Pennsylvania has banned municipalities from charging fees fortheir police departments answering calls to automobileaccidents.

The bill, HB131, passed the state Senate Tuesday by a 49-0 vote.The state Assembly passed the legislation in May by a 190-7 vote.Insurers provided strong support for the measure.

Municipalities are still allowed to charge for the reprinting ofaccident reports but cannot charge a fee or seek reimbursement forthe cost of their police departments responding to a motor vehicleaccident.

"Pennsylvania is demonstrating leadership by advancing thislegislation," said Angela Zaydon, regional manager and counsel forProperty Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), in astatement.

She called the practice a form of double taxation because policeservices are paid through local taxes and are not covered byinsurance. The cost was ranging from $100 to as much as $2,100.

Local municipalities, strapped for cash, were using the fees tohelp cover costs, she noted.

In Indiana the state legislature is considering a similar ban.HEA1274 received legislative approval in May, before Pennsylvania'spassage, but the bill was vetoed by Gov. Mitch Daniels.

In Indiana, municipalities' charges can range anywhere from $200to $500.

Jay Kenworthy, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute ofIndiana, said Gov. Daniels' opposition to the bill arises from aprovision that would cap accident report fees at $8.

The state police report fees are $12 and are handled by aprivate vendor. Mr. Kenworthy said the governor has said he feelssuch a cap would not cover the real cost of producing accidentreports.

There are indications, he went on to say, that the legislatureis trying to work out a compromise on that part of the issue.

He said the governor has no opposition to banning municipalitiesfrom charging for accident response.