Maria Pestrikoff has given the world another danger associated with texting. Pestrikoff was texting while walking toward a cliff to toss away a cigarette. While still texting, she slipped on the grass and went over the 60-foot cliff — causing a difficult rescue in Kodiak, Alaska.
Rescuers fought to get to her before the tide came in. They reached her when the tide was only ten feet away from carrying her out.
She is now recovering. When an accident like this is caused by negligence, should the person be required to pay for the part of the rescue? I have long taken the view that such services should not be charged to citizens, even in cases of negligence. However, there is a growing trend in charging citizens for rescues. What do you think?
Source: Daily Mail
No. Rescue services are part of what we get for paying taxes and why we support volunteer fire departments.
I also see on a daily basis the great lifeguards in San Diego rescuing people who ignore rip currents, and those who think they’re rock climbers getting stuck on the beautiful but unstable cliffs. They don’t charge for rescues but when I chat w/ these lifeguards[they’re actually firefighter/paramedics] they think there should be charges for some rescues.
Case by case analysis regarding charges for services is prudent, and warranted in this case. We all know the situation because it is so pervasive. When I walk through the UW campus I see thousands of students walking between classes, some on bikes and scooters. They do not speak w/ one another, they are texting and talking on their cells. It looks like it could be a scene from the Woody Allen classic, Sleeper.
“Pestrikoff was texting while walking toward a cliff to toss away a cigarette.”
I haven’t smoked for 28 years, but I never, while out in nature, “tossed away a cigarette.” I butted them out, field stripped them and, once I had switched to filtered smokes, put the remaining filter in my pocket. Shame on her.
Several an Diego County communities have instituted a policiy of charging NON-RESIDENTS for city-provided services, a policy which makes a certain amount of sense to me. City taxpayers pay for the police, fire and rescue department facilities and staff, and should not be charged again when they need the service, but non-residents can, I think, quite reasonably be expect to be billed for the services of agencies which they are not paying to fund.
Wow you are hiking out in nature and you are texting ???? what are you doing with the cell phone to start with …..enjoy the nature… wonder if she learned a lesson ???? hope she is Ok but to be billed for it… No that is what all those taxes go for that we pay… I think ????? lol hmmmmm the world today we live in… hell the government can’t even take care of our soldiers coming home…. just saying
Sarah has gained some weight, but in her defense, she was probably keeping an eye on Russia.
As someone who has his medical out of pocket capped at 200.00 per annum, I’d say no. After a few doctor visits at 40 per then my OOP is paid.
If you should ever decide to go wandering in Scandinavia (in the mountains) do it in Sweden.
Norway charges for rescues, even if is a heart attack.
My latest heart attack, the ambulance nurse did not ask to draw my credit card.
I will grant the woman doesn’t present a very sympathetic character. Smoking, fat, litterbug, careless, but we can’t start singling out those who deserve care from those who don’t. What about those of us who eat too much salt or sugar, catch a sexual disease, get injured from an extreme sport? The list would never stop.
And what Justice Holmes said. Again. You’re on a roll JH.
No. I would wager a good many if not most accidents are caused by negligence. We are humans. Not robots.
#naturalselectionatwork
Rick Roberts… there is a vast difference between negligence and stupidity.
Charging people for rescues?
Negative.
Isn’t this stuff already paid for?
It’s kind of funny how the STATE says “We must tax you to pay for the provision of general welfare.” then when they provide that paid for service… charge you AGAIN!
“However, there is a growing trend in charging citizens for rescues. What do you think?”
That growing trend may be the result of the incessant plunder of the treasury by the plunder barons, leaving none for wee the people.
The 1% have been so busy destroying other nations so they can rebuild them, and that noble adventure is sooo wonderously expensive, as noble adventures tend to be … thus, rescuing citizens is not high up on the list of things that make heroes, so cut the budgets and let the hoi polloi eat cake.
There is always an example of the stupid hoi polloi to put on the MSM to show why the little people should be charged for their lowly stupidity, and why the 1% should not be charged for their magnificent stupidity.
FWIW….
No…..
The question must be asked…. is this a life worth saving?????
Well I think that if we are going to AAAARRRRRGGGGGggggggggg…………
Stupid is, as stupid does………..
Fat litterbug.
We should not pay for her health care which will be required because she is a dumb smoker. And to say dumb smoker is an oxymoron and in this case the photo suggest a bit of an ox for sure.
Absolutely not! Until we start charging the oil companies for the wars we fight to protect their interests, no citizens should be charged for a rescue. I am only partially joking about the oil companies. Rescue is an important function of government for which taxpayers pay. If we start charging an accident could bankrupt a victim. Many of these services have already been outsourced, can you imagine the charges a private rescue corporation would dream up. Did you know that some ambulance service providers charge a thousand dollars to go a few blocks, just for the transport?