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Posted on 03/08/2006 8:52:03 AM PST by Denver Ditdat
Coast Guard links man to 5 false reports
A hoax caller has endangered Coast Guard personnel and cost the service thousands of dollars searching the ocean for nonexistent stranded boaters, authorities said Tuesday.
The Coast Guard received two hoax calls about 7 p.m. Monday, bringing the total to five in the past several days, said Donnie Brzuska, Coast Guard spokesman. The calls all come in the same way --broadcast from a marine radio over channel 16, a rescue frequency for boaters.
The caller says, "Coast Guard, Coast Guard. Mayday, mayday. We're going down."
Investigators determined Monday's calls were a hoax when the man would not reveal more information so rescue workers could determine an area to search. The man's voice also closely matched the voice heard on earlier hoax calls.
"What he is doing is wrong," Brzuska said, "and he needs to take heed: This is not a joke."
Last Thursday, before investigators determined the distress calls were bogus, rescue boats, helicopters, and a jet spent all night searching the ocean north of Ponce Inlet for any signs of the reported 21-foot boat with four people on board. The fruitless search cost the Coast Guard nearly $60,000, Brzuska said, and that does not include the cost of diverting several helicopters and a vessel from a naval battle group.
"The price adds up quickly," he said.
Still, the Coast Guard must treat every distress call as an emergency.
"Not only is this hoaxster costing taxpayers big bucks," Brzuska said. "But he also is diverting search and rescue assets from people who need help."
Chief Rex Walsingham, Coast Guard search and rescue coordinator, worries about Coast Guard officers putting themselves into peril each time they must search for this bogus caller.
"Depending on the weather, the seas can kick up," he said, "and putting people out there increases the danger to them."
Anyone with information about the fake calls is asked to call the Coast Guard at (386) 428-9085.
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Moose-limb terrorists
Let's hope he sees the inside of a cell, where he'll find the joke less amusing.
L
Nah, I vote for home-grown morons. This kind of thing has been going on almost as long as there has been radio.
Most likely some kid with time on his hands, or a couple of kids egging each other on.
I hope the CG uses direction finders or some other method to track this guy down. If they catch him they should be able to ID him by voice analysis.
A few years in the pokey should sober him up.
I don't know if it's still happening, but years ago when my retired USCG hubby was stationed in New Bedford, they'd get emergency calls like that from fishermen. The scam they were running was, they'd fill up with enough gas to go to the fishing grounds, no more. Then they'd call the USCG with a mayday, and get towed back on the USCG's dime. There was talk that they were going to charge for these tows, I don't know if they ever did.
"The price adds up quickly," he said."
No doubt. But to take it a bit further, what about "legitimate" calls from wilderness hikers, mountain climbers, boaters attempting ridiculous feats, etc...
Every time I see one of those shows on TV about someone attemtpting something clearly filled with risk of disaster, I think "And who gets to pay for all the search and rescue?". (Not to mention the danger to the rescue personnel.)
Some of these clowns need to get hit with the bill before they think about trying it next time.
If you ever want to listen to a VERY dedicated bunch doing REAL rescue work in time of need, listen to The Maritime Mobile Service Net on 14.300Mhz (USB). Many lives have been saved through the dedication of these Radio Amateurs (HAMS).
When I was in the Navy we used to make a lot of jokes about Coasties having wheels on the bottom of their boats and wading ashore if they sank. The worst part of my joining in on those jokes is that I knew better, having grown up on the shores of Lake Huron and seeing the USCG in action. You guys are AWESOME!
I listen to the Ch. 16 traffic, and joke calls like this are not that uncommon. Seems likes kids can't resist grabbing the mike and goofing off. The coast guard always responds seriously and harshly at these attempts at childish humor.
Best not to leave your radio unsupervised.
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