Maricopa County drivers won’t be charged for monsoon storm rescues
Aug 14, 2018, 6:04 PM | Updated: Aug 15, 2018, 8:14 am
Jim Sampson retrieves items from his 2002 Toyota Corolla stuck in flood waters on I-10 east at 43rd Ave. after monsoon rains flooded the freeway in Phoenix, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow)
(AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow)
PHOENIX — If you suddenly find yourself stuck in an unrelenting monsoon storm while driving in the Phoenix area, you should not hesitate to call the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office will not charge drivers under the so-called stupid-motorist law who find themselves in need of a rescue during monsoon season, Sheriff Paul Penzone told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac and Gaydos.
And with five storms in the past six days in the Phoenix area, it is more likely that drivers find themselves in trouble this monsoon season.
“It’s a tough call because what we do not want is to see people in a situation where their safety is in jeopardy and they’re valuing that against a monetary challenge,” Penzone said.
“Like, ‘If I make the call, this is the penalty and therefore…’ and all the sudden we’re doing a life-saving extraction and time is not in their favor anymore.”
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The stupid motorist law, which was passed in 1995, allows the state to charge motorists up to $2,000 for rescue costs if they drive around a barricade or warning sign into a flooded area.
So far this year, only one Valley driver, 20-year-old Cooper Moore, was charged with violating the law after he drove past barricades into a flooded wash near Miller and Thomas roads in Scottsdale.
Penzone said he feels that the law is necessary because “we want to influence people to avoid bad judgement and bad decisions.
“At the same time, we don’t want to see a loss of life because someone is fearful to call us because of those circumstances. And that’s where you have to weigh it out,” he added.
Penzone said his department always puts saving the lives of others as their priority.
“I don’t know that there’s a right answer… I think the law was put into place for all the right reasons, I just want to make sure we are putting preservation of life in the right priority,” Penzone said.
“I might change my mind down the road, but right now we just want to make sure people are calling us for help.”
