mega thread for stupid MoCo laws and ordinances

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
- Ambulance tax of $600, that was then voted down by voters in referendum, and passed again by the Council, overriding the will of voters, because the Council said voters were "misinformed"

I'm really curious about this one. I've never understood why this was controversial. Most jurisdictions bill for ambulance services, so when I found Montgomery County's practice very surprising when the referendum came up.

They've always claimed that they just bill the insurance company, not individual. Has that not been true in practice? Or are you concerned about non-residents getting bills?

To me, the issue was the voters spoke, and the Council overrode them. I don't really care what the issue is, if the voters choose one path via referendum (assuming it's legally possible to implement), the Council should respect that decision.

Pure democracy is mob rule.

One might ask, who is billed $600 if you don't have insurance?

This. No one gets billed if you dont have insurance, and chances are your insurance company doesn't pay the full $600 even if you have insurance. It's a way for county residents to pay LESS for emergency services because insurance will pick up some of the cost

My insurance got billed and then I got billed for the remaining amount. It took six months and a lot of phone calls to get the remainder forgiven, and I had to get a council office involved.

Do you know what the issue was? Did they think you weren't a resident or was it an administrative error?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
- Ambulance tax of $600, that was then voted down by voters in referendum, and passed again by the Council, overriding the will of voters, because the Council said voters were "misinformed"

I'm really curious about this one. I've never understood why this was controversial. Most jurisdictions bill for ambulance services, so when I found Montgomery County's practice very surprising when the referendum came up.

They've always claimed that they just bill the insurance company, not individual. Has that not been true in practice? Or are you concerned about non-residents getting bills?

To me, the issue was the voters spoke, and the Council overrode them. I don't really care what the issue is, if the voters choose one path via referendum (assuming it's legally possible to implement), the Council should respect that decision.

Pure democracy is mob rule.

One might ask, who is billed $600 if you don't have insurance?

This. No one gets billed if you dont have insurance, and chances are your insurance company doesn't pay the full $600 even if you have insurance. It's a way for county residents to pay LESS for emergency services because insurance will pick up some of the cost

My insurance got billed and then I got billed for the remaining amount. It took six months and a lot of phone calls to get the remainder forgiven, and I had to get a council office involved.

Do you know what the issue was? Did they think you weren't a resident or was it an administrative error?

The county isn't a doctor's office or hospital. It isn't really set up to bill insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
- Ambulance tax of $600, that was then voted down by voters in referendum, and passed again by the Council, overriding the will of voters, because the Council said voters were "misinformed"

I'm really curious about this one. I've never understood why this was controversial. Most jurisdictions bill for ambulance services, so when I found Montgomery County's practice very surprising when the referendum came up.

They've always claimed that they just bill the insurance company, not individual. Has that not been true in practice? Or are you concerned about non-residents getting bills?

To me, the issue was the voters spoke, and the Council overrode them. I don't really care what the issue is, if the voters choose one path via referendum (assuming it's legally possible to implement), the Council should respect that decision.

Pure democracy is mob rule.

One might ask, who is billed $600 if you don't have insurance?

Yes, damn those voters and what they choose!

Note it takes thousands of signatures to get a referendum on the ballot. I guess it's OK to ignore them too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
- Ambulance tax of $600, that was then voted down by voters in referendum, and passed again by the Council, overriding the will of voters, because the Council said voters were "misinformed"

I'm really curious about this one. I've never understood why this was controversial. Most jurisdictions bill for ambulance services, so when I found Montgomery County's practice very surprising when the referendum came up.

They've always claimed that they just bill the insurance company, not individual. Has that not been true in practice? Or are you concerned about non-residents getting bills?

To me, the issue was the voters spoke, and the Council overrode them. I don't really care what the issue is, if the voters choose one path via referendum (assuming it's legally possible to implement), the Council should respect that decision.

Pure democracy is mob rule.

One might ask, who is billed $600 if you don't have insurance?

This. No one gets billed if you dont have insurance, and chances are your insurance company doesn't pay the full $600 even if you have insurance. It's a way for county residents to pay LESS for emergency services because insurance will pick up some of the cost

My insurance got billed and then I got billed for the remaining amount. It took six months and a lot of phone calls to get the remainder forgiven, and I had to get a council office involved.

Do you know what the issue was? Did they think you weren't a resident or was it an administrative error?

It seemed like they sent me a bill before the hospital sent them my insurance information. The insurance company then paid their negotiated rate, which wasn’t the full amount of the bill. The county couldn’t figure out that the bill was satisfied by the insurance company’s payment and kept sending me bills and late notices.

“It’s OK for the government to be incompetent” seems to be the motto for this county, which is a crazy position for progressives to take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
- Ambulance tax of $600, that was then voted down by voters in referendum, and passed again by the Council, overriding the will of voters, because the Council said voters were "misinformed"

I'm really curious about this one. I've never understood why this was controversial. Most jurisdictions bill for ambulance services, so when I found Montgomery County's practice very surprising when the referendum came up.

They've always claimed that they just bill the insurance company, not individual. Has that not been true in practice? Or are you concerned about non-residents getting bills?

To me, the issue was the voters spoke, and the Council overrode them. I don't really care what the issue is, if the voters choose one path via referendum (assuming it's legally possible to implement), the Council should respect that decision.

Pure democracy is mob rule.

One might ask, who is billed $600 if you don't have insurance?

Yes, damn those voters and what they choose!

Note it takes thousands of signatures to get a referendum on the ballot. I guess it's OK to ignore them too?

Yeah, undoubtedly. Democracy is too important to be left to the voters. Isn't this how we got Trump?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
- Ambulance tax of $600, that was then voted down by voters in referendum, and passed again by the Council, overriding the will of voters, because the Council said voters were "misinformed"

I'm really curious about this one. I've never understood why this was controversial. Most jurisdictions bill for ambulance services, so when I found Montgomery County's practice very surprising when the referendum came up.

They've always claimed that they just bill the insurance company, not individual. Has that not been true in practice? Or are you concerned about non-residents getting bills?

To me, the issue was the voters spoke, and the Council overrode them. I don't really care what the issue is, if the voters choose one path via referendum (assuming it's legally possible to implement), the Council should respect that decision.

Pure democracy is mob rule.

One might ask, who is billed $600 if you don't have insurance?

This. No one gets billed if you dont have insurance, and chances are your insurance company doesn't pay the full $600 even if you have insurance. It's a way for county residents to pay LESS for emergency services because insurance will pick up some of the cost

My insurance got billed and then I got billed for the remaining amount. It took six months and a lot of phone calls to get the remainder forgiven, and I had to get a council office involved.

Do you know what the issue was? Did they think you weren't a resident or was it an administrative error?

It seemed like they sent me a bill before the hospital sent them my insurance information. The insurance company then paid their negotiated rate, which wasn’t the full amount of the bill. The county couldn’t figure out that the bill was satisfied by the insurance company’s payment and kept sending me bills and late notices.

“It’s OK for the government to be incompetent” seems to be the motto for this county, which is a crazy position for progressives to take.

But even if you didn't have insurance, or they didn't pay (such as of if you had not met your deductible) the county wasn't supposed to send you a bill. At least, that's what they claimed.

If they're regularly sending bills, some people are going to think they have to pay it.

[Anonymous]

Montgomery County made every major six lane roadway a four lane roadway. They dedicated the curb lanes to bicycles only causing major traffic congestion. Now it takes much longer going to work or traveling to your destination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
- Ambulance tax of $600, that was then voted down by voters in referendum, and passed again by the Council, overriding the will of voters, because the Council said voters were "misinformed"

I'm really curious about this one. I've never understood why this was controversial. Most jurisdictions bill for ambulance services, so when I found Montgomery County's practice very surprising when the referendum came up.

They've always claimed that they just bill the insurance company, not individual. Has that not been true in practice? Or are you concerned about non-residents getting bills?

To me, the issue was the voters spoke, and the Council overrode them. I don't really care what the issue is, if the voters choose one path via referendum (assuming it's legally possible to implement), the Council should respect that decision.

Pure democracy is mob rule.

One might ask, who is billed $600 if you don't have insurance?

This. No one gets billed if you dont have insurance, and chances are your insurance company doesn't pay the full $600 even if you have insurance. It's a way for county residents to pay LESS for emergency services because insurance will pick up some of the cost

My insurance got billed and then I got billed for the remaining amount. It took six months and a lot of phone calls to get the remainder forgiven, and I had to get a council office involved.

Do you know what the issue was? Did they think you weren't a resident or was it an administrative error?

It seemed like they sent me a bill before the hospital sent them my insurance information. The insurance company then paid their negotiated rate, which wasn’t the full amount of the bill. The county couldn’t figure out that the bill was satisfied by the insurance company’s payment and kept sending me bills and late notices.

“It’s OK for the government to be incompetent” seems to be the motto for this county, which is a crazy position for progressives to take.

I'm not excusing the county but there is an ombudsman in the Office of Consumer Protection who's supposed to help with those issues when they arise. And their contact information should have been on your bill from the county. The billing is handled by a contracted vendor. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OCP/Patient_Advocacy/overview.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
- Ambulance tax of $600, that was then voted down by voters in referendum, and passed again by the Council, overriding the will of voters, because the Council said voters were "misinformed"

I'm really curious about this one. I've never understood why this was controversial. Most jurisdictions bill for ambulance services, so when I found Montgomery County's practice very surprising when the referendum came up.

They've always claimed that they just bill the insurance company, not individual. Has that not been true in practice? Or are you concerned about non-residents getting bills?

To me, the issue was the voters spoke, and the Council overrode them. I don't really care what the issue is, if the voters choose one path via referendum (assuming it's legally possible to implement), the Council should respect that decision.

Pure democracy is mob rule.

One might ask, who is billed $600 if you don't have insurance?

This. No one gets billed if you dont have insurance, and chances are your insurance company doesn't pay the full $600 even if you have insurance. It's a way for county residents to pay LESS for emergency services because insurance will pick up some of the cost

My insurance got billed and then I got billed for the remaining amount. It took six months and a lot of phone calls to get the remainder forgiven, and I had to get a council office involved.

Do you know what the issue was? Did they think you weren't a resident or was it an administrative error?

It seemed like they sent me a bill before the hospital sent them my insurance information. The insurance company then paid their negotiated rate, which wasn’t the full amount of the bill. The county couldn’t figure out that the bill was satisfied by the insurance company’s payment and kept sending me bills and late notices.

“It’s OK for the government to be incompetent” seems to be the motto for this county, which is a crazy position for progressives to take.

I'm not excusing the county but there is an ombudsman in the Office of Consumer Protection who's supposed to help with those issues when they arise. And their contact information should have been on your bill from the county. The billing is handled by a contracted vendor. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OCP/Patient_Advocacy/overview.html

Montgomery County, where you need a second government agency to clean up the mess made by the first government agency.

[Anonymous]

Obvious complaint, but it is illegal to have my 11 year old daughter take care of her 7 year old sister for even half an hour. There is hardly anywhere else in the country like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No gas leaf blowers but gas lawn mowers are ok

Yes and sitting in the drive thru at Starbucks and Chick-fil-A burning more gas than leaf blowers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Obvious complaint, but it is illegal to have my 11 year old daughter take care of her 7 year old sister for even half an hour. There is hardly anywhere else in the country like this.

That’s a state law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Montgomery County made every major six lane roadway a four lane roadway. They dedicated the curb lanes to bicycles only causing major traffic congestion. Now it takes much longer going to work or traveling to your destination.

I can now ride my bike faster than you can drive. Works for me.

[Anonymous]

County controlled liquor sales. Why must I drive out to PG to get to a total wine? MoCo stores are often dingy, with crappy selections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Montgomery County made every major six lane roadway a four lane roadway. They dedicated the curb lanes to bicycles only causing major traffic congestion. Now it takes much longer going to work or traveling to your destination.

I can now ride my bike faster than you can drive. Works for me.

My Big Wheel has flames and an adjustable seat.