Budget Crunches Lead to "Back Door Accident Taxes; It's Time to Say No

To offset declining governmental budgets, some local communities are seeking to build new revenue streams by instituting accident response fees that are 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. 

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Emergency response charges amended by Fairbanks City Council
The Fairbanks City Council continues to struggle with trying to figure out how to address its emergency response fee ordinance. According to the Daily News Miner since its inception in 2008 the fee has proved to be wildly unpopular and difficult to enforce. Read More>>

Several West Virginia Fire Companies oppose billing citizens
In response to Mineral County approving fire department billing for services during a structure fire or motor vehicle accident, the following Mineral County fire companies -- Short Gap, Fort Ashby, Ridgeley, Patterson Creek, Wiley Ford, Tri Towns and Elk Garden - are adamantly opposed to the idea of billing citizens for these services. Read More>>

Accident Tax to Hit Visitors in Eugene Oregon
The Eugene City Council recently passed an ordinance that will allow the fire department to bill non-residents involved in traffic accidents that need emergency services.  According to city officials several other cities and jurisdictions in the area already charge similar fees. Read More>>

Three States Enact Crash Tax Bans in 2011; 13 States Overall
This year three states Arizona, Kansas and Utah took positive steps to protect motorists by banning or placing restrictions on local governments charging accident response fees. Now there are a total of 13 states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Utah) that have passed laws or resolutions prohibiting or restricting municipalities from charging accident response fees.

We applaud the governors and lawmakers for responding to the strong public opposition to this new trend of charging accident response fees. Ultimately these fees are a back-door tax that most consumers believe are unnecessary. The crash tax adds insult to injury by victimizing drivers twice - once by being in an unfortunate accident and then again with a fee. Then when you add the potential negative impact on local businesses, charging for emergency services is simply a bad public policy option for local governments.

Fire Chief Magazine Discusses Why Crash Taxes Ultimately are Bad for the Fire Service
A very interesting perspective on Crash Taxes from Fire Chief Magazine.  Jim Spell writing in the Mutual Aid Blog discusses his concerns about accident response fees from the fire service perspective.  Spell recognizes that finances for some municipalities and fire departments may be tight but an accident tax or crash tax may not be in their best long-term interest. "This ‘on-scene service fee' may be the first nail in the public fire-protection coffin," said Spell. Read More>>

Americans Express Strong Opposition to being Charged for Accident Response Services
A new Harris Poll shows 76% of U.S. adults believe their taxes cover the time and services provided by emergency response providers following a traffic accident. As a result, they believe additional accident response fees charged by local governments are not necessary.

According to this survey, only one-third of adults believe charging these fees are appropriate. The opposition to charging these fees grows to 66 percent if it were to lead to an increase in the cost of insurance and 70 percent if only non-residents are charged the fee. The survey also found that charging accident response fees could also have a significant impact on local businesses and tourism, as more than four in ten adults reported they would be reluctant to travel in towns that assess such fees. Read More>>   Survey Findings>>

Did You Know...13 states Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Utah have passed laws or resolutions prohibiting or restricting municipalities from charging accident response fees.

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" or "Crash Tax."