Isn't that what tax dollars are for?

This is Jill Reitz (Alex Patterson mother) writing about the “Stow has put a price on police response” article appearing in the Akron Beacon Journal. On Alex's behalf and the rest of our family, we would like to thank you for your interest in this story. Your Web site hits the nail on the head and the public response has been unbelievable!

We thought we were alone in this and (in a sense) fighting an uphill battle until someone gave us your Web site and then WOW - what a difference that made for us to know that we (the people) actually have a voice in this!

But most of all, this whole situation hasn't been about my son. It's been about a matter of principal and for this I am so appreciative for your organization and Web site for allowing us to get the word out. Without your help no one would of been aware of these charges and it would continue until who knows when. Power to the people!

On a personal note, Alex will be starting his senior high school year next week with a lot less pressure on his shoulders. He was really worried and stressed about paying this invoice and trying to come up with the extra money.

Once again we cannot thank you enough for your help.
–Jill Reitz

I am a Vietnam Veteran and a citizen of the United States of American. I am proud of this country of ours. But it hurts me to see the working man in this country pay for everything.

I can understand getting fined for an abuse of service from the city, as an example calling the police for a false alarm or complaining to the police about something over and over when no danger is present. But I am appalled to think that after paying city taxes for services and then having to pay again to receive those services.

The recent article in the Akron Beacon Journal (8-19-2006) was about a man who was involved in a car accident and being charged for the service of a policeman attending the call.

If this doesn’t stop, there will be a lot of accidents that are hit and run. Also isn’t there a law making it illegal to pay twice for the same service? Please don’t disgrace this country on account of greed.
–Chuck Hruby

As a homeowner I don’t feel that they should be able charge for any service that is funded by taxes. Police and fire. They are both funded by taxes.

We pay our taxes for those services then someone's misfortune pays for the service again. This isn’t right. They are getting paid twice for doing what we paid taxes for.

Either they need to stop collecting taxes or stop collecting for the service.
–Jennifer Ellis

Now here's an idea whose time has come.

How about charging folks an accident response fee for ministering to our misery due to said accident? That should get us a spot on some late night funnyman's monologue, no less.

And while we are at it we may ruin someone's credit rating due to nonpayment of fees billed by our emergency response agencies.

Since I am growing older and my hearing isn't what it used to be, I think I'll search for some affordable housing somewhere outside of the city of Toledo. At least, maybe, volunteer emergency response agencies in the outlying areas won't charge me to respond to a possible unfortunate, unexpected or painful event.
–David D. Georgia

As a Toledo resident and an insurance agent, I am concerned about the proposed billing for police services. I think it's important that residents become aware of the potential impact of this hidden tax. If this new measure passes, you will see bills from both police and fire for showing up at your accident, regardless of whether they were dispatched or needed.

I'm not sure how many residents are aware the fire department is currently charging for showing up at an accident. A client recently received an invoice for more than $1,500.

There is also the issue of selective billing (insured versus uninsured drivers). Does the billing company also charge at-fault drivers if they are uninsured? I have heard that only drivers who have auto insurance are billed. That means that insured drivers end up subsidizing those who break the law and don't carry insurance. Currently, there is no provision in an auto insurance policy to cover these charges.

One final point: Regardless of what service on-duty fire or police personnel are providing (fighting fires, filing paperwork, directing traffic, etc.), their salaries are covered by our taxes, specifically the 3/4 percent temporary tax. The bottom line is that Toledo residents should know about the police fee proposal and voice their opinion about it. After all, they already pay for police and fire services and could be faced with paying for them twice through their insurance premiums.
–Sandi Mominnee, Knight Crockett Miller Insurance Group