Hell yes - make the criminals pay for the mess, not the law-abiding
taxpayers.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-
flbaccident0804sbaug04,0,7948548.story
Davie, Plantation, Miramar, Southwest Ranches study fees for traffic
accidents
By Jennifer Gollan | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
August 4, 2008
Prepare to pay more if you get into a traffic accident.
Davie this month will likely vote on whether to bill drivers from outside
the town who are cited in collisions requiring the attention of police
and firefighters. Plantation, Miramar and Southwest Ranches are exploring
similar proposals.
Davie and Miramar may charge nonresidents only. Plantation and Southwest
Ranches have not decided who would be subject to the fee.
"There are going to be more user fees to offset the general reduction in
tax revenue," said Phil Rosenberg, Miramar's human resources director.
"This trend is coming to a Florida near you."
Many local governments already charge to trans****t accident victims by
ambulance or helicopter. The new fees would cover the costs of emergency
personnel, equipment and services sent to help at-fault drivers involved
in wrecks.
Davie is considering an average charge of $840. Miramar, Plantation and
Southwest Ranches are sorting out how much to charge, if anything, and
under what cir***stances. In Davie, the proposed fee would offset what
the city typically spends to send public safety workers to accidents,
including the cost of gas, vehicle maintenance and salaries, Assistant
Fire Chief Frank Suriano said. The city has not determined whether to
bill the families of at-fault drivers who are killed in accidents,
Suriano said.
(snip)
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