Warning: Don't get lost in New Hampshire

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It's nothing like it - I've seen (and experienced) first hand people being so intimidated by the healthcare system and the prospect of massive financial penalty that they'll take insane risks with their health in order to avoid them.

If you know anything about mountain rescue, you will know that time is a factor in getting to people alive and getting them out of harms way. If you consider that the rescue folks are going to have to look for the people anyway when they're reported missing, it makes no sense to make their job harder by the people in need of rescue delaying seeking help because they're afraid of financial ruin.

[Amby 490]

Rob I don't drive crazy and I own a very high performance car. After purchasing the car I realized it was stupid because I can't drive it like it's meant to be. I mourn nightly.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Rob I don't drive crazy and I own a very high performance car. After purchasing the car I realized it was stupid because I can't drive it like it's meant to be. I mourn nightly.

Seems quite a waste to not drive a high performance car fast. Bad Amby. Now go break no less than 5 traffic laws as pennance.

[_Simpson_ 250]

No its not American, but I dont get your point. Its not the truck that limits me.

Ahhh it's a truck, well that is why. I drive considerably above the speed limit. Why else would I have purchased a high performance car? The threat of punitive fines does not outweigh the thrill of driving fast for me.

Ok I see, most of the roads around here are 55, so I push it with 65 but the fines are enough to keep me at that speed.

[Amby 490]

Rob I don't drive crazy and I own a very high performance car. After purchasing the car I realized it was stupid because I can't drive it like it's meant to be. I mourn nightly.

Seems quite a waste to not drive a high performance car fast. Bad Amby. Now go break no less than 5 traffic laws as pennance.

haha I am ####### about following rules. I should just buy a pink geo metro.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Rob I don't drive crazy and I own a very high performance car. After purchasing the car I realized it was stupid because I can't drive it like it's meant to be. I mourn nightly.

Seems quite a waste to not drive a high performance car fast. Bad Amby. Now go break no less than 5 traffic laws as pennance.

haha I am ####### about following rules. I should just buy a pink geo metro.

Oh dear god, not the geo metro. I remember in high school, we would go to parking garages. The geo metro weighs just enough to not float away, but not enough to prevent five 17 year old kids from picking it up and moving it to another end of the structure.

[Amby 490]

geo metros make me laugh because I've only ever seen them in colors like white, mint green, and cotton candy pink. they're like circus cars.

[The_Dude 1,142]

geo metros make me laugh because I've only ever seen them in colors like white, mint green, and cotton candy pink. they're like circus cars.

Whenever I see one, I look around for the kid with the remote control that should be driving a toy like that.

[_Simpson_ 250]

It's nothing like it - I've seen (and experienced) first hand people being so intimidated by the healthcare system and the prospect of massive financial penalty that they'll take insane risks with their health in order to avoid them.

If you know anything about mountain rescue, you will know that time is a factor in getting to people alive and getting them out of harms way. If you consider that the rescue folks are going to have to look for the people anyway when they're reported missing, it makes no sense to make their job harder by the people in need of rescue delaying seeking help because they're afraid of financial ruin.

If I had a loved one and I thought there life was in danger a fine as such is not going to be a detterent and from the article it looks like this is one of the extreme cases and that needs to be taken into consideration. Quote from article -

Since the negligent hiker law took effect in June 2008, the state has billed 13 hikers other than Mason an average of $203 for their rescues.

If your loved one is in danger 203 dollars is not going to delay you and also its only if the hiker is found to have made stupid decisions, not everyone gets fined.

Also your only looking at one side of it, what about the people who will take extra caution as so not to have to pay fines. There is no perfect solution and maybe some people will get screwed because its not always clear if the person in question was really being stupid but overall I really think there on the right track with this

Unrelated but your avatar of Gene in that position looks like Mathew Perry to me.

Edited September 24, 2009 by _Simpson_

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

How much do these rescue operations cost the NH mountain rescue service? Wouldn't this covered under their operating budget - money allocated for precisely this purpose?

Punitive fines for subjective interpretations of negligence smells like greasy local politics to me. Short sighted ideas to appease the chest-beaters.

[Amby 490]

ok seriously pike everytime I see your name on here I now think c*nt. thanks.

Edited September 24, 2009 by Amby

[The_Dude 1,142]

ok seriously pike everytime I see your name on here I now think c*nt. thanks.

Roflmao, I thought about changing my name to Mike Hunt about 4 months ago, but didn't want to end up with a fvcked up name like AJ's

[_Simpson_ 250]

How much do these rescue operations cost the NH mountain rescue service? Wouldn't this covered under their operating budget - money allocated for precisely this purpose?

Punitive fines for subjective interpretations of negligence smells like greasy local politics to me. Short sighted ideas to appease the chest-beaters.

Quote from article -

Bogardus and other New Hampshire officials point out that while everyone's taxes pay for the firefighters, search-and-rescue teams are funded by a $1 surcharge on snowmobile, boat and off-road vehicle licenses.

Should we raise the surcharge or hold stupid hikers accountable. You know what I think about that but furthermore I cant help but to think that this law came up because of a budget shortfall.

There will be some sort of accountability to these "greasy politicians" point in case, article in question. This was in USA Today. I have yet to see a good argument to why this law is not a step in the right direction. Are you just pointing out the negatives or are you against this law?

Edited September 24, 2009 by _Simpson_

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I agree with the search and rescue folks who think this is a dangerous precedent.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

ok seriously pike everytime I see your name on here I now think c*nt. thanks.

Have you seen the show?

Gene Hunt is a c*nt.