An escape artist with a profit motive and a flair for attention owes $60,000 for his foolishness. The assessment is quite appropriate in today’s atmosphere of “reality” activities and risk-taking designed to gain followers and, ideally, to make money.

A Key West, Fla., judge has ordered Michael Patrick, who works under the name of “Patrick the Escape Artist,” to pay $60,000 restitution to the Coast Guard, the city’s fire and police departments and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission because of a two-day search mission following Patrick’s Oct. 31 back-flip into Key West Harbor. Police discovered the man the next day at a Key West house with his girlfriend, planning a big “coming out” in the media – to profit from his caper.

A judge ruled Patrick, who already has served some jail time, guilty of culpable negligence and assessed the fine. His escape act for the past 15 years at local celebrations included hanging upside down while freeing himself from chains and a straitjacket, on the order of the old Harry Houdini routines. He changed things on Halloween, back-flipping into 35-foot-deep waters. Some audience members dived in for a rescue when he didn’t surface immediately. Great concern arose.

The calculated “escape” led to the costly search, thus the bill payment ordered by the judge. That’s good. People who force individuals and agencies with public safety goals to rally and operate needlessly, at considerable cost, should have to pay.

Consider, for example, hikers, climbers and other explorers who go on various missions even though they are warned by authorities about hazardous weather conditions and various risks. Too many of them, like Patrick, do this to assuage their egos and fatten their purses. When their ventures turn perilous and even deadly, they and their families and friends expect emergency operatives to let out all stops to save them. It is only reasonable to have such people sign pre-action commitments to foot the bill for any resulting rescue missions.

If it cost $60,000 to handle the “rescue” of “Patrick the Escape Artist,” make him pay for his folly. This lesson should be carried over to other escapades such as this.