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Maine ski resort to charge for 9 rescues

by Douglas Gould on March 4, 2010

Maine ski resort to charge for 9 rescues | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram.

It’s been a long hiatus for RRR, but we’re back. This story goes to an old topic of mine – charging for rescue services by gov’t agencies….

More later!

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Fines for hiker rescue in New Hampshire

by Douglas Gould on July 18, 2009

Maine Daily News – Portland Maine News | Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram.

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire plans to fine a Massachusetts teenager for the cost of rescuing him from Mount Washington in April.

A planned day hike turned into three nights alone in the woods for Scott Mason, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout from Halifax, Mass. He decided to take a shortcut after spraining his ankle, but that emergency route led him into rising water and deep snow caused by unseasonably warm weather.

New Hampshire law allows the Fish and Game Department to charge negligent hikers for the cost of rescuing them from the woods. Mason’s family confirmed that he has been fined, but had no other comment today.

When the law was tweaked last year, officials estimated that they could seek reimbursement in about 40 of the 140 rescues it typically handles each year.

I’ve commented on this subject more than once, most recently:

http://www.redrightreturning.net/will-the-coast-guard-ever-charge-for-service

So, how is this hiker’s situation in New Hampshire any different than the sailors who left in the middle of a winter Nor’easter?

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Block Island Town weighs in on “fee for rescue” issue.

Most of you know that I run a towboat out on Block Island each summer (see About Me Page). Today, the Block Island Times reports that the town is considering charging for the services provided by the volunteer Rescue Squad. [click here for complete story]

Rescue Squad may charge for services
05/16/09 – With the town facing [...]

May 18, 2009 Read the full article →

Maine plans state sponsored AAA card for the woods

Yikes! File this under the ‘be careful what you ask for’ category:
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=244442&ac=PHnws
A Maine state legislator thinks that everyone should be charged for rescue services, in direct oppostition to the sentiments of the National Association for Search and Rescue (see previous post), which thinks that no one should be charged.
So, an actual bill payer (the state [...]

May 8, 2009 Read the full article →

NASAR opposed to billing for SAR.

The National Association for Search And Rescue (NASAR) issued a press release that stresses their opposition to charges for search and rescue services.  The NASAR web site does not offer the press release, but you can read it here:
Denver Outdoor Recreation Examiner: Billing for searches and rescues endangers both the public and the rescuers.
NASAR takes [...]

May 5, 2009 Read the full article →

TWIC Page now updated

I have been sending around some emails and queries to the USCG about the TWIC program, trying to sort out some of the details about what the future holds. I actually sympathise with the CG on this issue, because I don’t think they really wanted the TWIC to begin with, and those that wrote all [...]

March 17, 2009 Read the full article →

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