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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

United Kingdom 
Stupid Motorist Law
Stupid Motorist Law does exist Thumbs Up



Quote:



The “Stupid Motorist Law”, which corresponds to section 28-910 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, states that any motorist who becomes stranded after driving around barricades to enter a flooded stretch of roadway may be charged for the cost of his/her rescue.
The need for the law came from the lack of storm sewers in the deserts of the Southwestern United States, combined with heavy rainfall in the desert, usually associated with the summer monsoon season. This lack of adequate drainage leads to short term flooding. Many desert cities and towns do not use culverts to channel minor washes (also known by the Spanish name arroyos) beneath the roadway. Only major washes and floodplains have bridges over them. Storm drains, when they are present at all, are spaced quite far apart. Consequently, during rain storms, storm runoff flows over the roadway. During severe rain storms, the washes, underpasses, and areas around large storm drains can flow fast and deep enough to pick up an automobile and carry it downstream. During particularly strong floods, one might see a motorist stuck in a middle of a wash, sitting on the roof of a dead car submerged to the windows.[citation needed]
In such cases, if public emergency services (such as a fire department, or paramedics) are called to rescue the motorist and tow the vehicle out of danger, the cost of those services can be billed to the motorist, plus additional liability of up to $2,000.








Brendan
Post #302566 27th Jan 2014 1:10pm
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JWL



Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

England 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Coniston Green
I was allways under the impression that if you called the fire service out and it was a non emergency call then you would be charged for their time and service.
Post #302571 27th Jan 2014 1:32pm
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Dobby



Member Since: 23 May 2012
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 187

Yep, this is true here too. If you drive past a "Road Closed" sign, you can be done by the plod, and if you're stuck in the sk!t because of it, you'll get a recovery bill.
Post #302629 27th Jan 2014 5:41pm
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SailingTom



Member Since: 19 Nov 2013
Location: ESSEX
Posts: 1720

United Kingdom 
Its not always as simple as that in the UK though.
Im a Retained Fire Fighter in my second job and don't think your right on 'non emergency' calls being charged (I always thought it was a myth). I've never heard of a case where the individual has been given the bill (in Essex admittedly)

It does seem to be the case about roads though, but not always.
I live on a small Island in Essex, which aswell as being famous for its oysters is equally so for the Strood (Only access road which gets covered on high tides, so cut off)
Normally A car goes through a month and get stranded, having to be rescued by us, the coast guard or the RNLI.

Its quite a thing in our local papers about the cost as a few have had the assistance despite being advised against going through by the coast guard. (There a blue light service so shutting the road should count as a road closure)
It would seem on the whole your right though as cases are currently being looked at to shut the road 'officially' when the water is over, which hopefully would lead to prosecution/ charging for those that choose to ignore this.

Im always amazed that a lot don't even say thank you and I'd put a lot of money on the ones being assisted by the RNLI not ever making a decent donation! Defender puma dormobile camper
Post #302756 28th Jan 2014 7:09am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17372

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
A "Road Closed" sign is usually, but not always, advisory, and there is no reason in law not to drive past it.
Post #302767 28th Jan 2014 8:24am
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ARC99



Member Since: 19 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1831

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Cairns Blue
If a "stopping up order" is granted to a local Authority they can close a road permanently or on a temporary basis for road works etc.. A police Officer may also close a road for public safety, any other body who stop traffic do so as a polite request.

Road Closed signs provided they are of the prescribed type and size are classes as section 22 road traffic sign and placed in accordance with a L.A. order or be the Police can be enforced. Don't make old people mad.
We don't like being old in the first place,
so it doesn't take much to Censored us off.

Richard
Post #302797 28th Jan 2014 11:36am
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Tiger



Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Wales
Posts: 2265

2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Java Black
Quote:
don't think your right on 'non emergency' calls being charged


Yes, you do Very Happy

Our office got charged, I had to pay the bill.

Our Fire alarm got set off twice accidentally and it was auto linked to the FB (central London, Leicester Sq in fact so a great place to drive an Engine to Confused ) We got a letter saying if they were called out again we would be charged. It was the toaster so we binned and banned the toaster in the office.

About a week later the Fire alarm goes off again, smoke pouring out of the Microwave as one of our socially stupid software developers had tried to toast his croissant in the Microwave.

I rang the FB said please don't turn up, it's not a real fire.

They said "Sorry, got too, you could be an arson type telling not to turn up"

They turned up, we said sorry, developer got a bloody good telling off.

I got an invoice / fine that from memory was about £1500

(may be different for commercial properties connected automatically to FB via smoke alarms)
Post #302809 28th Jan 2014 12:28pm
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SailingTom



Member Since: 19 Nov 2013
Location: ESSEX
Posts: 1720

United Kingdom 
Ah my bad then Laughing
Lots of the different fire services have different setups, so didn't realise that was the case.

I know that Essex Fire and rescue where I work don't charge for call outs, or any false alarms.

Cheers Tom Thumbs Up Defender puma dormobile camper
Post #302812 28th Jan 2014 12:43pm
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jimbob7



Member Since: 06 Jul 2013
Location: uk
Posts: 2055

Tiger wrote:
Quote:
don't think your right on 'non emergency' calls being charged


Yes, you do Very Happy

Our office got charged, I had to pay the bill.

Our Fire alarm got set off twice accidentally and it was auto linked to the FB (central London, Leicester Sq in fact so a great place to drive an Engine to Confused ) We got a letter saying if they were called out again we would be charged. It was the toaster so we binned and banned the toaster in the office.

About a week later the Fire alarm goes off again, smoke pouring out of the Microwave as one of our socially stupid software developers had tried to toast his croissant in the Microwave.

I rang the FB said please don't turn up, it's not a real fire.

They said "Sorry, got too, you could be an arson type telling not to turn up"

They turned up, we said sorry, developer got a bloody good telling off.

I got an invoice / fine that from memory was about £1500

(may be different for commercial properties connected automatically to FB via smoke alarms)




o/t Common practice for fire brigades to charge companies for false call out's,thats generally as far a it goes tho there has been talk of charging a nominal fee for non-emergencies.

b/o/t it's a brave person who say they have never done anything stupid,be careful what you wish for Wink Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5.
Post #302814 28th Jan 2014 12:51pm
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rossy



Member Since: 29 Nov 2010
Location: Co. Roscommon
Posts: 1296

Ireland 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Stornoway Grey
I used to work for a large DIY firm in Romford (near Essex - used to be in it in fact). We had constant problems with our fire alarm resulting in frequent false alarm call outs. Frequent generous donations of suitable stock to the fire service charity raffles avoided fines which would have been around 5k if I remember correctly.
Post #303558 30th Jan 2014 8:35pm
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