USA Today Updates Issues with New Hampshire Law Billing For SAR’s

Continued coverage of a Stupid Law. For Background see:

Update: Give me a break! Teen charged $25K for a rescue he did not need

Give me a break! Teen charged $25K for a rescue he did not need

USA Today in a great article Warning: Don’t get lost in New Hampshire brought out some interesting facts about new hampshire’s law that bills rescued people for their SARs.

• 13 other people have been billed for their SARs
• The average fee paid is $203

A new hampshire state official is quoted as saying “Bogardus says Mason was negligent because he did not turn back on the trail after he was injured.” Lt. Todd Bogardus, is the head of search and rescue for new hampshire’s Fish and Game Department However the lost teen attempted to take a short cut when he sprained his ankle. At what point does a shortcut not make sense when injured.

I cracked the frame on my Colnago road bike a couple of months back. It was a long walk back in bike shoes (with no friends answering their phones) so at one point I cut across a field. It was a shortcut. It was easier on my feet because it was shorter and softer than the concrete bike path. That shortcut worked for me.

Bogardus also admitted the actions of the state in billing Mason had placed the state on a hot spot.

Bogardus stated “And almost half of those hikers are from out of state, department records show.”

So let’s save new hampshire money and not go there.