Italy (again) introduces paid mountain rescue for the irresponsible
In Italy, new legislation effective from 2026 introduces payment for mountain rescue in cases of gross negligence, deliberate risk-taking, or unfounded calls for help. This measure, partially implemented by several regions already, now gains national level and raises important questions about responsibility, access to assistance, and safety culture in the mountains.
Source: Soccorso in montagna a pagamento – Giancarlo Falconi iduepunti.it, January 23, 2026
What does the law stipulate?
Payment for rescue will be required only in cases where the incident results from gross or severe negligence (e.g., consciously ignoring warnings, entering closed areas, deliberate risk-taking).
Payment will also be required for unfounded or false calls that activate rescue services without actual need.
The law does not interfere with the right to emergency medical assistance—if a person is injured or endangered, costs remain covered by the public system.
How much will it cost?
Helicopter rescue: up to 25 € per minute, with an upper limit of max 1,500 € (or 1,950 € in cases of very irresponsible behavior).
Ground team rescue: 75 € per hour after the first hour, up to max 1,000 €.
Discounts for locals: in the Abruzzo region, a 20% discount is planned for residents.
National trend of interventions (CNSAS)
Data from the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) show the overall trend of missions in Italy in recent years:
Year Number of interventions Rescued people
2022 10,367 10,125 people
2023 12,349 12,365 people
2024 12,063 11,789 people
Criticisms and concerns
Many experts warn that the line between mistake and negligence is thin. Even experienced mountaineers can make a mistake, hence the fear that the law would deter people from calling for help out of fear of costs.
Michele Comi, mountain guide, warns: "Even the most experienced can do something stupid. The enthusiasm for 'punishing' comes precisely from those who should know that no one is immune."
Does the law work (will it work)?
Data from regions where similar measures are already in force (Trentino, Veneto, Valle d’Aosta) show mixed effects: in some cases, the number of unfounded calls has dropped, but there is no evidence that the total number of rescues has systematically decreased; most rescue actions are still due to unpredictable circumstances, not negligence.
What could be transferred to Slovenian mountains?
If the Slovenian system wanted to follow the Italian model, it would make sense to consider: partial cost-sharing in cases of obvious irresponsibility (e.g., entering closed areas, ignoring warnings),
clear criteria distinguishing mistake from negligence, discounts for locals who regularly use the mountain world, strong preventive campaigns that educate rather than just punish, involvement of stakeholders and organizations: PZS, GRS and URSZR in shaping rules to maintain trust and expertise.
But the key question remains: does the Slovenian system even want this?
The current model enables (comfortable) growth and stable funding of rescue services, without the need for contentious assessments of responsibility. Peasant common sense has definitively and forever disappeared with the introduction of subsidies. What about mountain-rescue one?
Source:
https://gore-ljudje.net/novosti/zakon-o-zdravi-pameti-v-gorah/