Fire Dept won't put out fire for $75?

[Icarus]

<p>

What do you mean? They are effectively private contractors outside their own jurisdiction (as determined by taxed boundaries).

</p>

<p>I’m saying within their taxed boundaries - if the argument is that fire service is only due if someone has actually paid for it, why doesn’t LAFD check with the CA FTB (for Nrdsb, thats the CA Franchise Tax Board) and LA County Assessor’s Office to see if someone has paid their taxes before responding?</p>

<p>I’m saying its a ridiculous argument.</p>

<p>And for the record, they aren’t equivalent to private contractors outside their jurisdiction. See my example about a police officer outside his/her city.</p>

[tetrahedr0n]

<p>

I’m saying within their taxed boundaries - if the argument is that fire service is only due if someone has actually paid for it, why doesn’t LAFD check with the CA FTB (for Nrdsb, thats the CA Franchise Tax Board) and LA County Assessor’s Office to see if someone has paid their taxes before responding?

</p>

<p>Because the budget for the fire department is the same whether or not some particular individual has paid their taxes?</p>

[younghoss]

<p>I agree with goaliedad in post 5 on the issue of : “but I’ll pay the fee now!”.
No that doesn’t hold water. You can’t call an insurance agent from the scene of a car accident to get insurance. A shoplifter cannot say “but I’ll pay now” once he is caught with the goods outside the store.</p>

<p>Not commenting on the right or wrong of the policy in general, or the conduct of the firefighters- only commenting on the one small aspect of this incident. Offering to pay for fire protection after the fire has begun is too late imo.</p>

[Nrdsb4]

<p>Whether or not we feel this policy is right or wrong, ethical or no, it appears to be quite legal. And the residents have the ability to change it if they so desire by using their votes and putting pressure on their elected officials to remedy this situation.</p>

[Mr_Payne]

<p>

I’m saying within their taxed boundaries - if the argument is that fire service is only due if someone has actually paid for it, why doesn’t LAFD check with the CA FTB (for Nrdsb, thats the CA Franchise Tax Board) and LA County Assessor’s Office to see if someone has paid their taxes before responding?

Because it’s assumed that everything within their taxed boundaries is their jurisdiction. Not that big of a surprise.</p>

<p>

I’m saying its a ridiculous argument.

I don’t agree.</p>

<p>

And for the record, they aren’t equivalent to private contractors outside their jurisdiction. See my example about a police officer outside his/her city.

In major metro areas with adequate coverage police officers really don’t have any power outside their jurisdiction.</p>

<p>I don’t know how it works in pay-for-service situations like this in rural areas.</p>