California Capital $500,000 ‘Crash Tax’ Taps Drivers to Fill Gap
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California’s capital city of Sacramento, facing a $35 million deficit, will bill out-of-town drivers whose traffic accidents require rescue crews, the latest U.S. municipality turning to a “crash tax” for revenue.
The fees, ranging from $435 to $2,275 if a helicopter is needed, may generate as much as $500,000 a year, according to city data. The ordinance approved last night by Sacramento’s City Council applies to drivers who don’t live in the city, no matter who’s at fault for the accident.