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House bans local 'crash taxes,' bars state agencies from charging emergency-response fees
Summary
The House passed Senate Bill 60 to prohibit municipalities and state agencies from charging motorists 'crash taxes' for emergency response; sponsors said fees that exceed actual costs are unfair, and the bill passed 68–2 and returns to the Senate.
The Utah House on Feb. 29 approved Senate Bill 60, a measure that bars municipalities and state agencies, including the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and Utah Highway Patrol, from charging motorists one-time ‘‘crash tax’’ fees for emergency response. Representative Hughes, the House sponsor, said the bill seeks to prevent local jurisdictions from imposing fees ‘‘above and beyond the costs that taxpayers already pay for public safety.’’
Hughes told members the bill does not prevent legitimate charges for treatment, transportation, repairs to public property, cleanup materials or towing, but it prevents charging simply for the act of responding to a crash. He said neither UDOT nor the Utah Highway Patrol opposed the bill because the ‘‘crash tax’’ is not currently used in Utah.
Several members described constituent cases they said illustrated the problem. Representative Ray said constituents faced ambulance and non-transport fees ranging ‘‘$300, $500, $700’’ charged back to individuals, including one bill for $350 for a non-transport blood-pressure check.
Supporters argued the bill protects motorists from fees that can attach after routine incidents. Representative Hughes waived summation; the House opened and closed voting and passed SB60 68–2. The bill was signed by the speaker pro tem and returned to the Senate for the president’s signature.
