Rescuers fined after freeing deer from Patapsco ice

[The Straight Story]

Rescuers fined after freeing deer from Patapsco ice (Maryland)
Officer said men were warned not to go out on the icy Patapsco River without life vests

Two men who rescued a deer trapped in Patapsco River ice were each fined $90 by a state Natural Resources Police officer because they did not have life vests aboard the inflatable boat they used to reach the animal.

A 911 caller reported a deer stuck in the ice near Route 648 in Linthicum about 5 p.m. Thursday, Sgt. Brian Albert of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police said.

A Natural Resources officer and a Baltimore County fire crew arrived and were discussing whether to attempt a rescue when two men on the scene decided they would do it themselves, Albert said.

"The river there, I'm told, is probably over 100 feet wide, maybe a little wider," Albert said, noting that the deer was "out toward the middle" of the river, which "more than likely has some current."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-deer-rescue-fine-20101218,0,6721485.story

[LisaL]

1. No good deed shall go unpunished.

[rucky]

2. While they don't deserve the fine...

if there were a swifwater human rescue that resulted from a deer rescue gone bad, who should foot the bill?

[elleng]

3. No problem with the fine, OR with 'friends' picking up the tab.

WE the PEOPLE of Maryland sh/would foot the bill, and its reasonable, imo, to charge 'users fees' such as this. edit: reading further, not exactly the type of 'user fee' I had in mind, but happy to live in civilized Maryland!

'Hart said the Natural Resources officer issued them $90 citations for not having personal flotation devices on board. State law requires that all boaters have a personal flotation device with them at all times on any navigable body of water, though they are not required to wear them unless they are younger than 16.

But Abusakran said he had two personal flotation devices in his boat, and that he repeatedly told the Natural Resources officer.

Albert said however, the men could have faced a stiffer charge: disobeying a lawful order.

"They could have been arrested and taken before a commissioner," Albert said. "Our officer erred on the side of the least invasive action that he could take at the time."

Hart said several people have already contacted him, offering to pay the citation, but he said that's not the point.

The men said they will fight the citations in court on Feb. 18.'

[The Straight Story]

4. Key word "IF"

If they had caused a problem and had to be rescued - fine, fine them then. To fine someone over something that could have happened and didn't seems a bit silly here.

[Loudmxr]

5. Maryland is an old state and has to have some type of law that allows them to bill for services.

Let's say $300 an hour per person for rescuing the deer. All that can go away if the fine goes away.

Everybody is happy. Laws are funny like that. Especially in old states.