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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 1Art. 8§ 53158 Emergency Response Cost Recovery

§ 53158 Emergency Response Cost Recovery

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

§ 53158 Emergency Response Cost Recovery

Key Takeaways

  • •This law is about who pays for emergency help (like firefighters or paramedics).
  • •It doesn’t stop cities or towns from making their own rules about paying for emergencies.
  • •If someone causes an emergency while drunk or on drugs (driving a car, boat, or plane), this law helps make them pay for the costs.
  • •This law adds to other rules about paying for emergencies—it doesn’t replace them.

Example

A drunk driver crashes their car into a tree, and firefighters and paramedics have to come to help.

The drunk driver can be made to pay for the cost of the firefighters and paramedics because they caused the emergency while drunk.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 53158 Emergency Response Cost Recovery

It is not the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this article, to occupy the field of recovery of the expense of an emergency response by a public agency, nor is it the intent of the Legislature to preempt local regulations or to otherwise limit the remedies available to any public agency to recover the expenses of an emergency response to any incident not involving persons who operate a motor vehicle, a boat or vessel, or a civil aircraft while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug, or the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any drug. It is the intent of the Legislature that the recovery of the expenses of an emergency response under this chapter shall supplement and shall not supplant any other provisions of law relating to the recovery of those expenses. (Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 897, Sec. 1.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

emergencyvesselvehiclelegislatureregulationdriverboatcharging people

Related Statutes

  • § 53151 Boating Under Influence Liability
  • § 8903 Legislator Travel Reimbursement Rules
  • § 15951 Consolidating Social Service Transportation
  • § 53159 Emergency Response Cost Recovery
  • § 8670.55 Oil Spill Policy Recommendations

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 53158.
View Official Source