[Denver Ditdat]

There's a big difference between random landline calls to ask "Is your refrigerator running?" and making false Mayday calls on the VHF marine frequencies. Someone is going to learn a harsh and costly lesson when he's found out.

[Denver Ditdat]

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[STD]

Moose-limb terrorists

[dighton]

Someone is going to learn a harsh and costly lesson when he's found out.

Let's hope he sees the inside of a cell, where he'll find the joke less amusing.

[Lurker]

Wasn't there just a story a couple weeks ago about a guy who was fined a huge amount for pulling this crap?

L

[Cicero]

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.

[Publius6961]

I hope they set up triangulation and nail this [censored] soon. Odds are he is not on a boat...

A few years in the pokey should sober him up.

[MizSterious]

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.

[Pessimist]

"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.

[Wingrider]

I was in the Coast Guard and flew SAR missions. Yes, our lives were on the line every day and for someone to pull this stunt is beyond belief. While stationed in St. Petersburg, Florida we lost a plane and six good men. One day later and it would have been me.

The boat that was supposedly sinking made it home unharmed own it's own. I often said that we flew when no one else would. The weather was so bad that we believed the pilot dipped a tip tank in the water trying to keep the boat in sight once it was located. This was our fixed wing HU 16E Grumman Albatross with a crew of six. May they rest in peace.

[jettester]

A friend and I went out on his boat to Catalina one day and decided to head back to the mainland later than we should have. Halfway back the swells were up pretty good and we had to constantly be course correcting to hit the waves the right way. This worked well until one wave swamped us, broke the windshield and tore off the sun tarp. The engine was still going so the pumps were on-line (luckily) but our progress was going nowhere.

We called in our situation to the Coast Guard and they immediately wanted to know if we were declaring an emergency. I was thinking "h*ll yes" but my friend said no but that we just wanted to alert them to our situation. The Coasties said fine and we kept in touch during the whole ride back - took us three times as long and we were freezing and cut up from the shattered glass.

But, knowing the CG was only a radio message away made us feel a lot better on the long and cold trip home.

[teletech]

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).

[Wiseghy]

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.