The Shelbyville City Council is considering a new ordinance that would allow the city to charge accident response fees.  However, officials in Erlanger, KY said their accident response fee policy became "a public relations nightmare" and didn't bring in as much as originally projected.  Erlanger stopped billing drivers in August of 2009.  We hope Shelbyville doesn't start.

PCI Publishes White Paper on Accident Response Fees
To help educate policymakers, consumers, the media and other interested parties the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America issued a white paper "Accident Response Fees: Say "No" to Double Taxation and Higher Insurance Premiums".

This paper provides an overview of key issues in the debate regarding accident response fees.  It also provides background on why this issue has developed and answers many of the questions at the heart of the controversy.

Budget Crunches Lead to "Back Door Accident Taxes
To offset declining governmental budgets, some local communities are seeking to build new revenue streams by instituting accident response fees that charged when police or fire fighters respond to a traffic accident. However, public safety is a basic role of government paid for by property and other local taxes. 

In those communities where accident response fees are charged, it is unwise public policy to require additional funding for first-responders when the public is already paying for these services.  Since local municipalities calculate their tax structure based on the services provided, adding charge backs as a source of revenue is a form of double taxation.  In other words, the accident response fees levied by local governments on their constituents amount to nothing more than redundant "back door" taxes. 

In the Media provides information about recent developments around the country. 

PCI Video on the Accident Tax
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America produced a video discussing the accident tax issue in Florida and California. More >> 

CNN Reports: Victims Billed for Accidents
CNN's Gerri Willis zeros in on the "crash tax" during a report that aired June 19 and says drivers should beware.  However, in the report she notes that drivers are getting even and states are banning the practice.  More>>   

Help us warn other drivers by spreading the word about these fees. Sign up to help fight the Accident Tax!

The Fight Continues...
Across the country an increasing number of local governments are considering ordinances that allow them to TAX you indirectly by billing insurance companies when the police or fire departments respond to motor vehicle accidents.

ISN'T THAT WHAT TAXES ARE FOR?
Yeah, we thought so too.  But some local officials see this as an opportunity to increase revenues without formally raising taxes.  This could result in you being charged a second time for police or fire department services that already are covered through your state and local taxes.

STOP HIDDEN, DOUBLE TAXATION...FIGHT ACCIDENT RESPONSE FEES!
If local officials in your area are considering an "accident tax" you can help you fight back and persuade them not to pursue this bad idea.