AUGUSTA, Maine - Senate President Michael Thibodeau, a Republican from Winterport, has introduced legislation that would allow local fire departments and other first responders to bill those convicted of drunk driving for cleaning up after the accidents they have caused.
"If you are convicted of a crime, if you are drunk driving, you probably ought to be paying to clean up the mess yourself," Thibodeau says, "and not be asking the taxpayer to pay for it."
Thibodeau says local fire departments approached him about introducing the legislation. He says a major accident can have a significant impact on local budgets and it's not fair to have the taxpayers foot the bill.
The measure has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing.
