• SB 49,  Tony Strickland

    California Senator Tony Strickland’s Bill SB 49 Would Prohibit Charging Out of Town Residents for Emergency Response

    Way to go California – tax us twice.

    In more than four dozen cities and counties across California, the question of how much being involved in a car accident will cost motorists depends on more than just the extent of the damages or whether anyone was injured. It also depends on where they live.

    Out-of-towners get billed for the cost of sending firefighters to the scene; for locals, that service is covered as part of the local taxes they pay.

    The fee is levied on out-of-town motorists regardless of who is at fault — even if an out-of-towner is involved in an accident in which a local driver is at fault.

    The trend is being fueled by private collection firms that offer to handle the billing and collection for a percentage of the emergency response fees, and is promoted as a means for cash-strapped local governments to recover some of the costs for services they have traditionally provided as a basic element of public safety.

    Critics call it a “crash tax” — and Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Moorpark, is out to put a stop to it.

    Strickland has introduced legislation, SB 49, that would prohibit local agencies from “charging a fee to any person, regardless of residence, for the expense of an emergency response,” unless drunken driving, gross negligence or intentionally illegal conduct is involved.

    “It’s nothing more than a double tax,” Strickland said, noting that local agencies are always eager to have out-of-towners visit or shop in their jurisdictions so that they can collect sales taxes and hotel bed taxes.

    This legislation needs to pass and pass as an emergency measure so it takes effect when the Governor signs the bill.

    Why?

    I’ll be driving through California on vacation and some truck or car hits me and causes an accident. They, however, live/work in the area and they go after me financially for the Fire Department response to the accident.

    Nice. I get to pay taxes like everyone else to pay into the state, my county, my city. Yet, when I travel outside my cocoon and someone else causes an accident I get stuck with the bill.

    No way.

    Here is the text of the bill:

    BILL NUMBER: SB 49 INTRODUCED BILL

    TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Strickland

    DECEMBER 15, 2010

    An act to add Section 53159.5 to the Government Code, relating to local government.

    LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

    SB 49, as introduced, Strickland. Local government: emergency response: fees.

    Existing law authorizes public agencies, as defined, to hold liable any person who is under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, any drug, or the combination of an alcoholic beverage and any drug, whose negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a boat or vessel, or a civil aircraft caused by that influence proximately causes any incident resulting in an appropriate emergency response, and any person whose intentionally wrongful conduct proximately causes an incident resulting in an appropriate emergency response, for the expense of that emergency response.

    This bill would prohibit a city, including a charter city, county, district, municipal corporation, or public authority from charging a fee to any person, regardless of residency, for the expense of an emergency response, as specified, except where a fee is otherwise authorized.

    The bill would also express a legislative finding and declaration that the availability and use of emergency response resources throughout the state is an issue of statewide concern and not a municipal affair and that, therefore, all cities, including charter cities, would be subject to the provisions of the bill.

    Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 53159.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:

    53159.5. (a) A city, including a charter city, county, district, municipal corporation, or public authority shall not, except as otherwise authorized by law, charge a fee to any person, regardless of residency, for the expense of an emergency response.

    (b) For purposes of this section, emergency response includes, but is not limited to, fire, police, or medical response.

    SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that the availability and use of emergency response resources throughout the state is an issue of statewide concern and not a municipal affair, as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, this act shall apply to all cities, including charter cities.

    Watch the legislative status and the history of the bill here.

  • Audra Strickland,  Joel Angeles,  Tony Strickland

    Updated: Joel Angeles, Chief of Staff for California Assemblywoman Audra Strickland Found NOT Guilty of All Charges

    +++++Update+++++

    Here is an updated news story from the trial.

    Joel Angeles, chief of staff for Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Moorpark, was acquitted Friday of misdemeanor charges that he roughed up three demonstrators outside a June 2008 fundraiser for Strickland’s husband, state Sen. Tony Strickland.

    “I’m very happy,” Angeles, 45, of Sacramento, said after the jury’s verdicts were announced in Ventura County Superior Court. “I just wanted to get a fair shot from the jury, and I believe I did. They weighed the evidence and listened to everything fairly, and I’m just appreciative that they did great work.”

    Angeles said he felt “a big relief” to have the case behind him.

    Audra Strickland, who was in court for the verdicts, said she was “very, very pleased. I knew all along that my chief of staff was innocent, and I’m very pleased that a jury of his peers agreed.”

    Read it all and pay particular attention to the LACK of CREDIBILITY of prosecution witnesses which persuaded the jury to acquitt.

    Joel Angeles, California Assemblywoman Audra Strickland’s Chief of Staff during protests of June 17, 2008. Photo By Flap

    This politically motivated criminal prosecution for battery against Jose “Joel” Angeles who is Assemblywoman Audra Strickland’s, R-Moorpark, Chief of Staff ended with a Ventura County Jury acquitting Angeles of all charges today.

    Flap first wrote about the case almost a year ago.

    Flap was there and wrote this post after the altercation/protests and the fundraising event for Assemblywoman Audra Strickland’s husband, Tony.

    The entire Flap was and continues to be a “He Said, They Said” argument. Flap did not see the supposed “smack down”  but did interview one of the female alleged victims. She did have  scratches on her right arm which she said she received by being pushed  into an adjoining hedge.

    But, the hedge had sharp prongs, the sidewalk was filled with people  and Flap was easily pushed into it and scratched his own arm.

    Ventura County Sheriff officers interviewed all parties and since none of the parties would pursue prosecution or a citizen’s arrest, no arrests were made.

    As I wrote previously:

    Democratic Party activists of Ventura County tried to sink the candidacy of now, newly elected GOP California State Senator Tony Strickland by creating a row out in front of his fundraising event with Mitt Romney. But, it didn’t work and Strickland was elected by a narrow margin in a closely contested race.

    But, this case has dragged on by the outrageous claims of the 69 year old President of the Camarillo Democratic Club and the dogged prosecution by partisan Demcorat Attorney General Jerry Brown’s office.

    This case is going nowhere (unless an outright acquittal or dismissal) and does anyone bet that there will be some sort of plea deal on the courthouse steps?

    If not, the question will be: Why is Jerry Brown, the Democrat Attorney General who will run for Governor in 2010 wasting taxpayers dollars on a politcal prosecution?

    This case was BS and should never have been tried except for the fact that Jerry Brown, the California Attorney General and his minions in the AG’s office are Democratic Party hacks who abuse the law for their own political agendas. Remember when Jerry Brown took the absurd position in the California Proposition 8 case and was virtually laughed out of the California Supreme Court as the moron he is?

    The Ventura County Democrats set this whole FLAP up and tried to defeat California State Senator Tony Strickland with a scandal. Their machinations did not work in the election and they could not fool a Ventura County jury.

    What a waste of taxpayer money.

    This FLAP will rise again when Jerry Brown comes to Ventura County as a candidate for Governor.

    Joel Angeles, Chief of Staff of California Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R- Moorpark talking with a Ventura County Sheriff Officer during protest rally on June 17, 2008. Photo By Flap

    Previous:

    Ventura County Political Fight of Joel Angeles Headed to Court

    Ventura County District Attorney Refers Audra Strickland Aide Case to California Attorney General

    Audra Strickland Watch: Three Protesters File Criminal Complaints Against Chief of Staff Joel Angeles

    Audra Strickland Watch: Chief of Staff Joel Angeles Placed on Leave

    Hannah-Beth Jackson Watch: Blows More Smoke Over Tobacco Company Protest

    Tony Strickland Watch: Taking it to the Streets – Politics That Is


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  • Audra Strickland,  Joel Angeles,  Tony Strickland

    Joel Angeles, Chief of Staff for California Assemblywoman Audra Strickland Found NOT Guilty of All Charges

    Joel Angeles, California Assemblywoman Audra Strickland’s Chief of Staff during protests of June 17, 2008. Photo By Flap

    This politically motivated criminal prosecution for battery against Jose “Joel” Angeles who is Assemblywoman Audra Strickland’s, R-Moorpark, Chief of Staff ended with a Ventura County Jury acquitting Angeles of all charges today.

    Flap first wrote about the case almost a year ago.

    Flap was there and wrote this post after the altercation/protests and the fundraising event for Assemblywoman Audra Strickland’s husband, Tony.

    The entire Flap was and continues to be a “He Said, They Said” argument. Flap did not see the supposed “smack down”  but did interview one of the female alleged victims. She did have  scratches on her right arm which she said she received by being pushed  into an adjoining hedge.

    But, the hedge had sharp prongs, the sidewalk was filled with people  and Flap was easily pushed into it and scratched his own arm.

    Ventura County Sheriff officers interviewed all parties and since none of the parties would pursue prosecution or a citizen’s arrest, no arrests were made.

    As I wrote previously:

    Democratic Party activists of Ventura County tried to sink the candidacy of now, newly elected GOP California State Senator Tony Strickland by creating a row out in front of his fundraising event with Mitt Romney. But, it didn’t work and Strickland was elected by a narrow margin in a closely contested race.

    But, this case has dragged on by the outrageous claims of the 69 year old President of the Camarillo Democratic Club and the dogged prosecution by partisan Demcorat Attorney General Jerry Brown’s office.

    This case is going nowhere (unless an outright acquittal or dismissal) and does anyone bet that there will be some sort of plea deal on the courthouse steps?

    If not, the question will be: Why is Jerry Brown, the Democrat Attorney General who will run for Governor in 2010 wasting taxpayers dollars on a politcal prosecution?

    This case was BS and should never have been tried except for the fact that Jerry Brown, the California Attorney General and his minions in the AG’s office are Democratic Party hacks who abuse the law for their own political agendas. Remember when Jerry Brown took the absurd position in the California Proposition 8 case and was virtually laughed out of the California Supreme Court as the moron he is?

    The Ventura County Democrats set this whole FLAP up and tried to defeat California State Senator Tony Strickland with a scandal. Their machinations did not work in the election and they could not fool a Ventura County jury.

    What a waste of taxpayer money.

    This FLAP will rise again when Jerry Brown comes to Ventura County as a candidate for Governor.

    Joel Angeles, Chief of Staff of California Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R- Moorpark talking with a Ventura County Sheriff Officer during protest rally on June 17, 2008. Photo By Flap

    Previous:

    Ventura County Political Fight of Joel Angeles Headed to Court

    Ventura County District Attorney Refers Audra Strickland Aide Case to California Attorney General

    Audra Strickland Watch: Three Protesters File Criminal Complaints Against Chief of Staff Joel Angeles

    Audra Strickland Watch: Chief of Staff Joel Angeles Placed on Leave

    Hannah-Beth Jackson Watch: Blows More Smoke Over Tobacco Company Protest

    Tony Strickland Watch: Taking it to the Streets – Politics That Is


    Technorati Tags: , ,