Florida, Alabama Eye Ban on Accident Response Fees Collected by Municipalities

It was bad enough when Matthew Norville rear-ended another driver, crushing the front end of his own car. A few weeks later, the Pensacola college student got a $714 bill to cover the cost of the county police and firefighters who responded.

Florida lawmakers are considering a ban on such fees, dubbed “crash taxes” by detractors who say they’re unfair and not always covered by insurance.

Six other states – Arkansas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Tennessee and Georgia – already prohibit them, and Alabama and California may do the same.

“When you have an accident you’re taught to call 911,” said Norville’s mom, Amy. “It never occurred to us that there would be a charge for them.”

A Florida Senate committee unanimously approved the proposed ban recently. A companion bill awaits a vote by the full House, which may not happen until the next session

Republican Sen. Mike Bennett of Bradenton, the bill’s Senate sponsor, said residents already pay property taxes to cover emergency services and shouldn’t face additional fees if they’re in accidents. “We’ve got to stop the madness right now,” he said.

But cash-strapped municipalities in 16 states, including Escambia County, where the Norvilles live, say the fees are necessary because of declining property taxes and tight budgets. In Escambia County, officials decide who is at fault. Then, a schedule of fees is applied; 15 minutes of a firefighter’s time costs $10, while sending a fire engine costs about $600 an hour.