Greymouth SARS Helicopter – via 111emergency.co.nz // Colin Thomas
The NZ Herald Reports
A tramper who apparently activated a personal locator beacon because he was running late and wanted a ride to his car has been slammed for wasting time and about $10,000 of taxpayers’ money.
The man, in his 60s, was tramping in the headwaters of the Otoko River area, on the West Coast of the South Island, when he activated the beacon about 4.30pm yesterday.
The Rescue Coordination Centre dispatched the Solid Energy rescue helicopter from Greymouth, only to find the man was uninjured.
What a prize cock.
Hope they throw the book at him.
“The incident tied up a helicopter for around two and a half hours, at a cost of around $10,000 to taxpayers, and more importantly meant that aircraft was unavailable for any other genuine emergency that may have arisen.”
Distress beacons are only permitted to be used in an emergency situation.Penalties for the misuse of a beacon include a formal warning, a $250 penalty and prosecution – which carries a maximum fine of $30,000.
Take the idiot to court and sue him for costs and a order a maximum fine. What is the point of a maximum fine not being applied in a case as blatant as this? Can you think of a situation less self-absorbed?
