An important point to consider;
New Hampshires Fish and Game Department for years has been charging unprepared hikers for the cost of rescuing them from the woods. It now has the power to revoke their drivers licenses if the fines go unpaid, and can fine those who act only negligently instead of the harder to prove standard of recklessness.
Just this late summer, at the top of Cannon Mountain, I saw a mountain employee and a Fish and Game Employee trying to convince 4 young people (18-20 year olds), that they should "absolutely NOT attempt to hike down from the top of the mountain as they were dressed!". Evidently, these 4 had taken the Tram to the top of the mountain and thought they could hike back down. The 4 were hasidic Jews dressed in smooth leather soled business shoes, black dress slacks, long-sleeved white shirts, covered by a light weight, black business suit type jacket (essentially, the very common attire that they might wear to go to temple in). They had no supplies with them whatsoever.
The fish and game officer told them that the trail was dangerous and that they were not properly dressed or prepared for the hike. They insisted they could make it. The fish and game officer called over the Mountain employee (who happens to be my brother in law and SAR member), and he too, tried to explain the danger to the 4 of them. They insisted that would go anyway. Right then, the Fish and Game officer told them that if they required rescue or SAR in ANY capacity, that they would be charged for every penny of the costs. The 4 took off on their hike in their street shoes. It took them a long time to reach the bottom of the mountain, but they all arrived safely.
Right after these 4 left on the hike, a young couple with a child in a stroller headed down the same trail. The Fish and Game officer and my brother in law gave them the same warnings. They decided to take the tram back down instead of hiking.
These sorts of situations are common... especially on Mt. Washington. My brother works ski patrol in winter and as SAR during summer. He tells people they are not prepared... and then ends up rescuing them. THESE are the sorts of people who get charged for the expense of their rescue.
When my brother goes out to rescue someone in Tuckerman's Ravine on Mt. Washington in spring or late summer, he never knows what he will find. If they find a well prepared, well equipped hiker who's just lost their way, or was injured... no problem, no fees. If they find a guy in street shoes and shorts with a backpack which contains a granola bar and a six of beer... he's gonna' pay for his rescue.
In past, they had to prove that they guy with the granola bar and beer was "reckless"... a VERY hard standard to meet (nearly impossible). With the change in law, "negligent" is much easier to prove... and THAT is the real benefit to the change.
The SAR guys that I know, don't TRY or HOPE to be able to recover costs from those they rescue... but they DO hope that if they risk their own lives to save an idiot (6 of beer/granola boy), that because of the fee reimbursements, the guy will never do it again.
I don’t think so. 
