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Motor
Vehicle Accident / Fire Response Fee
GENERAL
INFORMATION: In
an effort to offset the continued cost of providing emergency
services the Winter Park City Commission recently (4-1-05)
approved the City's Fee Schedule Ordinance which now includes
a "user fee" when fire rescue units respond to
and take action at the scene of incidents involving motor
vehicles.
RATIONALE:
The
MVA fee is used to offset the "response" to motor
vehicle crashes. Special training and equipment must be
maintained by the fire rescue department to safely and professionally
respond to these special incidents.
In
Winter Park, more than 75% of the individuals involved in
accidents within the city limits are not city residents.
This fact suggests that city residents are shouldering much
of the costs of this service to nonresidents.
At
this time, general fund revenues are used to prepare the
City to respond to these incidents, the MVA user fee is
designed to cover the cost of the response.
FEE
SCHEDULE :
The Motor
Vehicle Crash (MVA) fee is applied to all crashes where
Fire/Rescue units perform service. Each response is evaluated
and placed into one of three response activity categories.
All
charges for MVA responses are made to the "at fault" driver
as determined from law enforcement crash reports. Should
fault not be determined, or when "no-fault" is made, fees
shall be applied and divided by the insurance companies
of all parties involved. Fees will be charged per accident
response no matter the amount or type of vehicles involved.
- Level 1
MVA
Response $435 Emergency response to a motor vehicle crash
where no injuries are found and scene is secured of all
hazardous.
- Level 2
MVA Response $650 All Level 1 MVA response criteria
and service including light victim extrication where hand
tools are used. Patients are transported by ground ambulance
(fee not included).
- Level 3
MVA Response $1,800 All Level 2 MVA response criteria
and service including heavy victim extrication where hydraulic
rescue tools are used. Patients are transported by ground
ambulance (fee not included). An additional fee of $350
will be assessed if patients are transported by air ambulance
when a separate landing zone is established with additional
Fire Rescue resources.
BUDGET
IMPACT: This user fee was initiated in April
2005. In 2004, had such a fee been in place the Fire Rescue
Department could have offset more than $130,000 of operating
budget with such an enterprise fund. These funds when collected
will serve to directly offset the cost of providing specialty
equipment and training to respond to these types of automobile
related events.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
"What
if firefighters respond to an accident where someone else
called for them, and I don't need any services, will I be
billed?"
No:
Insurance will only be billed the appropriate MVA fee if
firefighters actually perform services. We respond to a
number of accidents where persons driving past the scene
will call 9-1-1, when we actually arrive no services are
needed. No services, no bill.
"What
if fault cannot be determined at the time of the accident,
who gets the bill?"
Our
billing agent has been instructed to file claims much as
any other claim to an insurance company, we will bill those
involved and will let the providers divide the fees. We
understand this will happen and will work closely with the
insurance companies to see that the fees are collected fairly.
"Will
I receive a bill for this service at my home?"
No:
Much
like our EMS Patient Transport billing program, initially,
we will only be billing the insurance provider to collect
this user fee. Copies of the bills will be available upon
request. If the responsible party fails to have proper insurance
protection, then the MVA fee will fall to the individual
to pay. Our intention is to work with the insurance companies
to collect the MVA fee.
QUESTIONS
/ COMMENTS: Fees for emergency services have
been a topic of public discussion for many years. In some
areas of the United States fees such as this are widely
used as an acceptable way to pay for the cost involved in
responding to incidents. While taxes pay for our ability
to respond to an incident, these types of user fees are
in place to help cover the cost to respond. As always
we are interested in your comments and questions. Please
feel free to e-mail us at:
Questions?
email us at: info@cityofwinterpark.org
RESEARCH:
A report completed by the University of Iowa outlines
the issues related to Fire and Emergency Services user fees.
We have provided a link at:
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dps/fm/fstb/PDFs/assessingfees.PDF
Last
Updated 9-21-05
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