UPDATED French toll road operator wants fire-engines to pay to reach blazes

Cory Doctorow 7:23 am Fri Sep 29, 2017

Update: The news-source has retracted this report after Vinci corrected them: the company is switching to an electronic payment system but affirms that it will continue to comp the fire department.

Vinci operates a network of private highways in France; according to the chairman of the Department of Fire and Rescue of the Var (SDIS 83), the company has rescinded the toll-free status of fire-engines en route to emergencies and will henceforth have to pay when they are risking their lives to prevent fires.

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