Bob De Cosmo, President, CTPOA Inc.

OPENING A CAN OF WORMS

 

 Recapping the 911 Hot Spot Fee

 

When the CT Property Owners Alliance learned New Britain was planning to charge fees for calls and responses to the 911-Emergency Network we where infuriated. After all, these services are already paid by property taxes and charging fees raises a constitutional issue of "Double-taxation." Despite overwhelming public objection to their proposal, the New Britain Hot Spot Ordinance passed their Common Council and became law late last year.

 

Shortly after its passage, some well-trusted Attorneys contacted me and mentioned bringing a lawsuit against the city because 911-calls are a protected form of speech under our First Amendment Rights and guaranteed by the U.S. constitution.

 

At the start of the 2013 General Assembly Session, two State Representatives proposed separate Bills to do away with these 911-fees. Representative Larry Butler of Waterbury and Representative Robert Sampson of Wolcott had the decency to step up to the plate and defend the public's safety by proposing legislation that would repeal the Hot Spot Ordinance.

 

Now with just 3 weeks remaining in the General Assembly session, the effectiveness and fate of House Bill #6015 is in question as some groups have objected to the original language in the proposal and a "Work in progress Bill" has now become a daunting task.

 

The CT State Firefighters Association raised concerns that some cities with Volunteer Fire Departments will lose revenue as they do charge for certain emergency responses such as toxic clean-ups at accident scenes. The Insurance Association of Connecticut grew concerned that other cities will begin charging fees for 911-calls and this will raise premiums on polices as owners pass these new costs along as claims.

 

Other groups have also stepped into the mix including the CT Conference of Municipalities who sees future revenue possibilities for cities from 911-fees and the Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut is concerned about inner city residents being negatively impacted by fees associated with 911-calls.

 

Another reason to repeal the "911-Hot Spot fee" is clearly demonstrated in a recent lawsuit filed on April 24, 2013 by the ACLU in the matter of Lakisha Brigs vs. The Borough of Norristown, Pennsylvania, et al.

 

Norristown, Pennsylvania had a 3-strike Nuisance Policy with similar intent to New Britain's Hot Spot ordinance. An individual did not want a 3^rd strike issued on their neighbor who was involved in an alcohol fueled abusive relationship. The Pennsylvania lawsuit resulted after a tenant was brutally stabbed because a neighbor turned a blind eye to the commotion next-door and failed to dial 911.

That unfortunate incident and the resulting lawsuit in Pennsylvania will no doubt repeat itself here in Connecticut if the 911-fees are not repealed. We truly believe people will hesitate to dial 911 not knowing if there is a monetary penalty looming over placing that particular call! 

We request the Connecticut Legislature "PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY," before somebody gets hurt or dies and that is why CTPOA requires a strike-all and substitute amendment for the current Bill File Copy.  

 

To conclude, we are proposing substitute language for HB 6015 to protect the public's safety and prevent other cities from enacting similar 911-laws as a revenue opportunity. Time is short and if we can't get an amendment filed on HB 6015 and move the Bill towards passage this week we'll need to go into a full-scale campaign to repel fees for 911-calls.  

 

Citizens deserve the right to a free 911 Emergency System!

 

Our proposed amendment to HB 6015 follows;

 

 "No municipality may impose a fee, charge, or the pro rata costs thereof on any person based upon the number of requests and responses for emergency services dispatched to a particular property address.     

Nothing in this section prohibits a municipality from assessing a fee or charge for an excessive number of false alarms conveyed to the municipality through a monitored alarm system."

 

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP 

   

Sincerely, 

Bob De Cosmo
President, CTPOA Inc.