dunno what the big deal is police agencies split seized drug money/goes back to the city or whatever and dont forget cars/property stay getting auctioned off
The crux here is that it goes towards the thought that only citizens w no record should be saved on tax dollars. It doesnt really fly. Locally, the discussion is if you didn't do something jacked up and caused your predicament in a frivolous way, it should be on tax dollars, otherwise, we are getting into a dangerous path of judgment of who deserves to be rescued. How can anyone price it was reckless, I think if they used the drugs, it would not be in the car. If the intent was to use them, they would have had them with them. If that is the case, and it was a hike w no drugs involved, the rescue should not be charged to them just because one of them had a little drugs in the car. It getting awfully close to denying rescue to people to bonafide rescue when they need it, just because they are not perfect citizens. Too close to 1984 to me. How can we prove they got lost because they got high? I get a feeling it was not, but caused by inexperience. That little drug would have been with them if that was their intent. I followed this rescue and the were in dire straits and would have died very soon, they had about 24h or less left had they not been rescued. Dont think the little drugs they found should have any repercussion on the rescue itself. Charge him separately on this. Anything else is stupid IMO. IMO.
Regardless if it was to go get high or not, then why not start billing direct resultants: For example, a reckless driver in a fender bender for taking up the cop's time. Or the domestic spat a couple have and cops arrive - spare the tax payer the dime for the time and charge it the arguing couple and the DUI driver. The list could be endless.
So agree with your post. I mean, isn't it as reckless to go hiking with not enough water, or to go jogging even without any supplies. or to get out of your bogged car in a snow-storm and then get lost? What about a couple on a boat to drink and party - but not there to fish, who get lost at sea? Reckless behavior is subjective and privvy to certain laws. Rescues have nothing to do with that.
