(Sept. 24) - A controversial New Hampshire law that charges those
who get lost for the cost of their rescue is facing renewed scrutiny.
Back in April, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout named Scott Mason went
hiking on New Hampshire's Mount Washington. After straying from
a path, Mason failed to return to his campsite at sunset, so Mason's
parents alerted authorities, USA Today reports. A massive search
ensued, in which state officials utilized helicopters, and sent out search
teams to canvass the mountain for three straight days, the paper said.
Mason survived his time in the frigid terrain by building a rock shelter and
using hand sanitizer to help start a fire. By the time rescuers spotted him,
the state said it had run up quite a tab.
As Dennis Abbott, the state representative who sponsored the original
bill that charges citizens for the cost of rescues, told USA Today, '"People
(who) make poor judgments at some point in time have to be responsible
for their actions. You don't rent helicopters for nothing." But the law itself,
which has been in effect since June of 2008 hasn't exactly replenished state
coffers. Since its inception, only 13 hikers other than Mason have been asked
to pay, the newspaper reports. The average charge? A mere $203 per person.
Mason and his lawyer are currently in negotiation with the state attorney general's
office regarding the $25,000 fee.
http://news.aol.com/article/eagle-scout-billed-25000-by-new/685956?icid=main|main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Feagle-scout-billed-25000-by-new%2F685956