Funding Rescues

[JimL3222]

OK - So I am the LAST guy that would want to pay more $'s to Lansing, but hear me out on this. Other state's are doing this successfully and license fees have stablized. Here is the idea:

Have $1 for the first license fee each year go into a rescue fund. Only pay $1 per year for any kind of license (first one only!); fishing, trapping, hunting, whatever. This includes all out-of-state folks as well. If you pay the fee then NOTHING can be charged to the sportsman needing the help. All the cash goes into a pot administered by, well, somebody.

I saw this in action in a couple western states. I went hiking in Colorado, deep into the Rockies. While at an outfitter buying some gear the guy at the counter told me about this. I think the cheapest license I could buy there was a $7 out-of-state fishing license. The deal was, however, if I broke a leg up at 12,000 feet and a chopper was required to extracate me, no problem. BUT if I didn't have this "license insurance" the state could and would go after me for their costs. We are all buying licenses now, so it is no big deal.

Think of all the hikers, cross country skiers, mountain bikers, campers, and so on that would suddenly be buying a license? These types often pay nothing extra (besides state income tax) to support the land or water that they use for recreation. All those extra $'s above the $1 for the license purchased coming in for habitat improvement, as well as funding the assistance if needed. The state was typically getting a small surplus each year of their $1 rescue funding, which was used for equiping local's with rescue gear who might otherwise now use whatever was at hand.

Your thoughts?
:rolleyes:

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Stupid idea. We pay enough "fees" and taxes. Have the government spend wisely first then think about needed money.

[shadow7663]

Stupid idea. We pay enough "fees" and taxes. Have the government spend wisely first then think about needed money.
Enough said!!!!!!!!:yeahthat:

[William H Bonney]

If you guys don't mind,, I'd like to be in charge of the cash pot and be that "well, someone" that administers the dough.

Seriously, I don't think its that crazy. If you think about it,,, when license fees go up,, do we "really" know where the extra cash goes??? I'm sure you can get the answer from some "elected official" somewhere. But again,,,who knows?? :rolleyes:

[redshirt32]

I don't believe you should have to pay anything. Most of the rescues seem to happen on St Clair or Erie. Both of these are bordered by communities that have full time Fire Depts and also the Coast Guard all of which are getting paid to do their jobs and rescue is part of that.

[RichP]

Stupid idea...

Ouch. Quite a warm welcome for a new member. :lol:

But Mike's right, it is not a good idea.

I was just reading an article not too long ago about how the CG has all kinds of new gear they've been testing out and they're ready to go. Enough money is being paid already in other ways.

[Ed Michrina]

Jim welcome to the site. Thats an interesting Idea. But I'm going to have to take the stand with most. our tax $'s already cover this. If this got started I'm afraid it wouldn't stop at 1 dollar. This is michigan with in 10 years we would have to fork out 10 bucks x-tra to fish, boat or hunt. Like I said interesting idea but kinda scary

[Cobra]

Looks like it would be similar to openning Pandoras box. Once they start there would not be an end to it. Gets scary thinking about their other money making thoughts that would appear, all for our benifit, RIGHT.

[MSUICEMAN]

how many boaters get saved during the softwater months? seems to me that there is a double standard, and I would bet there are more missions during the softwater season than the hard, just that the media likes to make a big stink about the hardwater rescues. I do believe that the bordering counties should get a wee bit of state/federal money to pay for having a rescue team and all that, but who knows, there prolly is a federal grant out there that does just that for all intensive purposes.

steve

[eyecatcher]

Ira Township is charging a fee to take you off the ice I think it $575.00 or more. I was told by one of the rescue guys last uear might even be $675.00
At any rate the rescue teams gets paid by the run, so they like to be called out on the ice. They get to play with their new hovercraft. I live in IRA and I was never informed about any public meeting to approve the fee. I will be talking to the supervisor. If they want to charge they can repay the residents for all the rescue gear. we already pay to damn much in taxes for anyone to be add more fees to do their job.
The Coast Guard is a great group of people who risk their life to help us year around and we pay them year around. they are not asking for any extra fee to do their job. I dont think any other rescue group should expect a added fee to do the job we pay to do.

[tommy-n]

I agree with eyecatcher,we are taxed on the money we make, taxed on the money we spend, were does it end. All the toys and trailers we own have a plate or registration, we pay at the state launches,state parks etc. How many times do we have to pay every time we do something? JMO

[salmonslammer]

How can Ira Twp charge you, but not harrison or chesterfield, or......
Do they have the authority to do that?? Does the township lines extend into the lake?? How far out???:confused: The $$ that they received for the gear originally came from the tax coffers and st and fed funds...Now they want to pay for it again?? Isn't that a double indemity??


My money says that they are a volunteer dept and their pay is based on the # of runs they have, and the amount of $ that comes in....Sounds like a good way to boost the yearly revenue....


How much are they going to charge if your car slides off the road and rolls over and they need to send a resuce unit??

How much is the snow plow going to cost to drive by your house???

Sounds like a crock of..... :rant:


I agree with MSU on this one.......Its a double stardard for IF and not the boaters...Charge 1, charge them all.
I heard some idiot last summer hail a "mayday" from his 42' "motor yacht" about 10pm....Long story short....After a SAR by the CG, it boiled down to him running out of gas......Classic case of more $$ than brains...

[2PawsRiver]

Welcome to the site Jiml.

I have also heard of resuces costing the rescued money. If I were an ice fisherman and for a dollar if I take a chance and go out on some risky ice and have to get rescued and since I paid that dollar the rescue would not cost me, dosn't seem like a bad investment.

Alot of times rescues cost the resuced, both during summer and winter sports. You can be charged for anything, ambulance, fire dept, rescue, if it is determined you may have been negligent and put yourself in harms way or didn't take steps to protect you or your property.

As for the quality of equipment available or training, whether it's my butt or somebody elses that needs resuced, I would sure like to see them equipped as best as possible with the best possible training. ;)

[Ed Michrina]

I think we need to check into this. I'm not sure if the fire person that told Walleyevision wasn't full of poop.

the funny thing is during that BIG ice rescue where they lost there hovercraft the bought a new one. The weather station did a special on storm stories and they were out with a camera man on there new hovecraft. well they went oooops and hit a dock pole so hard it sent the camera man into the front seat and cracked the Large wooden pool . Major damage to the unit. They left shortly after.

The reason they didn't attempt to collect is because as rescuers they were suposed to be equipped for an ice rescue. They did so much wrong during there attempt they would have been held civilly accountable for there poor effort. Just a few things that went worng. No life jackets for anyone on the ice only for the ones that were silly enough to get into a 14 foot boat with an 8 hp motor in 4 footers. (they almost didn't make it back) the hovercraft ran out of gas. Well sure it did they drove around for one Hr. trying to look for us. WHY because the "rescuers" on the ice did not have falres. there recharge flashlights went dead with in 45 min's and the radios (well lets just say they wern't waterproof). the Fire dept added 3 x-tra people that needed to be rescued? There was no assistance when the ice borke up . The rescuers sat on the biggest hunk of ice with there DRY suits on and watched people flonder in the ice water ... some still with out life jackets. (the x-tra life jackets came form the CG.)..... If a cop shows up to a bank robbery without his gun and a radio that dosen't work and handcuff that don't work. can we say Jeffery fieger? The fire dept did the best they could and the guys that went out were brave or dumb but still the only professonlas on the lake are the CG. Let them try to charge us. If something go's wrong wow wat a law suit. rember If they are carging an individual for a rescue and something go's wrong due to there inapt training or eqipment. Law suits would fly.

Find out if this it true . IN every car accident someone is at fault we can charge them. and if your car stalls on the road and your tow truck isn't there we'll charge the owner for the tow and the time spent on the tow. Hmmm sound like something we all would want.

[trout]

If you want to create a fund, just create a state rescue fund and allow all people to pay $1.00 weather they are mushroom hunters, bird watchers or picnicers, or boaters, etc to [ay a buck each year and be rescued free of charge.
Don't lay it on the license buyers only.

[jpollman]

If you want to create a fund, just create a state rescue fund and allow all people to pay $1.00 weather they are mushroom hunters, bird watchers or picnicers, or boaters, etc to [ay a buck each year and be rescued free of charge.
Don't lay it on the license buyers only.
Now there's an idea !

Just make it a separate "license" type thing. Make it optional to anyone who wants to buy it. Heck, $5 a year would be worth it to me. Just make it like another license. If you ever do need to be rescued, they can just ask "Do you have your rescue card ? You do.... Ok glad you're ok. Have a nice day". It would basically just be another type of "insurance". I don't know if this would fly but it's an idea.

John

[tommy-n]

Yep, just what we need, another liscense, first it's a buck pretty soon it's up to 10 bucks.

[Chuck1]

That has got to be the dumbest Idea I've heard on this subject. (rescuer) Do you have your 5 dollar ice rescue liscense? (rescuee) No I didn't nuy one. (Rescuer) Sorry pal looks like today isn't your lucky day. Or we're going to rescue you but we're going to chargeyou whatever we want. They already get taxpayer dollars, and I for one am sick of this same thread getting posted every year. If you can't handle the risk don't go. Simple as that.

[jpollman]

Chuck,

I may not be the brightest member of the site but it looks like we're all just trying to find some kind of a solution to the problem. Yes, this same thread does get posted every year. But if you see the title of the thread and you decide it doesn't interest you, DON'T OPEN IT !
Yes the rescuers do get taxpayer money for the rescues they perform. But the funds are not limitless. Everybody wants to fall back on the "I'm paying for it through my taxes" arguement but maybe there could eventually be some kind of a system put in place that helps take some of the burden off of the taxpayers. I don't have all the answers but maybe if we're lucky, somebody somewhere will come up with an idea that will work. I agree that icefishing is a risky endeavour even when proper precautions are taken. But I get sick of the IDIOTS that head out onto the ice early and late in the season when it's been above freezing for a couple of days and even in some cases been raining ! And then have to put the rescuers lives at risk NEEDLESSLY !!

Maybe we could hear one of YOUR ideas ?

[tommy-n]

If your willing to pay more than you already are go for it, I''m not, like I said how many times do we already pay.

[ChapstickCharlie]

I remember a concern last year on this thread about people being more careless on the ice if they had 'insurance'. Seems ice fisherman already take too much unfounded criticism for rescues. Would we be setting ourselves up doing this?

[tommy-n]

I don"t care who you are or whay you do, EVERYONE NEEDS TO USE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE when going on the ice.

[Chuck1]

Tommy your absolutely right, We do need to take pre-cautions, but even the best pre-cautions can get blown away, when mother nature decides it's time. That is when the coast guard gets the call. Most of these county ,and township rescue outfits were non existant,until they recieved federal funding to add them. Meaning taxpayers paid for it. For inland lake rescue I think they are a good thing to have around , but On great lakes waterways I say leave it to the pro's USCG. They know what they are doing, they have the equipment,and are willing to except the risk. These glory hound local departments should stay off the big water, so they don't end up having to be rescued there damn selves. I'm not saying the local departments should not help out with logistics(ambulance's, blankets, Meds,and such) that is how it used to be anyway. You can take offence at what I'm saying if you like, I really do not care, I pay already for this ,and I am not going along with paying any more.

[Icet]

Welcome. I think we pay enough. I have a problem with being charged to be rescued. Sorry, thought that is why we pay taxes. That's what I expect. Bad enough the CG/Police turn you over to the pirates in the summer when you need help.

[Connor4501]

Lots of good points here, but the bottom line is: everyone that goes out and gets stuck on an ice floe gives the "ice fisherman" a black eye; on every newscast in Michigan...If the wind is blowing 25 MPH out of the west, you don't venture far out of Brandenburg Park, Cotton Rd., Selfridge public access, Metro Beach, Geno's and SCS...If the wind is blowing out the north, northeast or east, you don't venture far out from Fair Haven and points north of there on Anchor Bay; it's that simple... :rolleyes:

What are you gonna tell your son when he wants to go ice fishing on LSC but is scared to because he saw the 30 people on the news stuck on an ice floe??? :confused:

[neversunk]

Conner4541 hit the nail right on the head.....COMMON SENSE people!!! Besides...half the morons that I hang out with would just take extra beer out with them and take the chance if it only cost them an extra buck a year to guarantee a cheap rescue. It reminds me of the dumb stuff I did with a 4 wheel drive truck when AAA only charged $15 a year for towing you out of places you should'nt have gone to in the first place. Notice that AAA has changed their policies since then...hmmmm.... :chillin: