Under the bill, the fee would be determined by the level of response necessary. Non-residents would be charged $435 for routine crashes (i.e., fender benders requiring only police response), while a crash requiring hazardous material cleanup or helicopter transport would yield a $2,000 fine.

The city capital approved the tax Tuesday evening, and it will now be forwarded to the full council.

Sacramento Deputy Fire Chief LLoyd Ogan stated the city could recover up to one million dollars each year if they start billing the the non-resident drivers’ insurance companies for the recovery fee.

In some cases, motorists insurance policies would cover the tax, however this is not always the case—leaving some policyholders stuck with the bill.

“It is unfortunate that local governments are adversely affected by the deep recession. But charging accident victims is unwise public policy and unfair,” Sam Sorich, president of the Association of California Insurance Companies said in a statement. Sorich states that as cities continue to implement this tax (several fire departments in California already have such a fee in place) insurance rates will rise, or companies will write in clauses stating they won’t cover the fees.

Woodland, a suburb of Sacramento, is one such community that has instituted a recovery fee. Since June 2009, the Yolo County Grand Jury has raised questions regarding the legality of the tax, and has since found the tax does not appear to be producing its projected revenue.

While Virginia has not yet introduced any such tax, there are still things that drivers should know before speaking with their insurance companies after an accident.

For example, if the fee was assessed in the form of a ticket, and you received one while vacationing in California, would it follow you back home? (The answer is yes, kind of).

Find out the other things you should know, even if you haven’t yet been involved in an accident. Request your free copy of The Virginia Car Accident Guide today.

Preliminary findings show that the throttles were wide open, and brakes weren’t engaged at the time of crash, insiders told the Wall Street Journal. This suggests that some drivers who said their cars surged out of control were actually pressing the accelerator, though their intent was to hit the brakes.

photo via Getty Images

Official findings haven’t yet been released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency received more than 3,000 complaints of sudden acceleration over the past decade. However, because data recorders can lose their information if disconnected from the car’s battery, the agency is focusing only on recent accidents.

Of 75 fatal crashes, the NHTSA has only been able to verify that ONE was caused by a problem in the vehicle. The NHTSA is expected to officially release study findings once a broader report is completed in conjunction with NASA.

“In spite of our investigations, we have not actually been able yet to find a defect” in electronic throttle-control systems, NHTSA’s associate enforcement administrator Daniel Smith told a panel. “We’re bound and determined that if it exists, we’re going to find it. But as yet, we haven’t found it.”

If you are for a moment doubting this is an urban legend, take a time out and click here. It’s one of those things that is a mixture of fact and fiction.

While yes, some states do have emergency “notification numbers” motorists can call, they tend to differ by state. For example, in Virginia, motorists are encouraged to call 911, or #77 to reach the Highway Patrol. Caveat: Virginia borders many different police districts. If you’re in a moving vehicle near state lines, who knows where the cell tower will connect you (though I should note, Maryland uses #77 as well)? This is the reason it’s been drilled into our heads from an early age: 9-1-1 emergency. You should dial 911 first in case of an emergency.

On that note however, some cell phone providers or auto insurance providers do have roadside assistance numbers for non-emergency situations. Contact your provider and store them in your cell phone contacts.

Now, on to the unmarked car. Sure, there have been reports of criminals masquerading as law enforcement. But it’s extremely unlikely. If you are ever truly in doubt, you can call the 911 dispatcher to confirm as you are being pulled over, request to see the officer’s badge and photo ID, or request to be allowed to follow the officer back to the police station. While your safety is certainly a priority, remember to be extremely polite when you communicate these requests to the officer.

Unmarked cars will vary by state and police district. But usually, they will have additional mirrors, as well as extra lights installed. Try looking for antennae and dash-mounted radar equipment, as well.

If there’s one thing you do note, it’s that only police vehicles can use flashing blue lights. So if you see those, it’s time to start slowing down and pulling over.

Typically, the best way to protect your family and guests (and give those EMTs a break on the holiday) is to attend a public fireworks display. Check here for a listing of local pyrotechnic shows.

If you do choose to put on your own display, make sure you a) check out your municipality’s rules regarding fireworks ( they may not be allowed within your city limits) and b) observe the following safety rules.

Kids shouldn’t play with fireworks.
When is the last time you were talking to parents of your kids’ friends and someone said “And then we gave the kids some weapons-grade explosives, and MAN did they have a BLAST.”
Exactly. And if you choose to give them sparklers, make sure they are well-supervised. Sparklers can reach temperatures of 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to melt gold. From the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a Fireworks Safety Quiz.

Buy legal fireworks
“Legal” in this sense means that they have a label with the manufacturer’s name and ignition instructions. Illegal fireworks account for a fair amount of fireworks injuries. On this note, don’t try to make your own fireworks.

Keep water and sand nearby
It’s like keeping a fire extinguisher near the kitchen. You will also want to soak all used fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.

Point fireworks away from homes
…and brush, leaves, and anything else that’s flammable.

Think about your pets
You’ll want to keep track of any outdoor pets to make sure they don’t get in the way of any fireworks, but consider the indoor creatures as well. Animals have very sensitive ears, and can become scared and even attack if they perceive themselves to be in danger. Any animal bites legally need to be reported, and can affect your home insurance rates just as a fireworks mishap could, so be sure you keep the animals away.

Know the first aid basics
There should be a first aid kit in every home anyway, but it’s worth repeating. If someone is injured by a firework, immediately go to a doctor or the hospital.

If it’s an eye injury caused by a firework, don’t allow the victim to touch or rub it, as this could cause more damage. Cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye to protect it from further irritation, and seek medical attention.

If the firework burns someone, remove any fabric (clothing, etc) from the affected area and run cool (NOT COLD) water over it. Get to the doctor.

Fireworks are meant to be fun, and are a traditional part of American celebrations. Enjoy the holiday safely!

When traffic backed up due to another crash on the road ahead, Singh was caught not paying attention, and rear-ended the Honda ahead of him. The car, driven by a pair of brothers in their early twenties from Houston, Texas, was pushed underneath another tractor-trailer by the force of the impact, and all three vehicles caught fire.

On Wednesday June 23, Singh was plead guilty to two counts of reckless driving and was sentenced to 2 years behind bars, a $5,000 fine, and 1-year license revocation (as part of a plea deal, charges were reduced from involuntary manslaughter).

Our thoughts are with the family of the victims at this time. While the criminal part of the proceedings may be over for Singh, the impact is far from over for the family of Stone and William Weeks, crash victims.

Since the crash happened in Virginia, it would be possible for the Weeks family to seek damages for the loss of these young men. Wrongful Death cases can be very complicated, due to the emotional height and uniqueness of each situation. The best thing to do if you think you have a case is consult with an experienced attorney to determine your best course of action.

The pedals were supplied by CTS and similar to the ones which triggered the Toyota recall earlier this year.

CTS experienced manufacturing problems between March and May of 2006, affecting some of the cars released. According to Chrysler, only about 1/3 of the recalled cars are actually expected to have problems.

Official release

The Virginia Department of Transportation has yet to decide which roads will see the increase from 65 mph to 70 mph, though the law is set to take effect on July 1. It is expected that sections of Highways 66 and 81 will be included. VDOT is currently reviewing crash and speed data to determine which roads would be suitable for an increase.

While the maximum speed on Virginia interstates has been 65 mph for about 20 years, a segment of I-85 was raised to 70 in 2007. Roads with a current speed limit of 60 mph will not be eligible for the change.

The measure has seen some opposition from various community groups. The Shenadoah County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution against the proposal when it was passed in February, citing safety and fuel-efficiency concerns.

While opposition is bound to happen in any form of regulation change, it looks like this is one measure that will be going through. It’s important to remember, though, that drivers must travel at the posted speed limit until the changes are made official. Speeding in excess of 20 mph above the posted speed limit, or over 80 mph period, is considered Reckless Driving in Virginia.

At the very least, you’ll want to make it private.

An article in Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly cited some pretty disturbing examples from attorneys Courtney Van Winkle and Tom Messersmith, both of Richmond, Virginia.

“One picture, one comment, can be taken out of context,” Van Winkle says. This does serious damage to a case. One defendant, who was drinking when an accident occurred, had a photo posted on his Facebook page of him holding up a beer can.

Whether or not that photo was from the night of the accident can leave an unwanted impression and do serious damage to a case.

If you were involved in a case, you wouldn’t make any sort of statement without first discussing it with your attorney. By posting a picture to Facebook or Tweeting, you are essentially making a recordable, archived statement to anyone who can read it.

Facebook settings can be tricky, and seem to change constantly. In fact, it seems we are always hearing stories about errors causing information to be leaked. Even if you are POSITIVE your privacy settings are on, it’s best to err on the side of caution and not post anything questionable.

Make sure your settings are private—check out our how-to privacy guide. We’ll walk you through the steps of either suspending your account temporarily, or maximizing your privacy effectiveness.