Town in Texas charging $55 per 911 call

**dlclarkii** · February 19th, 2009, 07:23 PM

WTF?

So if you're being robbed and only have $40, I guess it's not worth calling 911, lol. I had to call 911 5 times last year because my father was ill and I thought the ambulance was expensive everytime, wow.

Need CPR? Better hope your wallet's full. City officials in Castle Hills, Texas, voted this week to charge residents a fee for 911 calls they make in emergency situations, KENS-5 San Antonio reports. Each resident is allowed one 911 call per year under the new law. After that, it'll cost $55 each time you dial. The new charge -- called the "First Responder's Fee" is designed to help the city cover the cost of emergency response teams, KENS-5 said. The city budgeted a mere $215,000 for EMS services for the year. The First Responder's Fee does not apply if residents are calling to report an active fire or to request police help -- so if you're being robbed, dial away.

**1861** · February 19th, 2009, 08:27 PM

If you are having a heart attack tell them to send ambulance & police .That way you should be covered .

**Morel42** · February 19th, 2009, 08:34 PM

Wow..

Thats just wow..

If they're short on cash, find it someplace else...

**customloaded** · February 19th, 2009, 09:23 PM

Personally, I've always thought that those people who use/abuse police, fire, and EMS should be billed for the service. Why should every pay for said service when the Courts have ruled none of them have a duty to protect an individual. So, those who need police for domestic stuff or repeat ambulance riders etc...pay the price. Sounds good to me.