§ 3.04.100 — Emergency response cost recovery program

3.04.100 Emergency response cost recovery program.

A. Liability for Costs of Emergency Response. Pursuant to the authority vested in the city by state statute, each person who is under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug, or the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any drug, whose negligent operation of a motor vehicle, boat, vessel, or aircraft caused by that influence proximately causes any incident resulting in an appropriate emergency response, or whose intentionally wrongful conduct proximately causes any incident resulting in an appropriate emergency response, shall pay to said city the expense of such an emergency response. In no event shall a person's liability under this section exceed the maximum allowable under state statute. B. Collection of Costs. The expense of an emergency response shall be charged against the person liable for the expenses under this section. The charge constitutes a debt of that person to the city, and is collectible by said city in the same manner as in the case of an obligation under a contract, expressed or implied. Any person acquitted of, or receiving a dismissal of, all criminal charges arising out of the incident which resulted in the emergency response shall not be charged for the costs of said emergency response. Any such costs paid shall be refunded, with interest at the rate of eight percent per annum. (Prior code § 64.07.700)