False Distress Calls


	MARINERS SHOULD HAVE A MARINE VHF RADIO TO CONTACT THE COAST GUARD ON CHANNEL 16 IN AN EMERGENCY. False distress calls and hoax mayday calls account for roughly half of Sector San Francisco cases. This translates to an estimated $3.2 million of taxpayer money, and an estimated 1,588 hours being wasted in the bay area for the first half of 2008. This ties up responders for actual emergencies, delaying valuable response time. These estimates do not include costs from local partner agencies. Boat owners/operators are responsible for ensuring everyone onboard understands that Channel 16 is an emergency channel, equivalent to 911 for phone lines. Owners/operators should advise children that the radio is not a toy, and should be used for emergencies only. The word “mayday” should only be used when there is an actual emergency. It is like yelling “fire,” only with more severe and costly consequences. It is unlawful for boaters to use channel 16 to conduct radio checks. Boaters who need to communicate with the Coast Guard for non-emergencies can contact the local station on channel 16 and request to use another channel to communicate. It is a violation of state and federal law to communicate false distress signals to the Coast Guard. This includes inappropriate mayday calls or otherwise hailing the Coast Guard when no emergency actually exists. Under Section 14 of the United States Code, an individual who knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed is; Guilty of a class “D” felony; Subject to up to six years in prison; Subject to civil penalty of not more than $5,000; and Liable for all costs the Coast Guard incurs as a result of the individual’s action. Under the California Health & Safety Code, Section 12684 it is unlawful for any person to use or discharge any registered emergency signaling device in any manner other than that permitted by the instructions for use.

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