Comments on: Debate Over Response Fees Ignites Unexpectedly
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By montanabot on 01-12-11 @ 6:24 am
“It’s going on all over the U.S., actually,” Wayne Loeffler, Bigfork fire chief, said. “It’s up to each individual community what they want to do.”
Reply: Have you ever thought people live in Montana so we are not like everyone else in the U.S. = mindless
“If Bigfork firefighters are called to a crash, spend less than an hour at the scene and aren’t required to use any special power tools, the charge will be $500. If firefighters need to use hydraulic tools to extricate a victim, like the Jaws of Life, the fee goes up to $750. If firefighters are on scene for more than an hour, the fee increases to $1,500. If the accident requires special tools, and lasts longer than an hour, the fee is $1,750.”
Reply: This is why I refuse to travel Hwy 35 to Bigfork or travel down Hwy 83. I take Hwy 93 or Hwy 2.
“It’s also a way for tourists, who may not pay taxes in the fire district, to shoulder some of the cost if they cause an accident.”
Reply: Come to Bigfork, MT where we charge you if you cause and accident- which is soley determined by our locals- 5th generation Montanan. Kinda reminds me of the movie “Deliverence”.
Can you here the banjo?
By blood gulch on 01-12-11 @ 9:00 am
@ Montanabot- Please stay where you are!!! Don’t travel to Bigfork!! Or any other town for that matter. You and people like you are part of the problem. You wouldn’t buy anything from our shops or galleries anyway, so what does it matter if you refuse to travel through Bigfork? Good Riddance!! I love your argument “Have you ever thought people live in Montana so we are not like everyone else in the U.S. = mindless”. - Yes, I do hear the BANJO’S - In your backyard, and yes, it does remind me of the movie, Deliverence - I hope your staying away from your grandchildren
By sunrise6 on 01-12-11 @ 9:36 am
What is all the fuss people? We rant and rave about the rising costs of things and the irresponsibility of a lot of drivers, and then when there is a proposal to help both we go ballistic. Not sure where the problem is here - we are just asking those responsible for costs and problems to pay a fair share of the response. It should happen in more places like out of bounds skiers that have to be found, but that is a discussion for another day.
By Another Point of View on 01-12-11 @ 10:05 am
My only question is how do “they” decide who is at fault and therefore who gets the bill?
Sometimes it’s obvious who’s at fault, often times it’s not. Does the fire chief get to decide? Is there an appeal process if you happen to disagree with the decision?
Personally I would rather pay a little more in local taxes to fund the fire department adequately and not have to worry about getting a bill.
By montanabot on 01-12-11 @ 10:17 am
The = sign was to create an accident. It’s a typo on purpose.
OMG I’ve caused and accident and @blood gulch has already determined it was my fault and has charged me with many accusations.
Somebody call the whambulance and send me the bill.
As you see this is a difficult situation for everyone in the name of budget shortfalls.
Make sure Bigfork puts the crash charge information on their tourism brochures next to the shops and galleries.
Rated T for tourism.
By watcher on 01-12-11 @ 2:43 pm
Boy don’t go anywhere.The fire department just got a new tax base.Now this!
By ICallB.S. on 01-12-11 @ 8:27 pm
People without insurance (most of the Flathead valley) who cause a wreck should be forced into slavery at the injured party’s request until the debt is payed. I shall be glad to make the decision as to guilt in each incident (are you listening Barkus?).....
By Firebeam on 01-12-11 @ 9:41 pm
I won’t suggest that any Fire Department is above reproach, but folks, you need to appreciate what a sacrifice volunteer firefighters make on a daily basis. People get all warm and fuzzy about “Make A Difference Day” every year when people take a few hours out of their day to volunteer. Well, for the volunteer firefighter it ought to be called “Make a difference EVERY Day”!!
Unless you can cite specific reasons, you’re just Grinch material if you criticize your local fire department for seeking a few LEGITIMATE dollars to backfill the ever-increasing costs and lost revenues they deal with each year. And yet, with pride, courage and smarts, they get out of bed in the wee hours, or leave the family dinner and show up at your door or your accident and make sure they help you out of your bad day. Most (roughly 75%) do it for free and the ones that collect a paycheck aren’t doing it to get rich!
So before you get all pi$$y about them taking a few dollars, engage your brain before you open that mouth of yours and criticize those that risk their lives to save yours!
By montanabot on 01-13-11 @ 6:07 am
Specific Reasons:
1) Accident response fees are not part of auto insurance coverage.
2) “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”
3) Why communities are lured into these programs
“Some billing fee companies help write the city ordinance that authorizes them, on behalf of your city police or fire department, to bill your insurance company.
Some of these companies have the technology to bill your insurer without your knowledge.
Collection companies don’t usually charge your city directly for this service. Instead, they take a percentage of the fees collected….”
4) “Municipalities that charge for these services are basically asking responsible citizens who carry auto insurance to help pay for budget deficits or provide your community with additional revenue streams without your knowledge or input. Simply put, this is a backdoor tax. It is non-voted and selectively assessed.”
you can find out more here:
http://www.accidentresponsefees.com/
The practice is in question not the department men/women who work or volunteer.
By Roark on 01-13-11 @ 10:22 am
Rehberg’s first problem is accepting the premise that government control of Universities via forced taxpayer financing is moral to begin with.
By Vud on 01-13-11 @ 12:03 pm
It seems if you’re unwilling to raise taxes (heaven forbid!) to cover the cost of a community service, and…
You can’t charge the participants involved in the accident directly for the cost of the service.
What alternatives are left ?
Stop providing the service…
or, since we know government in any form is never the answer…
Privatize the service…thereby IN-creasing the cost of said service by eliminating the use of volunteers and a applying a 15% profit to each and every response.
Just vote to raise the taxes and pay for the needed services!
The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.