Who Pays?

[HikerLinda]

Regarding our most recent "lost" hiker who started his hike at 8AM and was calling for help by noon.

I was wondering, who pays for the rescue teams, in broke California?

Is it the hiker and if so, does anyone know how much is charged?

[Hikin_Jim]

YOU pay for it through your tax dollars.

HJ

[bluerail]

we're BROKE !!??


Holyshit, no more off trail for me...unless you guys are ok to flip for the bill.

[Hikin_Jim]

we're BROKE !!??


Holyshit, no more off trail for me...unless you guys are ok to flip for the bill.

Well, at least post pictures so I feel like I'm getting something for my money.

HJ

[Rick F]

Most of the SAR personnel are volunteers, so they don't get your tax dollars. Some of the support and emergency support personnel are paid government workers supported by our tax dollars. The paid workers are employees of law enforcement agencies or fire/rescue departments. Supporting SAR's is only one part of their jobs. These agencies also provide the helicopters for air support. The Navy sometimes deploys a chopper from the China Lake Weapons Depot to assist in SAR's. A portion of the taxes we pay are going to go the public service agencies weather they are sitting at the station playing cards, on patrol, or on a search and resue mission. There aren't any people paid full time, supported by our tax dollars, dedicated to SAR, waiting around for search and resue missions. It's an urban myth that there is a huge burgeoning SAR Department that could be cut to save millions of dollars from the State's SAR budget.

The SAR people whether paid or volunteers, do what they do because they have chosen to do it and they want to help others. Most of them like being part of a SAR team. They don't do it to soak up our tax dollars or because someone is twisting their arm to do it. We should not carelessly depend on them, but we can be greatful that they are willing and available to help, when help is needed.

Some states have laws that require recipients of SAR assistance to pay for their resues. I don't know the details or if it's only if the rescue is determined to be due to carelessness. As far as I know, California doesn't have a law like that.

[John H]

Thanks Rick, Always appreciate the hard work SAR people put in.

[neverwashasbeen]

Typically it is the county the rescue takes place in, but it can be a local city or other agency. The main determiner is the location.

[halhiker]

YOU pay for it through your tax dollars.

HJ

Rescuing people is one of the few things I support my tax
Dollars going for.

[AlanK]

YOU pay for it through your tax dollars.

HJ

Rescuing people is one of the few things I support my tax Dollars going for.

I'm kind of partial to roads, fire departments, police departments, schools, universities, state and national parks, the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force, and a few other things like.. oh yeah. Civilization. Taxes are the price of civilization. And rescuing people.

[bluerail]

Jim, posting pics of some of our trips has just ended up getting me in trouble.

I'm tired of feeling harassed and just happy to be out there.

And Alan, if we could trim things down to our tax dollars just paying for civilization, I think we'd all be alot happier.