Time to charge for abusing emergency services ?

Dirk Diggler · 29 Jul 2020 at 12:54

Prompted by the video below which is the latest Tik Tok trend apparently (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53578780), and also examples like people going hill walking in shorts & t-shirt when weather is forecast to be bad etc.. is it time to maybe have a panel of people like justice of the peace type position deciding if people should be made to pay financially for wasting time and risking lives?

This particular "trend" is just ridiculous, and it only flourishes due to the lack of repercussion. The second video is taking the quest for internet video fame to another level, although thankfully charges could be brought in that case. Unfortunately, she was spared jail time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53494556

Dirk Diggler · 29 Jul 2020 at 13:01

Dis86 said:
My immediate answer is yes. The only issue is you'll get some people who genuinely do need the emergency services who will be afraid to call them out because they'll be worried that they can't afford to pay.

That's a fair point, actually. You do hear stories of tins of beans stuck where they shouldn't be.

Dirk Diggler · 29 Jul 2020 at 13:05

Tony Edwards said:
I dont think a girl getting stuck in a swing is the same as some idiot that throws a chair off a balcony. One was a criminal offense and the other was bad luck.

If we go down that route shouldnt we be charging people for medical expenses who get corona after going to the pub?

Yes, I agree with that. The second video was added as an example of where this quest for viral video fame leads. Only the first video would merit a financial reclaim if it were permitted.

Dirk Diggler · 29 Jul 2020 at 13:08

Ahleckz said:
It punishes the poor who are probably more likely to need the services of the emergency services, so no. A terrible idea.

No, we would fine the wealthy idiots too. Just because someone isn't wealthy doesn't mean we shouldn't fine them... It's probably a bigger deterrent to the poor?

Dirk Diggler · 29 Jul 2020 at 13:58

pepp77 said:
I visited my sister in Ireland a few years ago and there were loads of kids playing outside with my niece, but my sister and her husband were both out at this time. One of the kids whilst playing fell and hit their head. Being from the UK and it being the head I obviously suggested we call an ambulance to be on the safe side. I was instantly knocked down on this because they said they had to pay for the ambulance! I was astounded.

It's not the same as getting stuck in a toddlers swing in a quest to be an internet viral video hero.

Dirk Diggler · 29 Jul 2020 at 14:12

Junglist said:
I don't think so. When I had a bike accident a few years back it was really nice knowing I could go to the hospital and not be faced with a huge bill. We should be proud and doing all we can to protect these services.

Did you even read the OP? It's not a blanket charge being proposed.

Dirk Diggler · 29 Jul 2020 at 18:15

Conscript said:
And who defines what equals "well prepared", or what "unexpected weather" is?

I'm interested in your opinion so I'm not going to argue with the bulk of your post even if I don't agree, I'd just like to point out that I did say in the OP that it could be decided by a justice of the peace or similar.

iamtheoneneo said:
Honestly the swing incident isn't really an issue just a stupid thing to do as a teenager (easy to forget we did dumb stuff as well!)

It isn't an isolated incident, it's a Tik Tok trend apparently. I'll add this link to OP so it's clearer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53578780