Tulsa City Council has approved a plan allowing the fire department to charge insurance companies of at-fault drivers $710 to $1,865 per response

TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa City Council approved an ordinance change allowing the Tulsa Fire Department to bill drivers for responses to certain car crashes.

Deputy Fire Chief Doug Carner told councilors the move is expected to generate at least $1.1 million in reimbursements for the city’s general fund, NewsOn6 reported.

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Fire Chief Michael Baker said the department responds to about 4,400 crashes a year, and the new billing plan grew out of efforts to relieve pressure on the department’s budget.

Bills will be sent only to the insurance companies of drivers found at fault, not to the drivers themselves, and the city won’t pursue payment from uninsured individuals. Carner said about half of the billed claims are paid. The ordinance outlines four response levels, with fees from $710 to $1,865 based on the complexity of the incident.

The fire department must finalize a contract with a third-party billing company. The earliest the billing program could begin is Jan. 1, 2026.

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