Public Nuisance Laws

Aliantha · 02-12-2007, 05:56 AM

Recently a young man jumped off a cliff intending to land in the surf except he missed. Landed on a rock ledge with a dislocated shoulder and had to stay there for a night till the rescuers found him.

After he was fixed up at the hospital, he was escorted to the cop shop where he was charged with causing a public nuisance. If he's found guilty, he'll have to pay back the money spent on his rescue.

I think he deserves any punishment they serve up. Lifesavers have better things to do than rescue morons who endanger their own lives on purpose.

DanaC · 02-12-2007, 06:31 AM

I'd say landing on a rocky ledge, suffering the horrendous pain of dislocated shoulder and shivering through the night (probably by this time afraid, cold and in great pain), then being made to feel like a complete idiot afterwards, is punishment enough for what was a stupid act by a young man. \Bet he doesn't do anything like that again

We all do daft shit when we're young. Some of us get away unscathed, some of us do not.

Aliantha · 02-12-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

I'd say landing on a rocky ledge, suffering the horrendous pain of dislocated shoulder and shivering through the night (probably by this time afraid, cold and in great pain), then being made to feel like a complete idiot afterwards, is punishment enough for what was a stupid act by a young man. \Bet he doesn't do anything like that again

We all do daft shit when we're young. Some of us get away unscathed, some of us do not.

Until they charged him he was saying he'd do daredevil stuff again. I don't know if he's changed his tune now.

xoxoxoBruce · 02-13-2007, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Until they charged him he was saying he'd do daredevil stuff again. I don't know if he's changed his tune now.

He's clearly given them cause to nail him with costs in the future, anyway.
I would imagine someone has the power to say yea or nay on fining him this time, rather than, the law says he must be fined. His attitude will no doubt play a role in that decision.

xoxoxoBruce · 02-12-2007, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Lifesavers have better things to do than rescue morons who endanger their own lives on purpose.

What are lifesavers, Emergency Medical people(ambulance) or Life Guards that sit on the beach and save people from drowning?

Assuming not round candy with a hole in it.

Bullitt · 02-12-2007, 11:04 AM

When he costs the tax payers' money and the rescuers' time, he ought to be forced to repay either or both of those. Wash rescue vehicles, roll up and stack fire hoses, set up a monthly reimbursement plan, etc.
Humiliation and feeling bad doesn't bring back wasted time and resources.

Shawnee123 · 02-12-2007, 11:27 AM

Wow, I hope I don't have to pay everyone back because I hurt my knee playing basketball in high school, foolishly engaging myself in a potentially dangerous activity.

piercehawkeye45 · 02-12-2007, 11:33 AM

I have an idea, how about we go the extra step and just don't save him...

What constitutes as doing something that endangers his life? If there was a sign that said he shouldn't jump then he should be fined but if there wasn't, he shouldn't have to pay since that is what rescuers are there for.

lumberjim · 02-12-2007, 11:45 AM

rescue services are paid for by taxes, no? the kid's family has already paid. i say foul play.

Sundae · 02-12-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

rescue services are paid for by taxes, no? the kid's family has already paid. i say foul play.

As it was posted by Aliantha I assume it's an Australian case - the rescue service may well be publicly funded? I'm sure she'll clarify.

Don't really know which way I fall (!) on this one. I agree with Dana in that I doubt he'll be that much of an eejit again. And with Clod that the outcome of the situation - while not surprising - was accidental.

I think I'd suggest a caution for a first offence. The next one, sure - hit them with the full costs plus a fine.

Aliantha · 02-12-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

As it was posted by Aliantha I assume it's an Australian case - the rescue service may well be publicly funded? I'm sure she'll clarify.

Don't really know which way I fall (!) on this one. I agree with Dana in that I doubt he'll be that much of an eejit again. And with Clod that the outcome of the situation - while not surprising - was accidental.

I think I'd suggest a caution for a first offence. The next one, sure - hit them with the full costs plus a fine.

Lifesavers on the beaches work mostly on a voluntary basis and recieve very little funding from the government. They are people who volunteer their time willingly to save those people whose lives are endangered legitimately.

In this case, there were lifesavers as well as air sea rescue choppers etc along with police and ses (state emergency service - another voluntary organisation in the main part) involved.

Happy Monkey · 02-12-2007, 12:01 PM

Shades of Brazil...

"Don't fight it son. Confess quickly! If you hold out too long you could jeopardize your credit rating."

Clodfobble · 02-12-2007, 12:07 PM

The public nuisance law is kind of like a "prank fine:" if you call 911 as a joke, surely you should have to pay for the wasted resources? It's just a question of whether this guy's actions qualify. If he had jumped off the ledge to deliberately get an emergency response as part of an edgy Jackass-style documentary, surely he should have to pay the prank fine, right?

In this situation, on the one hand, he jumped deliberately, but on the other, he didn't intend to need rescuing. Hmm... maybe he should only have to pay for the rescue if he was yelling for help?

Aliantha · 02-12-2007, 05:34 PM

The bill came to over $10 000.

footfootfoot · 02-12-2007, 09:25 PM

I'm walking along a beach and I trip and fall, an accident. maybe I shouldn't pay full boat, but I'd feel so glad to be alive I'd make a nice donation to the cause.

I'm intentionally doing something risky, something that 99% of the population isn't also doing and I fall. Well, that is, how do you say? My bad?

02-12-2007, 05:56 AM	#1
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Public Nuisance Laws Recently a young man jumped off a cliff intending to land in the surf except he missed. Landed on a rock ledge with a dislocated shoulder and had to stay there for a night till the rescuers found him. After he was fixed up at the hospital, he was escorted to the cop shop where he was charged with causing a public nuisance. If he's found guilty, he'll have to pay back the money spent on his rescue. I think he deserves any punishment they serve up. Lifesavers have better things to do than rescue morons who endanger their own lives on purpose. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

02-12-2007, 06:31 AM	#2
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	I'd say landing on a rocky ledge, suffering the horrendous pain of dislocated shoulder and shivering through the night (probably by this time afraid, cold and in great pain), then being made to feel like a complete idiot afterwards, is punishment enough for what was a stupid act by a young man. \Bet he doesn't do anything like that again We all do daft shit when we're young. Some of us get away unscathed, some of us do not. Last edited by DanaC; 02-12-2007 at 01:09 PM.

02-12-2007, 11:04 AM	#6
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	When he costs the tax payers' money and the rescuers' time, he ought to be forced to repay either or both of those. Wash rescue vehicles, roll up and stack fire hoses, set up a monthly reimbursement plan, etc. Humiliation and feeling bad doesn't bring back wasted time and resources. __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

02-12-2007, 11:27 AM	#7
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Wow, I hope I don't have to pay everyone back because I hurt my knee playing basketball in high school, foolishly engaging myself in a potentially dangerous activity. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-12-2007, 11:45 AM	#9
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	rescue services are paid for by taxes, no? the kid's family has already paid. i say foul play. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

02-12-2007, 11:33 AM	#8
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	I have an idea, how about we go the extra step and just don't save him... What constitutes as doing something that endangers his life? If there was a sign that said he shouldn't jump then he should be fined but if there wasn't, he shouldn't have to pay since that is what rescuers are there for.

02-12-2007, 12:01 PM	#12
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Shades of Brazil... "Don't fight it son. Confess quickly! If you hold out too long you could jeopardize your credit rating." __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

02-12-2007, 12:07 PM	#13
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	The public nuisance law is kind of like a "prank fine:" if you call 911 as a joke, surely you should have to pay for the wasted resources? It's just a question of whether this guy's actions qualify. If he had jumped off the ledge to deliberately get an emergency response as part of an edgy Jackass-style documentary, surely he should have to pay the prank fine, right? In this situation, on the one hand, he jumped deliberately, but on the other, he didn't intend to need rescuing. Hmm... maybe he should only have to pay for the rescue if he was yelling for help?

02-12-2007, 05:34 PM	#14
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	The bill came to over $10 000. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

02-12-2007, 09:25 PM	#15
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	I'm walking along a beach and I trip and fall, an accident. maybe I shouldn't pay full boat, but I'd feel so glad to be alive I'd make a nice donation to the cause. I'm intentionally doing something risky, something that 99% of the population isn't also doing and I fall. Well, that is, how do you say? My bad? __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

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