Pennsylvania vehicle owners might want to start making donations to their local fire departments -- unless they'd rather be billed by their municipalities after a car accident.
State Rep. Scott Boyd, R-Lancaster County, proposed a bill last month which would allow municipalities to charge car owners involved in accidents that require clean up, such as those that shattered glass, unless they can show a history of contributions to their local fire company.
"I would rather see people encouraged to contribute to their local fire companies before we issue a tax locally or statewide," Boyd said.
Under the proposed legislation, a car owner in an accident who requires help from a municipal or volunteer emergency service could be billed by the municipality, Boyd said.
In some areas, Boyd said, local volunteer services spend more time and take more calls for vehicle accidents than house fires, so the bill is a way to help volunteers recoup some of their expenses.
James Hammond, assistant chief of Citizen's Hook and Ladder Fire Co. No. 1 just northeast of State College in Milesburg, said the bill could help his company, which doesn't get much resident support.
"It ain't cheap," Hammond said.
Hammond said his department sends out donation letters every year and only about 30 percent of the residents respond with money.
Taylor De Maio (sophomore-education) said the bill is unfair because students don't have additional funds to make donations.
"We don't have loose change," De Maio said.
Although some students said they wouldn't be able to afford the expenses, Boyd said if a car owner could show proof that they have been donating to their local fire company, they won't be charged.
"And you wouldn't be subject to the bill if you make donations to your local fire department," Boyd said.
De Maio said if the bill is passed, she would probably begin to make donations because it would be helping the fire companies directly.
"It seems like they're forcing us," she said, "but it would be more of a sense of community service, giving to the department."
