Would the Preemption of Local Government Crash Tax Affect Traffic Safety in Your Community?

 

Would the Preemption of Local Government Crash Tax Affect Traffic Safety in Your Community?

The imposition of emergency vehicle crash response fees, also known as Crash Tax, has been a recent Florida trend tracked by OrdinanceWatch™. However, on May 1, 2009 the Senate approved Bill 2282 to prohibit charging fees for first-responder services. Will Governor Crist’s signature on this bill affect how fire, police and other rescue services are provided in your community? Proponents of the Crash Tax say it aids in recovering costs for material, equipment and labor for emergency response situations.¹ Others believe that citizens are already paying city and county taxes for these services and additional fees would equate to a tax increase. Should the Legislature be allowed to restrict funding sources for these critical services? If adopted, this bill could weaken the quality and quantity of trained workers in vehicle collision emergencies. Will driving your car or motorcycle become a more prominent safety issue? Would this affect your driving habits?

Brevard County, FL just adopted a resolution to increase EMS Billing Rates. The impact will result in an approximate annual revenue increase of $737,000.²

Madison County, is currently considering adoption of an ordinance to collect fees for emergency response in the County. However, if Crist approves SB 2282, that will preempt the adoption of this or any other County or Municipality mandates for Crash Taxes, effective July 1, 2009.³

Winter Haven in Polk County, FL is already preparing for Crist to sign SB 2282. They just adopted an ordinance to repeal their Vehicle Emergency Response Fee Ordinance that was adopted in June 2008. The City began collecting the fees in July 2008. As of May 2009, they have sent almost 2,000 invoices totaling to $63,169.35. The City will now plan to refund all Vehicle Emergency Service Fees that have been collected since July 2008.⁴

As personal and governmental budgets are tightening in these tough economic times, are increased fees for these services really the right answer to the ongoing funding crisis?  How does a local government ensure that these additional fees are collected?  Winter Haven’s City Commission noted that of the $63,169.35 in invoices sent, only $16,231.19 was actually collected.⁴ Imagine having to swipe your credit card at the scene of a crash or be denied emergency services.  Will this lead to property liens and increased burdens on homeowners.  The Crash Tax seems to raise more questions than provide answers.  What do you think?

The following are issues from the OrdinancWatch™ database relating to Emergency Response Service Fees:

• Bradenton, FL Tables Ordinance Regarding Service Fees for Deployment of Public Safety Services
• Brevard County, FL Adopts Resolution Regarding Increases to EMS Billing Rates
• Winter Haven, FL Adopts Ordinance Affecting Motor Vehicle Crash Emergency Response Service Fees
• Riviera Beach, FL Tables Ordinance to Establish Motor Vehicle Cost Recovery Fee for Costs Incurred by the Police in Responding to Accidents
• Madison County, FL to Continue Discussion of Ordinance to Collect Fees for Emergency Response

^{1. Senate 2282: Relating to emergency vehicle crash response fees.  (2009). Retrieved May 14, 2009, from The Florida Senate Web site: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&Tab=session&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=2606&Chamber=Senate&Year=2009&Title=%2D%3EBill%2520Info%3AS%25202606%2D%3ESession%25202009.}

^{2. “County Board Minutes and Records.” Brevard County Florida. 9 Apr. 2009. 14 May 2009 http://199.241.8.125/index.cfm?FuseAction=MinutesRecords.Home.}

^{3. Madison County Florida. 2007. 14 May 2009 http://www.madisoncountyfl.com/cd-commissioners.aspx?a=viewPost&PostID=2110.}

^{4. “Commission Agenda.” The City of Winter Haven. 11 May 2009. 14 May 2009 http://www.mywinterhaven.com/cc/commission_agenda.htm.}