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Vermont State Senator Kevin Mullin has introduced a bill that will fine skiers up to $500 for intentionally skiing out of bounds at resorts in the state. The bill is in response to the estimated 50 people who have required rescue this winter after skiing out of bounds and getting lost.
Mullin’s district contains Pico and Killington ski resorts. Most of the “lost” skiers were at Killington:
“There’s been a lot of it this year, especially at Killington, and it’s quite costly when we’re sending out rescue teams to find people,” Mullin said.
“Nobody goes out of bounds thinking that they’re going to get lost,” he said, “but inevitably it happens and I just think it would be helpful to have a sign that says, ‘It is a crime to ski out of bounds’....”
The bill is expected to be discussed by the Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee next week. Mullin and committee chairman Richard Sears both have stressed that the burden falls on the skiers, and not the resorts.
“Whose responsibility is it when (skiers) choose to do something reckless?” Sears said. “I remember playing golf down in Florida and seeing a sign: ‘Water moccasins.’ Well, I gotta tell you, when I dropped the ball in that pond, I didn’t go looking for it.”
