Today's front-page article, "Who should pay for this?" addresses how some San Joaquin Valley fire departments are considering a new way to raise revenues -- by billing people who need help after car crashes and other emergencies.
Nationally, the cost-recovery proposal is getting heat from auto insurers, who say their customers shouldn't have to pay twice -- through their insurance premiums and their property taxes -- for emergency services.
What do you think of this practice? Is it a legitimate way for agencies to recoup costs?
I can understand billing someone if the emergency call was needed because of that person's stupidity or illegal act. But routinely billing accident or fire victims is just plain wrong. That's what we pay taxes for. If the taxes aren't enough to cover emergency response, they should be raised for that purpose. People who are injured in accidents or lost their homes due to fire have enough of a burden to bear.
This idea is unbelievable. Quite frankly I am offended. You can pay a bully to not beat you up or you can pay the fire department to not let you die. It feels the same to me. Callous... Why do we pay taxes? Why do we fund vehicles for our legislators but can't use that money for public safety instead? I'm appalled!!! This is such a slap in the face! You pay your taxes, pay your insurance and they'll still charge you. *#11@@#!! they will.
I apologize for the rant but I am literally livid with our government putting us in the position that ideas like this even see the light of day.
So do you ask the victim if they are willing to pay before you use the jaws of life to get them out or after? If we choose to go it alone, then do we have to pay the taxes that support the fire department? If my neighbor's house in on fire but it lights mine, does the bill go to them or me? If six fire fighters come out but I can only afford four, which ones have to go home? Do I get to choose? If I'm going to die I want CPR by the cute one! Do I get a discount if I die later or my house burns to the ground even though they tried to save it? Assnine!!! (Did I spell that right?)
I am going to go count to ten now... maybe 100.. or so.
I've been driving since '69 and have never been in an accident. If the people who get in accidents were not allowed to drive, this thing would take care of itself. The GNP benifits from collisions, and that's the bottom line. I agree with the proposition.
It is always a little sad when people of driving betray their own.
You are entitled to your opinionns but I feel your comments have no merit. I also started driving in 69 and have been involved in eight accidents, none of them my fault. If a person has been driving safely for twenty years and makes a mistake, you honestly feel he should lose his license? Your comment that people are allowed to continue driving after an accident to help our GNP is just plain foolish.
Bart...that's a classic!!!!! LOL!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it Bill. I was in the process of responding to his earlier ambiguous pile garbage when this piece floated by right in front of me.
I have been slammed into 3 times while stopped or nearly stopped and thankfully did not have any serious injuries. If you think its even possible to keep people that cause accidents off the road more power to you but one should not lose ones license because they were in an accident. I don't know how you have not had any accidents with so many bright people on the road drinking, talking on phones and speeding.
This is part of that whole issue of how much socialization of services do we allow before we call it "Socialism". In the bad old days of Fire history, Fire Companies were organized and charged dues and subscriptions to property owners. Competing companies, disputes over payment/non payment, and jurisdiction pretty much killed the concept. There are subscription ambulance services in the US with non payers responsible for a higher rate. The Fire Depts. that have tried to raise funds from transport of patients have faced formidable challenges in their own local governments because any funds collected usually go to the general fund, and the dept. has to fight to get them back. I'd say, charging for a response would be double taxation, and the smartest thing to do would be to fund the service at rational levels... not wishful thinking funding cuts. It would get pretty complicated to break down all government spending and have specific taxes for each project, but it is very hard to hold the line on something you're unaware of.
Foolish?...how else can you explain handing the keys to a 2 ton automobile to a teenager?...that accidents are good for the GNP, is just a fiscal reality, and ask any insurance company; children are dangerous drivers, yet they are happy to insure them....BTW the kid at my gym got in 4 accidents last month,...she claims that none of them were her fault...I think she's either a terrible driver, or an extraordinary statistical anomaly. My father, who was an insurance adjuster, drove for 62 years without a collision, with a million miles between us, how lucky is that?
"car crashes and OTHER EMERGENCIES"... Paramedics are part of the fire department. This isn't just about bad driving. Heart attacks, stabbings, premature births, house fires, arson, hit-and-runs, etc. are all included in this idea. Oh and don't forget... kittens up trees.
I've been driving for over 30 years, and have been involved in two accidents. In the first one I was stopped behind a line of cars (someone up ahead was making a right turn). The guy behind me didn't stop. The second one I was hit from the side by guy who failed to stop for a red light (the two lanes of traffic beside him had already stopped, but he wasn't paying attention).
I guess, according to Osage Orange I shouldn't be allowed to drive anymore. Yet people accuse him of being a "liberal"?
Your wording implied that those with bad records were continued to allow to drive because the accidents helped the GNP. As far as kids some have accidents, some don't. They are licensed by the state and cannot be refused insurance. If they develop a bad record they pay more, can be cancelled, or the DMV and take their license. I commend you and your father on your driving records
I once bumped into the back courier truck. The driver jumped out to lie in the shade on his back and moan. The responding CHP officer stood there a watched for a few seconds then askd him about the containers in the box of his vehicle. The driver popped up like a piece of toast to attend to his cargo, the ashes of clients.
By the way OO, a million miles is definitely a safe distance. What does the carbon footprint on that look like?
"...palatial fire stations more than likely play a major roll in the large deficit budgets....picking our pockets isn't the answer to fiscal irresponsibility of the districts."
That was the response of a former Clovis resident who recently saw chateau firehouse on Pollasky Ave in Clovis.