Automobile Extrication Charges

WHEREAS automobile extrication is a specialized, essential service and each year BC fire departments carry out at least 3,400 auto extrications with no mechanism in place to compensate the municipally funded Fire Departments providing this critical service; AND WHEREAS in 2003 the Insurance Corporation of BC halted the payment of invoices for vehicle extrications, resulting in BC Municipalities being forced to absorb the full cost of auto extrications, conservatively estimated at 1.7 million per year: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities encourage the provincial government to amend the Insurance Motor Vehicle Act to add Fire Department charges to the Basic Autoplan coverage that is mandatory for all motorists in the Province of British Columbia, and which already pays for post-accident ambulance and towing fees - thereby ensuring that essential auto extrication services provided by BCs Fire Departments are adequately and rightfully funded by those who use them.