Prepay for search & rescue

[Iceaxe]

How many of you think you'll sign-up? Other thoughts?

http://fox13now.com/2015/03/29/new-law-allowing-utahns-to-pre-pay-for-search-and-rescue-costs-gets-mixed-reaction/

[nkanarik]

I'd sign up, but I live outside UT. Why do they limit it to UT residents? They should expand it beyond if they want to generate more revenue (e.g. get canyoneering bodies to offer it, NPS to charge non-UT residents when applying for high risk areas permits, etc.)

[CanyonFreak]

Or they could raise the hunting fishing fee to $0.63 and HOV/Boating to $1.25 they would cover 100% of costs.

[Iceaxe]

The fishermen and boaters were bitching "why should we be the ones forced to finance SAR when we use such a small percentage of the actual budget". And they have a point. Hikers and mountain bikers were they big users of the SAR budget last time I checked and neither group contributes a dime.

[ratagonia]

Hikers and mountain bikers were they big users of the SAR budget last time I checked and neither group contributes a dime.

Huh. Hikers and mountain bikers are exempt from paying taxes?????

:moses:

[spinesnaper]

It the license and registration. I guess it is easy to levy more money on someone who is already being taxed.

[Iceaxe]

Huh. Hikers and mountain bikers are exempt from paying taxes?????

:moses:
Go buy a hunting and fishing license after registering your boat and we'll talk.

[moab mark]

Are there any Bogleyites, or any for that matter. That have been charged for a rescue? If so how much?

[rick t]

Colorados COSAR card is only 3$ per year, or 12$ for 5 years. http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DOLA-Main/CBON/1251592090523

[Iceaxe]

Are there any Bogleyites, or any for that matter. That have been charged for a rescue? If so how much?
Grand County (Moab) charges for SAR, I think they are the only ones that do it as standard operating procedure.

I believe some have been sent the helicopter bill when a private companies copter was used.

[Brian in SLC]

How many of you think you'll sign-up? Other thoughts?

I won't be signing up. As a dues paying member of the American Alpine Club...we get rescue insurance.

"So...I got that going for me. Which is nice."

(Caddyshack quote)

[moab mark]

Grand County (Moab) charges for SAR, I think they are the only ones that do it as standard operating procedure.

I believe some have been sent the helicopter bill when a private companies copter was used.

So is the feeling the other counties are going to start charging? Weren't there several rescues last year in the Hogs? Did anyone get charged? The lady at Stans said it was the same group both times?

[Iceaxe]

To the best of my knowledge the Hog rescues were paid for by the county, as I'm sure you know the Hogs are not in Grand County, which is the only county that bills.

Personally I'm not a fan of this deal for a multiple of reasons. But I also don't think it's fair they jack up the hunting, fishing, OHV and boat registration fees to pay for the SAR program. I think the funding should come from the same source as fire and police funding.

[MiCamp]

I'd probably buy into it if it were reasonably priced. For me that'd be around $15; about the same price as a beer and a burger after a canyon.

Of course we could also just levy a surcharge on tuxedo rentals.
http://www.bogley.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=69895&d=1381202249

[Slot Machine]

Of course we could also just levy a surcharge on tuxedo rentals.

http://static.fjcdn.com/gifs/Black_37de6f_2732182.gif

Home run, OUT OF THE PARK!! :2thumbs: :lol8:

[Scott P]

Go buy a hunting and fishing license after registering your boat and we'll talk.

So what you're saying is that you want to buy a hiking and canyoneering license after buying your hunting and fishing licence after registering your boat.:wink:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyway, I'd sign up for that program above, at least if the money went to SAR.

[spinesnaper]

How about putting a tax stamp on rope to support SAR-that should to it.:haha:

[ratagonia]

How about putting a tax stamp on rope to support SAR-that should to it.:haha:

Only if it also includes Harbor Freight ropes...

:moses:

[burley]

From sad personal experience I can confirm that Wayne County also charges, seemingly standard procedure. Cost was about $4000 (not including medical). Helicopter was about $700 of the 4k, I believe that cost is dependent upon which helicopter group responds.

[Iceaxe]

Just a quick update. It looks like the new Utah SAR Insurance Card is going to cost $25 for an individual or $35 for a family and will be available by June. The details are still being worked out.

[Sandstone Addiction]

I was discussing this with a friend of mine, who stays connected with Utah County SAR (has been a team member in the past and will be again soon) and he said that this will not cover any medical, ambulance or helicopter expenses. A person could still be held liable for that portion. Edit: he also mentioned that Mountain Star hospitals (Payson, Price, others) now charge $50,000 for a helicopter ride. Yes, that's $50,000. It's nuts. Something to keep in mind for sure. ( Bootboy , can you confirm this?)


Question: Will every county now charge for SAR services? I think if word got out that someone recreating in one of the other 27 counties, who hadn't paid the dues, needed to be rescued and wasn't charged...that might cause some discontent by those that have paid their annual fee.


I dunno, I guess I'll just look at it as a charitable donation and hope it actually gets to the SAR folks on the ground.

[Taylor]

Update:

A reliable source indicates the USARAC (Utah search and rescue assistance card) program will go online at rescue.utah.gov (http://rescue.utah.gov) around November 20th.

[peakbaggers]

Colorados COSAR card is only 3$ per year, or 12$ for 5 years. http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DOLA-Main/CBON/1251592090523

The Colorado CORSAR card program has been quite successful and many people of all recreational persuasions participate, so the money comes from all types of users and doesn't unfairly "tax" anyone. The costs is completely reasonable. I'm very glad to see Utah get on board with something like it. Just remember, it does not exempt one from the cost of a heli ride to hospital or provide medical insurance for injuries. Also - it should be extended to non-state recreationists.

[Iceaxe]

Isn't this why we pay taxes? I'll buy a card the day they start charging for the fire department or police department responding to a call.

[deagol]

$50K for a helicopter ride? just leave me here to die, I can't afford to be rescued.. :sad:

[jman]

I can see both sides: for and against this but I think in the end, this will be a good thing (and the gold standard nationwide eventually).

At the growing rate of canyoneering and Utah's growing outdoor exposure to the world, SAR isn't growing in comparison. Something needs to be addressed to help those guys out. And I don't think once a year fundraisers are the way to go.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk