Coast Guard warns against sending fake emergency flares

WSVN-TV -  

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- The U.S. Coast Guard is reminding boaters to only shoot flares in case of emergencies. 
 
Coast Guard officials said, they are sending out the advice now because of a rash of recent non-emergency flare-ups that cost them time and money. "Flares are an emergency signal for someone in distress, and as a result of all of these false alarms, it's a tremendous strain on our resources," said U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Gabe Soma.

Aircraft and watercraft are deployed to save lives, but on multiple occasions, officials said, they have responded to false alarms. "They are not a toy," said Soma. "It's very dangerous to send an aircraft off shore in the middle of the night to search for a flare that someone shot off for fun."

Since last Friday, the Coast Guard has reported five cases involving flares, one of which included a C-130 aircraft and a small boat search that cost taxpayers $43,000. "It puts a tremendous strain on the service, on the taxpayers' dollars, and there is really no place for false alarms," said Soma.

So, next time think before shooting a flare. Anyone who knowingly sends a false distress message or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed could be found of a class D felony.

It costs the Coast Guard between $11,000 and $18,000 an hour to send an aircraft out on a distress call. And guess who pays for it? You do. The taxpayer. So, if you shoot them, make them count.

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