Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons intends to bill the widow of missing multimillionaire adventurer Steve Fossett for $687,000 the state spent in searching for the famed aviator last fall
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=90982

I think Oregon can bill people for expensive search and rescue operations - like on Mt Hood.

from 2006-
[Sheriffs in Oregon enforce the cost-recovery law only "when people do really dumb things," Tiffany says.]
[Leniency goes out the window in many places when people make hoax reports of emergencies. The Coast Guard seeks reimbursement for all-out searches triggered by false reports. In 2005, Jennifer Wilbanks, the "runaway bride" who disappeared four days before her scheduled wedding and phoned her fiancé with a phony tale of being abducted, was ordered by a judge to pay $15,800 to Georgia city and county officials who had searched for her.

At $5,000 an hour to operate a large helicopter, searches can get expensive. Examples:]
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...h-debate_x.htm


I don't know - if someone chooses to do very risky activities & they are a multimillionaire - I think the state should get reimbursed.
I'm sure she could find a way to deduct the expense on her taxes.
http://www.stevefossett.com/
Most likely Fossett was well covered by an insurance policy also.

Taxpayers have to pay for so many things, including natural and manmade disasters (hurricanes and war). It doesn't seem right for taxpayers to cover the costs incurred from a multimillionaire's hobby of extreme adventure and risk.

It's sad, but I don't see the harm in having his wife pay for the cost. You can always send her a donation.

A completely agree with this and Colorado has had cases where the person(s) have had to reimburse.

In the link I provided it also said:

Billing someone for the costs of a search is unusual.

On Tuesday, before Kieckhefer revealed the governor's plans, state Emergency Management Director Frank Siracusa said state and local government search and rescue workers have a long-standing tradition of not charging when they hunt for missing persons, even for multimillionaires such as Steve Fossett.

"We do not charge the rich or the poor," Siracusa said. "There is no precedent where government will go after people for costs just because they have money to pay for it. You get lost, and we look for you. It is a service your taxpayer dollars pay for."


I just don't believe his widow should be penalized because she and her husband are "rich." When it has already been stated "we do not charge the rich or poor."

If you want to read stuff about what's going on with Jim Gibbons and have a real hay day...read what's going on with he and his wife...this will really raise your hair...

They have separated...she's living in the Governor's Mansion and he has moved out!!!!

http://governing.typepad.com/13thflo...bbons-dec.html

I've known Jim and Dawn since 1990...they've always been a flamboyant couple...

I take exception to this remark. Steve Fossett was a very experienced, gifted, knowledgeable, and respected pilot. Until his plane is found, no one will ever know what happened to him. There are only two things that cause accidents...mechanical failure and human error. The ony way know which what ever happened to Steve is find the missing aircraft.

Search and Rescue efforts are launched when an aircraft is reported missing and it doesn't matter who the pilot is...rich, poor, male, female, or whoever they may be.

There are still people looking for Amelia Earhardt...

I have met Steve Fossett...and am very glad I had the opportunity to meet this aviation pioneer.

People engage in a lot of risky behavior with out much thought to the taxpayers or people that put their own lives on the line to rescue them. I don`t think it is unreasonable to seek compensation for the taxpayers expense in these cases.

Ever watch dangerous catch about the Alaskan crab fishermen? Just guessing the taxpayers are left holding the empty bag for a fleet of Coast Guard ships, helicopters, and crew that risk their lives so these people can make money.

A tax subsidized industry?

What you all are failing to comprehend is that this was not a risky flight. It was just a normal, run of the mill flight that any one of us could have taken.

It's simply the fact that is was a "well-known" person who happened to have a "lot of money."

If this was me and I took off from my local airport in my airplane just like Steve did and failed to return after a reasonable amount of time, a search and rescue effort would be launched. It's standard operating procedure.

If after a reasonable amount of time, I was not found, the search would be called off. If local volunteer aviation groups want to continue the search at their own expense, that is up to them.

If any of you think that this situation is any different that searching for Steve Fossett, then you are sadly mistaken. I am no different than he is. I am a pilot, he is a pilot. He took off from an airport in an airplane and disappeared...my scenario is the same. I would not expect my family to be billed for search and rescue efforts.

Jim Gibbons is grasping at straws to try and save face b/c he is trying to steer the reporters elsewhere. He's in hot water with the taxpayers in Nevada and I think that's the only reason why he's doing this. There has to be more to the story. I've known Jim for a very long time...this is just not right...I feel bad for Steve's wife...Jim knows better.

The quote thingy isn't working for me but I hope this works. This was posted by The Sleeper--

People engage in a lot of risky behavior with out much thought to the taxpayers or people that put their own lives on the line to rescue them. I don`t think it is unreasonable to seek compensation for the taxpayers expense in these cases.

Ever watch dangerous catch about the Alaskan crab fishermen? Just guessing the taxpayers are left holding the empty bag for a fleet of Coast Guard ships, helicopters, and crew that risk their lives so these people can make money.

A tax subsidized industry?__________________

My husbands family are fishermen and I can personally tell you they don't make that much. Their seasons are getting shorter and shorter and the corporations are running the regulars out of business. If you knew what the fisherman get paid per pound compared to what we as consumers pay at the store you would be really surprised. It is a very dangerous, hard job that many do as there is no other type of work in the small towns where many of them come from. Hope this does not offend as it was not intended...Sue

If a state law allows for it -
I think if any billing/payment is made it should be along the lines of "ability to pay" possibly a sliding fee thing.
And applied across the board for all time and resource intensive search & rescues.
Hikers, boaters, pilots.....
Oregon had people that got lost driving on logging roads during winter and got stuck in the snow.
And 2 missing climbers from 2006 are still on My Hood somewhere.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,237101,00.html

************
FOR THE RECORD
from his site- http://www.stevefossett.com/html/mai...s/records.html

Steve Fossett is among the world's greatest adventurers - and in his career he has set 115 new world records or world firsts, holding current official World Records in 5 sports.

Between February 2005 and March 2006 Steve achieved the First Solo non-stop Round the World airplane flight, a follow-up 'Ultimate Flight' of over 41,000 kms, thus setting the record for the longest non-stop flight in aviation history plus a further world record RTW flight for absolute closed circuit distance (all in Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer). These three extraordinary airplane flights plus his First Solo balloon flight Round the World on Bud Light Spirit of Freedom (2002) were all milestones in aviation history.

Additionally, during the solo, non-stop Round the World balloon flight Steve also covered 3,186 miles in a single 24 hour period - and hit a top speed of 200 miles per hour - flying faster than anyone ever had by manned balloon. On previous global attempts Steve achieved the first balloon crossing of the continents of Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, and the first ocean crossings of the South Atlantic, South Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Steve Fossett is also the most successful Speed Sailor in the history of Sailing. His 2004 Round the World Record of 58 days 9 hours and 2001 TransAtlantic Record of 4 days 17 hours (both now superceded) were dramatic improvements over the previous records. Between 1993 and 2004 Fossett set 23 official world records in sailing (including 2 single-handed records), 11 of which still stand.

In gliders Steve achieved the first 1500 Kilometer Triangle flight and the first 2000 Kilometer Out-and-Return flight. In the last 3 years he has set 10 of the 21 Glider Open World Records.

Steve also holds Round the World records for medium weight airplanes (in both directions) as well as the U.S. transcontinental records for non-supersonic airplanes and unlimited turboprops. And in October 2004 Steve set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships!

In addition, he has completed premier endurance sports events including the Iditarod, Ironman Triathlon, and the English Channel swim.