Teen fined $25,000 for cost of NH mountain rescue

[gunslingingbird]

CONCORD, N.H. – A Massachusetts teenager who spent three nights alone on Mount Washington in April after he sprained an ankle and veered off marked trails has been fined more than $25,000 for the cost of his rescue.

Scott Mason had been praised for utilizing his Eagle Scout skills — sleeping in the crevice of a boulder and jump-starting fires with hand sanitizer gel. But authorities say he wasn't prepared for the conditions he encountered and shouldn't have set out on such an ambitious hike.

I think that billing someone for getting rescued is bad in cases where someone has a real emergency and can't get back, but it's great for nimrods who think they're bad asses and want to go out and prove it to everyone else.

Story

 

[Will E Worm]

the helicopters the state typically used were unavailable, and a helicopter from Maine had to be brought in, Acerno said.

Where were the helicopters? On a secret mission for the mayor?

Who cares about the money. New Hampshire is where the arrogant wealthy live, they have plenty of money with state taxes.

 

[D-rock]

Where were the helicopters? On a secret mission for the mayor?

Who cares about the money. New Hampshire is where the arrogant wealthy live, they have plenty of money with state taxes.

I thought the arrogant wealthy people in that part of the country lived in Massachusetts and Connecticut. :dunno:

I can see making idiots that make stupid decision have to reimburse the state for their rescue, but I can see some problems with it. There might be a situation someday where somebody is hesitant to call in for help even if they might not have done anything foolhardy because of the mere possibility they might have to pay and it might hurt them more or end up costing them they're life when it didn‘t have to. Another thing with fines that large is how many people are going to be able to realistically pay them? Wanting the money for reimbursement is one thing, but if a large portion of the people will never be able to pay them back then what is the point, especially if that large amount of debt could screw over somebody's life that ether just made a rare and unusually bad decision for themselves or who is just young and stupid?

 

[slasher]

I'm wondering how a teen is going to cough up $25,000 in the first place.

 

[Will E Worm]

I thought the arrogant wealthy people in that part of the country lived in Massachusetts and Connecticut. :dunno:

There too.

I'm wondering how a teen is going to cough up $25,000 in the first place.

He can't, that's why it's ludicrous to even bring it up.

 

[calpoon]

The fine might be excessive, but it seems fair to me that he should receive some charge. If I sprain my ankle in the city and require help I'll be charged $200 for an ambulance to pick me up and then another $300 for being brought to the emergency room, and that is not counting the cost of any actual medical services that I might receive.

 

[gunslingingbird]

The fine might be excessive, but it seems fair to me that he should receive some charge. If I sprain my ankle in the city and require help I'll be charged $200 for an ambulance to pick me up and then another $300 for being brought to the emergency room, and that is not counting the cost of any actual medical services that I might receive.

$200? $300? I'm moving to your town! It's about $1,000 and $500 respectively in the San Fagcisco Bay Area. :eek:

 

[BlueBalls]

Sound's like a good idea.

Someone get's lost at sea, make sure you get their credit card details before winching them out.

If you're lost in the desert you better make damn sure you've got some cash on you. Water? That's your problem, don't show me the green you aint getting no bean - s. You think coming out here to find you is cheap!?! How bout we just leave you here how d'you like that, huh? Cough up the dough ass hole or we'll leave you here!



I think I've found the perfect business to go into. :hatsoff:

 

[24788]

25k is a bit crazy.

 

[calpoon]

$200? $300? I'm moving to your town! It's about $1,000 and $500 respectively in the San Fagcisco Bay Area. :eek:

yeah and seeing as how it's about an hour away from Mexico, so much for the theory that illegal immigrants account for the higher cost of healthcare.

Could it be because of rich people driving up market prices? I'm shocked.

 

[nothingandless]

well, he could just dodge collections for around 5 years.

what ever happened to good samartians? oh, and hi! i work in the field of medicine(rescue is part of that), let me check yer credit score...
oh, wait, rescuers volunteer often their time for very little pay. when we get hurt in the city, a private ambulance company(cab) comes to pick us up, and they're grossly underpaid.
yeah, dodge collections if you don't have good insurance.