Fire district mulling plan to charge accident victims for aid cars
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SEATTLE -- The high cost of providing aid cars for accident victims has one local fire district thinking about charging for the service, and that bill could cost accident victims more than $600.
The problems stem from I-90, where car accidents are taking a toll on fire department budgets.
"When we respond to I-90, we take apparatus out of service, we take firefighters out of service," said Rick Gaines, commission chair of Fire District 10. "And yet most of the people passing through haven't been contributing to the support of our fire department."
With that problem in mind, the district had an idea to charge accident victims on I-90 for medical transport. The problem is, attorneys told them they can't do that.
"You cannot discern between I-90 and freeways and surface streets, so it has to be full and that's the sort of way this evolved," Gaines said.
The new idea is to charge every accident victim for an aid car ride, not just on I-90. That means accident victims in every area served by Eastside Fire, including Sammamish, Issaquah and North Bend, would have to pay.
"We would charge a fee, and typically insurance reimburses it and the rest is written off," said Sammamish Mayor Tom O'Dell.
The idea is getting mixed results from residents.
Asked if the idea bothers him, resident John McIntyre said, "No, not really, because I think it's all going to end up on the insurance companies."
Others, such as Dan Wilson, aren't so keen on the plan.
"We pay for it through taxes now, it seems to me it should be just through taxes," Wilson said.
Right now it's just an idea, and the idea has both support and opposition among board members of Eastside Fire and Rescue. Everyone agrees that if was only about I-90 accidents, it would easily pass, but district wide fees might be another story.
The showdown vote is scheduled for October 11, and sources say the vote appears to be 4-4, which would kill the idea for next year.
The problems stem from I-90, where car accidents are taking a toll on fire department budgets.
"When we respond to I-90, we take apparatus out of service, we take firefighters out of service," said Rick Gaines, commission chair of Fire District 10. "And yet most of the people passing through haven't been contributing to the support of our fire department."
With that problem in mind, the district had an idea to charge accident victims on I-90 for medical transport. The problem is, attorneys told them they can't do that.
"You cannot discern between I-90 and freeways and surface streets, so it has to be full and that's the sort of way this evolved," Gaines said.
The new idea is to charge every accident victim for an aid car ride, not just on I-90. That means accident victims in every area served by Eastside Fire, including Sammamish, Issaquah and North Bend, would have to pay.
"We would charge a fee, and typically insurance reimburses it and the rest is written off," said Sammamish Mayor Tom O'Dell.
The idea is getting mixed results from residents.
Asked if the idea bothers him, resident John McIntyre said, "No, not really, because I think it's all going to end up on the insurance companies."
Others, such as Dan Wilson, aren't so keen on the plan.
"We pay for it through taxes now, it seems to me it should be just through taxes," Wilson said.
Right now it's just an idea, and the idea has both support and opposition among board members of Eastside Fire and Rescue. Everyone agrees that if was only about I-90 accidents, it would easily pass, but district wide fees might be another story.
The showdown vote is scheduled for October 11, and sources say the vote appears to be 4-4, which would kill the idea for next year.
you guys are lucky if you get free or even a $600 ambulance ride. our fire departments in our area don't transport so it's $2000 for a private Ambulance ride. and if the ambulance is busy you wait for a paramedic to help you unlike the big fire department that have ems and get to you with in 7 minutes.
Weren't we all told that if we pick it up through our home taxes, it would remain free? WEll, I guess EVERYONE wll be getting a kick back on taxes. You CAN'T have it both ways. We are damn tired of this state taxing us to death and now you want to waltz in and charge us again. NO WAY
This is getting ridiculous. Get transported by ambulance from home in a medical emergency, it's already over $2500. We pay for these things and most vote for the levies. What's next, when I answer your 911 call I get to charge you a consultation and aid fee?
Oh great, I see where this will lead:
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(BUMP)Â "Oops, sorry guy, I hit your bumper."
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"No problem, that dent shouldn't cost much to repair, just give your insurance info and we're cool."
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"Ok, here's my card"
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(Police pull up)Â "UH OH...better get the aid cars out here!"
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"No, seriously, officer, we're fine."
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"Dispatch...better roll TWO aid cars! CHA CHING!"
I have an idea, why don't we just have EVERYONE pay their fair share of taxes (Boeing, you listening?) - if that had been happening all along, we wouldn't BE in this mess.Â
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Charge people for aid cars? Â B.S. stupid plan. What are you going to do, let them lie there if they don't have any money or insurance?
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Please, if you're planning to come back with the typical far right BS about unions, etc., don't bother. I've heard it all and it's all lies, every single piece of it.
@fyrefawx No people won't die they will get the bill.
@fyrefawx and people who rent have to pay for the services since they don't pay property taxes
 @wynooheeman   Oh trust me, they are paying it in their rent.
 @fyrefawx "I've heard it all and it's all lies, every single piece of it." really? really? Public sector unions are bankrupting this country you better believe that.
 @CrankyPanky  @fyrefawxÂ
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Yes.... Really...
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Public Sector unions are bankrupting this country because that's what you've been fed on FOX News.
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It's not in any way, shape or form, due to corrupt individuals, vendors overcharging for products/services, funding mismanagement, incorrectly set taxing levels, obscene bonuses for marginal performance, earmarked funds not being used for their intended purpose, project cost overruns, natural disasters, crumbling infrastructure, escalating crime levels.
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No.. it's none of the above. It's gotta be the unions.
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Please.. do yourself and the rest of us a favor and channel block FOX news.
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Seriously.Â
 @CrankyPanky That's RWNJ bullsh*t and YOU better believe THAT. This country was strongest when the unions were strongest, when people were being paid a living wage with excellent benefits, pensions, etc. The UNIONS did that for us and our country prospered because people were spending instead of just barely surviving like they are now. LOOK IT UP. It's in the records.
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If you believe that union BS the republicons are spewing all over w/the rest of their filth, you are dumber than a box of rocks. Â
I am all for it! If I got in a wreck in another town I should get a bill for services rendered. Unless I can prove I pay my property tax there. There is no free ride some one foots the bill.
No surprise, Government has been doing this at many levels. First we pay taxes for a service, then when we actually use it they charge us again.
If elected officials are unable to effectively manage taxpayer dollars then they should step aside. Rick Gaines, commission chair of Fire District 10 and Sammamish Mayor Tom O'Dell need to get their act together. I say NO to rescue billing, especially in our neighbors and guests time of emergency and need.
I'd pay this if they want to reduce my property tax levy.
Pierce County Fire has been double-dipping like this for years, on ALL aid calls. After a long fight, they finally cancelled the over $800 charges for a ride to the hospital in their aid car. They expect insurance to pay for most of it, but doesn't that make insurance rates go up even higher? It's an out and out scam!
Out of control. Count on me to vote against any future levys if you do. Dodging firemen with boots in intersections is bad enough.
 @Klondiko I love how the firemen with boots is legal and they are causing major traffic backups and it's a safety hazard to boot (pun intended) but they ban panhandlers from simply holding a sign. If that's not discrimination against the poor I don't know what is. Both groups are panhandling, just one is more socially acceptable. Â
Well, all of you guys that live on the eastside no longer have a reason to pay this portion of tax which is included in your water bill.
It costs taxpayers millions when idiots either cause accidents, drunk drivers cause apocalyptic collisions, or crime has to be investigated. The one deemed liable for the accident should have to pay a fee for the aid but not the victim.Â
I'm not understanding why this is such a big deal. If you get a ride you should have to pay. I got a $2000 bill for an ambulance 2 miles up the road. $600 sounds cheap. In California you get a bill in the mail if the fire department even comes to your house to check you out, you don't even have to get a ride. I thought that was ridiculous because that could cost someone their life if they are mulling whether or not to dial 911 because they're having chest pains. Also if someone else calls 911 for you and you still have to pay just because they came out? That's not right. This Eastside plan doesn't seem too unreasonable to me though.   Â
 @FremontTroll WE ALREADY PAY for these services.
@FremontTroll Did AMR give you the ride? I got a ride to Harborview last October by Medic 1 and I never saw a bill
This is shooting themselves in the foot. The next tax vote will crash spectacularly.
Perhaps if you didn't pay fire chiefs $250,000 dollars a year you would have more cash.
Maybe I am misunderstanding this, but would it not make more sense to charge whoever is at fault in an accident? Â If I drive into a tree on my own, sure charge me $600, but if some yahoo plows into me and I have to take an ambulance to the hospital, that person should pay for my ride not me. Â
@The206   I agree and I'm also a bit upset at their attitude that the insurance companies would just pick up the tab. That means increased insurance rates for all of us.Â