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Or are only free government services for illegal aliens?

Good luck finding many (if any) of them here in NH, unless you count those couple of illegal Canadians standing outside Home Depot.

And frankly, if you knew how much one of these "rescues" costs, I have no problem charging someone who does stupid crap, not taking adequate precautions, etc.

We just passed a law here which states that hiking permits can and will be pulled from people who are negligent. If you don't pay, your driver's license can be revoked. Out of the about 140 rescues last year, only 10 fell into that category. Even if the new stricter standards are implemented, which lowers the standard from recklessness to mere negligence, that number would go to about 40 a year.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081230-NEWS-812300409

And notice the last line. Out of the $1 million spent by NH alone in the last decade, only about $25,000 has actually been collected. IOW, someone is making an issue out of stupid people being punished for doing stupid things.

For your review:

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Found+hikers+to+pay+up%2C+or+lose+license&articleId=bc8963ef-705a-477d-b254-e610c026d7ee

The cases being reviewed include:

--Nicola Taylor of Milford, a 45-year-old who allegedly was "highly intoxicated," officials said, when she walked away from her site at the Dry River Campground in Crawford Notch State Park Aug. 1. Cost to the state: $607.75.

--Michael Castiello and Dane Izzo Jr., both 20, of Massachusetts. Authorities said they were intoxicated and wandered away from their Hidden Valley Campground site in Derry on Sept. 21. They used their cell phone to call 911. Cost to the state: $377.07.

--Nan Yang, 30, and Christine Hou, 35, of Massachusetts had to be rescued Oct. 4 off the Liberty Spring Trail in Franconia Notch after they separated from their party, had no lights or equipment and used their cell phones to call for help, said Garabedian. Cost to the state: $197.38.

--On Nov. 2, Charson Lin, 32, of New York City, and Ying Yu, 25 of Cambridge, Mass. were near Mount Cardigan with no gear, no flashlight but had a cell phone. Cost to the state: $510.33.