Riviera Beach moves toward charging drivers responsible for car accidents
Jan 8, 2009
Palm Beach Post--January 07, 2009
By WILLIE HOWARD
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
RIVIERA BEACH – Drivers at fault in car wrecks will pay a $154 vehicle accident investigation fee to the Riviera Beach Police Department under an ordinance passed on first reading by a 4-1 vote of the city council tonight.
The police department estimates it will collect $100,000 annually through the fee, which in most cases will be paid by insurance companies.
Councilman Shelby Lowe cast the dissenting vote, saying the accident investigation fee should be better explained by city staff. A detailed policy is expected to be presented to the council before the ordinance is considered on second reading.
As proposed, Cost Recovery Corp. will handle collections of the fees and will take 10 percent for that service.
In cases where insurance companies refuse to pay the fee, the city plans to bill non-residents who are at fault in crashes but not city residents.