Two Men Fined for Using Distress Flares for No Emergency

Two Rhode Island men attending a wedding set out to celebrate in a way that came with a hefty fine after causing an unnecessary search and rescue attempt by the Coast Guard.

After attending the wedding, the two guests had a borrowed flare gun with flares and set out off the coast of New Shoreham, Rhode Island to set them off in celebration of the wedding reception.

Unbeknownst to the two men, more than the wedding party saw the display.  Others nearby who saw the flares alerted authorities which dispatched the Coast Guard to begin search and rescue by boat and helicopter for what they thought was someone in distress.

Deemed unnecessary and expressing collectively between the Coast Guard and New Shoreham, over $100,000 was spent to search for the non-emergency taking place.

Both men have been ordered and agreed to pay $5,000 each.