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City Will NOT Waive Bills For Electrocuted Good Samaritans
Despite public outcry, the city has refused to waive service fees for families of the Good Samaritans, who were electrocuted when they rushed to the scene of a car crash last week.
It seemed earlier this week that city officials were prepared to relent and waive the fees for the paramedics who responded to the scene. But fire officials blamed the city's municipal code, which does not allow automatically exempting good Samaritans or the victims of violent crime, according to City News Service.
Instead of getting the fees waived, City Councilman Paul Krekorian is calling a press conference later today, where he is expected to announce an effort to help raise funds for the family.
"No one who puts themselves in harm's way should have to struggle to pay the bills that accrue as a result of their altruism," Krekorian told CNS.
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Kevin Roderick at LA Observed is disgusted with the way the politics are playing out:
The Los Angeles City Council seems to be able to do anything it wants with city laws and rules, including routinely waiving tens of thousands of dollars in fees for community events such as parades and farmers markets that the local council office likes. But the story being given today is that the LAFD, and by extension I guess the City Council, cannot legally decline to send a bill for paramedic service to the survivors of the Good Samaritans who died at last week's street-racing crash in Valley Village.
[cut]
How about instead of a press conference for the cameras, Krekorian quietly announces that he'll ask the full council to quash the fees — and if the council won't or can't, he could offer to pay the bills out of his office slush fund.
Related:
Sister Of Driver In Valley Village Crash Says Her Brother Blames Himself For Tragedy
Good Samaritans Electrocuted At Valley Village Car Crash ID'd
Motorist Whose Solo Crash Caused 2 Electrocution Deaths Could Be Charged With Reckless Driving
2 Women Fatally Electrocuted Helping Out at Car Crash Scene
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