Comments on: ‘Yuppie 911′ revisited: Is fining the transgressors a good idea?

By: bob doucette

bob doucette — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:31:06 +0000

Bill: In Colorado, SAR is free. In other words, you won’t be billed if you need rescue from SAR. But you can buy a one-year SAR card for $3 that helps fund local search and rescue, or buy a five-year card for $10 (I think). Money well spent, IMO. In case of heli-rescue, the local National Guard will do it and chalk it up as a training exercise. However, things like medical helicopter transport are billable to you. In the latter two cases, these are entities different from SAR. Not sure what the procedure is for Oklahoma.

By: Bill Becquart

Bill Becquart — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:07:44 +0000

I have heard thru the grapevine that some states have free SAR, Providing the person has a fishing and/or hunting licence for that state.

Other than the grapeview, I have not seen that anywhere in print. Does anyone know if that is true or is a myth ??

By: bob doucette

bob doucette — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:07 +0000

Ned: The eight states that have laws to allow fees for search and rescue costs are New Hampshire, Hawaii, Oregon, Maine, California, Vermost, Colorado and Idaho, according to the AP story cited here. From what the story says, New Hampshire is the only one that makes any real attempt to seek and recover those fees.

Aaron: There is one small side issue that would make “push the button and you’re out” a little more complicated. There have also been some documented cases where the button is accidentally pushed, like when something shifts in your pack and hits it. But those are pretty rare. Anyway, more grist for the mill.

Good posts, guys.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:22:32 +0000

But who would have that discretion?

If rescuers had it, it’d be one thing. I’d trust them to determine that. But if it’s a judge or a councilman who may not have that expertise or someone who may decide it can be a money-saving issue to charge everyone, then I don’t think so.

I do agree with the notion that if you press that button, you will be removed.

By: Ned

Ned — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:14:50 +0000

Policy: If you hit that button you WILL be removed, and IF your situation is not an emergency you WILL be charged. Hitting that button should be a hike-ending move that is potentially expensive if your situation isn’t truly serious. Just like the discretion a judge has in a court of law the rescue services should be able to, at their own discretion, charge for their services. Your example hikers should have been hauled out the first time and charged for it. There are all sorts of serious consequences for non-emergency 911 calls and similar rules should apply here.

And…Thanks for the tip, no more hiking in New Hampshire for me!

What are the other 7 states that charge?