FDNY To Charge For Auto Accidents

The FDNY (New York City Fire Department) is planning to start charging for going on auto accidents and car fires.
From Firehouse.com: In an effort to raise cash while the city's budget crisis rages, the FDNY is looking to charge motorists when it responds to smashups and other vehicle incidents beginning July 1.
Under the plan, which is expected to raise more than $1 million a year:
* A vehicle fire or "incident with injuries" will set you back $490.
* A vehicle fire without injuries: $415.
* Any other vehicle incident without injuries will cost $365.
The fee schedule is based on time spent at vehicle accident scenes by its personnel, "the apparatus, equipment and supplies they utilize and administrative overhead [direct and indirect] and fringe benefits," according to an announcement in yesterday's City Record.
http://www.firehouse.com/news/top-headlines/fdny-plans-charge-crash-responses
This is just a poor excuse to steal money from insurance companies or individuals for services that taxpayers already pay for.
It would be one thing if the FDNY would say that because of the fees, they will cut the money they get from the taxpayers. Nope, the FDNY is doing this to prevent layoffs of employees or not hire new firefighters.
I have a problem whenever a fire department or police department charging for emergencies. These departments already get taxpayer money from property taxes and in some cases, sales tax or special assessments.
I have no problems if a department charges for false alarms- false alarms are not emergencies and they take cars and trucks out of service for no good reason.
I also have no problems with ambulance companies from public ambulance services from charging- the fees generally pay for most of the ambulance budget.
So, what else will the FDNY charge for? House fires? Business fires? Getting a person out of an elevator? How about charging for water rescues?
If the FDNY wants to charge like a business, then they need to act like a business. To do that, you will have to cut expenses, like closing fire houses that don't have that many fire calls.
But they are double dipping- getting taxpayer money for providing services and then turning around and charging insurance companies and individuals for the same service. It's just not right.