Over the last few years municipalities have been introducing "accident response fees" as another means to help finance routine police and fire runs to auto accident scenes, whether someone is injured or not. Just ask Cary Feldman of suburban Chicago, who was billed $200 by the Chicago Heights Fire Department for a very minor accident. Neither party in the accident actually called the department; no one was hurt, nor was any service provided. As Feldman describes it, the fire department came, looked around and left. Yet he was stuck with a bill.

Unfortunately, stories like these are becoming all too common.

In light of the struggling economy, more municipalities are considering accident response fees to address mounting pressure to keep budgets balanced without having to formally increase taxes. Part of the impetus for these fees also stems from certain third-party collection agencies that have encouraged jurisdictions to implement charge-back programs whenever police or fire departments are called to duty.