In talking with a certain city staffer today, it appears the fire department is investigating the idea of charging "non-residents", and maybe even local residents, a fee for each LFD response to an vehicle accident or other emergency.
We already pay an extra fee for ambulance service that is provided by the fire department, and now we may be asked to pay for a fire department response to an auto accident. Most of these fees are covered by a persons health, auto, or home owners insurance. The plan is to charge those with insurance for responses.
I was told that the idea that non-residents may be charged for accidents that occur in the Laredo city limits. I did not ask about a potential fee structure, as the LFD appears to be in the very early stages of studying this idea. But the staffer stated over and over that the fee would be paid by insurance carriers and not the victim. I of course disputed that by saying that insurance rates at some point would have to increase to cover the new cost.
There are many municipalities that collect fees for fire department, and some police, responses to accidents, and other "emergency calls." These fee collections have been deemed legal if the state has statutory provisions that allow them. Apparently Texas has such a statute. I have yet to read it.
So my friends, it is your turn to start the discussions.
Some of my worries:
a. we already pay for this service, and if we charge our insurance rates could go up, even if we are not at fault.
b. if only the person at fault is to be charged, who is going to determine who is at fault, and how many more court cases will flood the dockets?
c. how will this affect international travelers from Mexico?
d. at first accidents, then where does the fee charging lead to, suspicious persons calls, house and car fires, grass fires?
e. will the "new revenue" be used to reduce taxes that we already pay for these services?
What say you?
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