CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- The city of Chula Vista is considering joining other cities which charge drivers who cause accidents. If approved, the plan will charge people who are at fault in an accident

The Chula Vista fire department said it can recover about $100,000 per year by billing the driver at fault. The fire department responded to about 420 car crashes per year, which use up resources and cost the department money.

“We wouldn’t expect the taxpayers to be responsible for paying for someone’s at-fault accident and so we’re holding them accountable to what their fault on that accident is,” said Chula Vista Fire Department Chief Bill Hannerman. “We think that’s pretty fair.”

If you cause the accident, charges are based on the severity of the crash. For most accidents, the charge is $435.

Depending level of service, the price will go up to $605 if there is a fire, $1,800 if someone must be extracted and $2,100 if a crash victim needs to be airlifted.

The San Diego Taxpayer Association called it double taxation.

"What it comes down to is residents are already charged taxes to pay for these types of services to have an additional fee or tax on top of that, to pay for a fee that's already paid for,” said Chris Cate, a member of the taxpayer association. “It’s just not right."

Cate said ten states have outlawed what he calls the crash tax but Chula Vista’s fire chief said charging people who cause accidents are people becoming a way of life as fire departments deal with budget cuts.

An exclusive 10News poll found 17 percent of San Diegans polled said they agreed with the proposal to charge those involved in an accident with a fee for emergency response and clean up. Seventy-three percent said they disagreed and 10 percent said they were not sure.

In California, charging an accident recovery fee is legal. The North County Fire Protection District is already charging the fee. Next week, the San Miguel Fire Department is expected to pass a similar ordinance.