Copperhead
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NH set to revoke licenses of irresponsible hikers
December 29, 2008 11:23 AM
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire law enacted this year aims to make people think twice before heading into the woods unprepared or under the influence.
The state Department of Fish and Game currently fines lost hikers who recklessly venture into the woods to pay for the cost of the rescue, but now the department will have the power to revoke the driver's licenses of those who don't pay. Hikers can also lose licenses with the state Health and Human Services Department, and hunting and fishing licenses.
The law also gives the state more power over who they decide to fine. Previously, the state had to prove someone acted recklessly before charging a hiker for repayment for a rescue. This meant the state had to show the hiker or hikers were aware going into the woods posed a substantial risk but they did it anyway. Now the state only has to prove the person was negligent.
The Attorney General's Office is now reviewing four cases the Fish and Game Department believes meet the new standard. Officials estimate that of the 140 rescues a year, the state will be able to bill those rescued in about 40 of them.
Lt. Todd Bogardus, search and rescue team leader for Fish and Game, said the change in the law makes it easier to recoup costs.
"We are now using a reasonable person's standard," he said.
Fish and Game Col. Martin Garabedian, chief of law enforcement, said the cases now under review might not have gone forward without the new law. Most of these cases involve people who wandered from a trail or a campsite without supplies or a flashlight.
"Our ultimate goal is to reduce the numbers (of rescues). We'd like to do it through education, but in some instances we have to forcefully educate," Garabedian said.
In the past decade, more than $1 million has been spent on rescues but only about $25,000 has been recovered from reckless hikers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/29/us/29rescue.html?em
December 29, 2008 11:23 AM
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire law enacted this year aims to make people think twice before heading into the woods unprepared or under the influence.
The state Department of Fish and Game currently fines lost hikers who recklessly venture into the woods to pay for the cost of the rescue, but now the department will have the power to revoke the driver's licenses of those who don't pay. Hikers can also lose licenses with the state Health and Human Services Department, and hunting and fishing licenses.
The law also gives the state more power over who they decide to fine. Previously, the state had to prove someone acted recklessly before charging a hiker for repayment for a rescue. This meant the state had to show the hiker or hikers were aware going into the woods posed a substantial risk but they did it anyway. Now the state only has to prove the person was negligent.
The Attorney General's Office is now reviewing four cases the Fish and Game Department believes meet the new standard. Officials estimate that of the 140 rescues a year, the state will be able to bill those rescued in about 40 of them.
Lt. Todd Bogardus, search and rescue team leader for Fish and Game, said the change in the law makes it easier to recoup costs.
"We are now using a reasonable person's standard," he said.
Fish and Game Col. Martin Garabedian, chief of law enforcement, said the cases now under review might not have gone forward without the new law. Most of these cases involve people who wandered from a trail or a campsite without supplies or a flashlight.
"Our ultimate goal is to reduce the numbers (of rescues). We'd like to do it through education, but in some instances we have to forcefully educate," Garabedian said.
In the past decade, more than $1 million has been spent on rescues but only about $25,000 has been recovered from reckless hikers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/29/us/29rescue.html?em
Just doesn't sound right to me to fine someone because they got lost, I doubt any of the lost people went into the woods intentionally to get lost. But I guess that's just another way for the states to control our lives & take more from us!
