Accident Response Fees

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Since it was first implemented last year, Wyoming's (MI) crash tax has been on a collision course with common sense. A blow to business and a "keep out" sign to visitors, the ordinance - which charges those found at fault in automobile wrecks for the cost of responding to accidents - deserves to go.
—Grand Rapids Press, December 22, 2007


Most Ohio insurers don’t cover accident response fees. That’s because accident response fees aren’t usually part of auto insurance coverage. Our findings help city officials determine fee viability as a revenue stream. More say no to fees: Radcliff KY drops its accident fee program. According to TV accounts: “During the first ten months, the program brought in less than $6,900, which is less than city officials say the program costs to set up….” Shawnee OK tabled its proposal, joining Nassau County FL and Gardner MA. Other cities nixing fees include Orange Park FL, Ocean City NJ and Davie FL. Jay Leno lampoons Duluth Minnesota’s accident response fee proposal. See it here. Soon after, Duluth rescinds its proposed fee proposal.
	8 states pass bills to ban fees --’08: 5 states ban accident fees Georgia (SB 348 was signed on May 16 ‘08 effective immediately); Tennessee (HB 2547- Public Chapter No. 651) effective March 28 ‘09; Missouri (SB 66) effective Jan. 1 ‘08; Pennsylvania (HB 131) effective Feb. 18 ‘08 and Indiana’s (SB 81) bill banning police fees became law on July 1 ‘08. --’09: 3 states pass legislation and another passes a statewide resolution ban. 3 others in progress. • Louisiana’s Senate and House unanimously passed HCR 147, directing local governing authorities and emergency service providers to cease the practice of imposing accident response fees. • Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed HB 2013 into law on May 28, effective immediately, banning law enforcement fees for accident response or investigation. • Florida’s bill SB 2282 is on its way to the Governor, effective July 1. • Arkansas passed HB 1895 prohibiting accident response fees. The bill was signed by Gov. Beebe on April 6 ‘09 and is now Arkansas Act 973. • CA introduces fee ban legislation in April. • AL bill SB 546 was introduced in April prohibiting accident response service fees. • IN introduces HB 1447 which included language to regulate volunteer fire dept. fee schedules. The state’s ’08 bill banned police accident response fees.
FACTS ON FEES…Get the facts before you act.

This information is provided to help in understanding Ohio municipal accident response fees that are being considered, proposed and passed by local governments. These are fees charged to insurance companies for police and fire departments responding to auto accidents. Insurance companies and agents across the state recognize the services provided by local law enforcement and fire officials. Their services are crucial to the safety of all Ohioans and are intended to benefit each and every individual in a community, whether they have insurance or not. Placing an additional fee on insurance is not a fair and equal distribution of the cost of these public services.

For more information, contact us at info@accidentresponsefees.com.