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FDNY To Charge Drivers For Emergency Respose


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9:47 AM

FDNY To Charge Drivers For Emergency Response

 

By: NY1 News

 

The cash-strapped city is set to become one of a growing number of cities implementing a so-called "crash tax" or "accident tax".

 

Under the proposal:

• $365.00 for responding to a crash without injuries

• $415.00 to put out a car fire with no injuries

• $490.00 for responding to a crash with injuries or to put out a car fire with injuries.

 

A FDNY spokesman says the move is designed to relieve pressure on the taxpayer by charging those who are at fault and their insurance companies.

 

Story and video from NY1: http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/130395/fdny-to-charge-drivers-for-emergency-response

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This isn't a bad idea except that... at accidents it's not always the driver that call for a bus to respond, many times it's a passer by. I would like to see the details on this as to how they deterimine who pays what, but this is just the same as when people get billed for taking a bus ride to the emergency room.

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So lemme get this straight:

 

If I crash into somebody and my car still works but the other person may be dead, it'll cost me $490 to call somebody to help the possibly dead / dying guy?

 

That's the most disgusting policy I've ever heard of. So if some schmuck knocks me unconscious in my car, he can just drive away and let me bleed out to save himself money.

 

What half-brained imbecile thought of charging to help the injured?

 

This is why we need to raise taxes, so we can fund our city and policies like this are unnecessary.

 

You do know that you do get a bill from the city if you use EMS? This is just the same except it gets paid to the FDNY, not EMS.

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Right, it's around $500 per ride. There's a difference though, FDNY are first responders whereas EMS are there to help you and potentially perform necessary medical procedures. The key word is INJURY. Now you're looking at a $350 bill for calling for help as opposed to the previous bill for actual help after an injury. The new policy is an incentive to not call for help, which is grotesque. Cost of an ambulance ride is part of a hospital bill, imo.

 

EMS are trained first responders too and they are dispatched to calls like this automatically. Also, a bus ride can cost well over $1000 even with minor injuries. If anything, people should not be calling 911 for accidents as much as they already do. Many times the FDNY responds to fender benders were there are no injuries and it is a total waste of money.

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True, EMS are also trained for this, but obviously FDNY arrive first and make the first judgement regarding medical treatment, etc. [Full disclosure: the details of this are not my forté, but I do have a basic of idea of the logistics.] $1000 is a bit steep, no? 4 miles + minor injuries ~ $600, no?

 

Anyway, you're certainly right that 911 is called too much, but these charges are simply too steep. There's protecting the taxpayer, and there's protecting the individual. When we put so much effort into giving the taxpayer bang for his buck that the average man sees a reduced level of protection and service (in this case, a cost for a former service), that's a problem. And with this policy, that's what happens. Better to play it safe than sorry.

 

Depending on the location, EMS often responds first in Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn followed by NYPD, then FDNY. This policy has been used before by many towns and small municipalities around the country. If anything, this would increase the level of protection provided by the FDNY since they won't be sent out on BS calls. If anything, FDNY should only be responding to car fires. For pin job, roll overs and extrication s, ESU is more then qualified to handle those jobs and they can do so for less money. When an engine leaves it's house it carries about 6 fire fighters and usually 2 or 3 trucks go to an accident and it takes all of them to do the work. On the other hand, 1 ESU truck can respond and take action with only 2 to 4 officers on scene.

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9:47 AM

FDNY To Charge Drivers For Emergency Response

 

By: NY1 News

 

The cash-strapped city is set to become one of a growing number of cities implementing a so-called "crash tax" or "accident tax".

 

Under the proposal:

• $365.00 for responding to a crash without injuries

• $415.00 to put out a car fire with no injuries

• $490.00 for responding to a crash with injuries or to put out a car fire with injuries.

 

A FDNY spokesman says the move is designed to relieve pressure on the taxpayer by charging those who are at fault and their insurance companies.

 

Story and video from NY1: http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/130395/fdny-to-charge-drivers-for-emergency-response

 

In bold, I am curious to what that means. Does this means the drivers who are in the accident? Does it mean the driver who cause the accident? We have no-fault accident in NYS, which skyrockets our rate (now we are 3rd in nation behind Louisiana, and NJ. Only time we have fault here, is a rear end collision.........

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When an engine leaves it's house it carries about 6 fire fighters and usually 2 or 3 trucks go to an accident and it takes all of them to do the work.

 

Haha. It's the unwritten rule that an FDNY presence must consist of at least 50 hoseheads.

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9:47 AM

FDNY To Charge Drivers For Emergency Response

 

By: NY1 News

 

The cash-strapped city is set to become one of a growing number of cities implementing a so-called "crash tax" or "accident tax".

 

Under the proposal:

• $365.00 for responding to a crash without injuries

• $415.00 to put out a car fire with no injuries

• $490.00 for responding to a crash with injuries or to put out a car fire with injuries.

 

A FDNY spokesman says the move is designed to relieve pressure on the taxpayer by charging those who are at fault and their insurance companies.

 

Story and video from NY1: http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/130395/fdny-to-charge-drivers-for-emergency-response

 

Toronto does the same thing

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I'll walk to the hospital with my broken leg, thank you.

 

I can also tell you where they can shove this "crash charge"

 

Hell yeah, you have to pay for accident.. Smh. No way!

 

Besides, what if it was a bike that hits a car parked with people inside, i wonder if charges would occur, even tho no one will get hurt except the cyclist.

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