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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 1Art. 8§ 53156 Emergency Response Costs Defined

§ 53156 Emergency Response Costs Defined

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 53156 Emergency Response Costs Defined

Key Takeaways

  • •If someone causes an emergency on purpose, they have to pay for the police, fire trucks, or ambulances that come to help.
  • •The costs include the salaries of the people who respond to the emergency.
  • •This rule applies to any government group that helps in emergencies, like the city or county.

Example

Someone calls the fire department for fun, even though there's no fire.

That person has to pay for the fire trucks and firefighters who showed up because they caused the emergency on purpose.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 53156 Emergency Response Costs Defined

As used in this article: (a) “Expense of an emergency response” means reasonable costs incurred by a public agency in reasonably making an appropriate emergency response to the incident, but shall only include those costs directly arising because of the response to the particular incident. Reasonable costs shall include the costs of providing police, firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical services at the scene of the incident, as well as the salaries of the personnel responding to the incident. (b) “Public agency” means the state and any city, county, municipal corporation, district, or public authority located, in whole or in part, within this state which provides or may provide firefighting, police, ambulance, medical, or other emergency services. (c) “Intentionally wrongful conduct” means conduct intended to injure another person or property. (Amended by Stats. 1986, Ch. 1112, Sec. 2.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

expense of an emergency responsepublic agencyintentionally wrongful conductcorporationmedicalrescuepropertyfire

Related Statutes

  • § 53159 Emergency Response Cost Recovery
  • § 50032 Large Outdoor Event Safety
  • § 50086 Volunteer Rescue Immunity
  • § 53100 Emergency Number Standardization Act
  • § 53100.5 Emergency Services Statewide Policy

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 53156.
View Official Source