Damage to Public Property. Who pays?

[gac]

It never ceases to amaze just how much damage is inflicted on public property every week, particularly on and around our roads - robots, electricity poles, barriers and even the mess that gets left after a spill of some kind.
Who pays to fix or clean it up? Indirectly the innocent Taxpayer I presume.

How about a more direct burden of cost on the person who caused the accident or mess in the first place?

[AndyD]

I've wondered the same thing especially early on monday morning when the most carnage is evident after the alcoholic drivers have have done their worst with the lamp posts, center barriers and traffic ligh poles over the weekend.

[Nickolai Naydenov]

I have no idea as to where the get the money to pay for the repairs but I'm certain that we are taxed for that

[murdock]

not forgetting...the path of destruction after a peacefull march...

[gac]

not forgetting...the path of destruction after a peacefull march...

Yup, that too as well as protests, strikes etc

[murdock]

the 7 % of the population who pays the tax must be doing a pretty good job...hence the only efficient service in goverment..tax collection.

i do believe it could be the reason why they are planning on taking away my right to free water from june or july...because my house is valued at more than 200 000...so i no longer qualify...they need to drain me for every single cent they can squeeze out of me...be it toll roads...petrol levies...rates and taxes............................................. .................................................. ....................etc...my dots would run out trying to include all.

[Phil Cooper]

IF the Municipality KNOW who did the damage, they can bring an action against the driver to replace the traffic lights, etc.

Usually do - but many are "hit and run"

[gac]

IF the Municipality KNOW who did the damage, they can bring an action against the driver to replace the traffic lights, etc.

Usually do - but many are "hit and run"

Phil, but do they?
Obviously hit and run is a toughie.

[AndyD]

Going by the extent of at least half of the damage I suspect there wasn't any running, more like hit-and-tow-truck me thinks. I've heard of several people having had accidents involving street furniture of some sort and I've never heard of anybody being persued by the authorities for damages.

[gac]

Likewise, never heard or read anywhere of a muncipality claiming damages from anyone, which means the innocent pay for the recklessness (which is so very often the case) of others. I'm not happy about that.
Shouldn't it be an insured risk we all purchase cover for? If it was then I have no doubt those who are serial offenders, will be penalised through their premiums or excesses.

[murdock]

Going by the extent of at least half of the damage I suspect there wasn't any running, more like hit-and-tow-truck me thinks. I've heard of several people having had accidents involving street furniture of some sort and I've never heard of anybody being persued by the authorities for damages.

yip i have to agree with andy on this one...hit and run i dont know about that...more like hit wait for 5 hours then tow away because no police nor ambulance arrive...we had accident right in front of my house a coupl;e of days ago the driver was so motherless drunk he couldnt even stand...when i went down to see what had happened...i found what i thought was a pedestrian lying on the road...the driver still hanging half out the vehicle...we contacted the ambulance at 8.15 and the flying squad 5 minutes later when i realised that the person lying on the road was actually the passenger...who must have hit his face on the windscreen and looked like he had a broken arm and maybe even a rib or 2......when they hit the pole.......when i realised how drunk the 2 of them were i considered doing something i couldnt tell you on a public forum for driving in the state they were in...an hour later...still no flying squad...still no ambulance...the tow trucks cleared the scene ...luck for the driver of that vehicle...the stench of booze was so strong that you could smell it 3 metres + from the vehicle.