Charging this kid isn't right. Charging idiots who active a PLB because they realize they bit off more than they chewed? Yes.
I'm not willing to even go that far. I don't want someone who may be in real trouble deciding not to activate a PLB because of concerns with financial consequences. If we start acting like Monday morning quarterback on each rescue, its very easy to find some form of "negligence" involving each victim.
I think PLBs present a great opportunity to save lives. However, they have not yet been widely accepted. New, lower cost PLBs are going to help. But tying a financial liability to it will turn people off and send them to an inferior device that might have some type of rescue insurance attached to it.
Its not perfect, but I look at each rescue as a training opportunity and I've never even thought about punishing someone who may have stupidly gotten themselves into trouble.
Craig.
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