[pct-l] who pays for SAR

[Mark Liechty]

Bob Cluster wrote:
> In Oregon the law says that the max that can be charged to any one person is $500 dollars. And that is under very specific  
> circumstances, No maps, no training, illegal activities, (people being excessively stupid) you get the idea.
#########

I am as hard core a supporter of outdoor programs and camping as you 
will find.  I also understand that at least in California we have an 
amazingly stupid set of people in charge of the government and they have 
screwed us and themselves into an impossible problem.

The problem is defined in large part by putting everything under the 
label of ..... "public safety","safety net", and "public services" 
.......  Problem is that there is a cost and there is no money to pay.  

Assuming SAR was almost all voluntary there is still a load on the 
"public" systems of 911 and the initial dispatch.  At least one law 
enforcement is involved with most SAR efforts... at least I think they 
are.  In today's discussion the question came up about where the 
Sheriff's department was.

Seems that the government can solve the problem by putting up a no 
trespassing sign on both sides of every trailhead and then they are off 
the hook for the cost.  Given the budget mess it may be a closer than 
you think to being the answer in California.    Pass the next law that 
says if you are caught trespassing and medial or SAR support is needed 
it costs $10,000 and 6 months in jail and this problem goes away.

We are looking at some very hard choices in CA "public safety" is no 
longer an argument that we can use anymore.  We are going to have to 
learn a new term.....  "Personal Responsibility"

And like the others I know nothing about the specifics of the event that 
started this discussion.  What makes this the right time is both the 
"early" of the season and the fact that we are not talking about a dead 
body recovery.

Mark "Blankie" Liechty
mlaccs @ mlaccs . com