getting pulled over?

[branman1971]

Re: getting pulled over?

I have never been stopped. However, a few weeks ago, a couple of wardens on a patrol boat keep eyeballing me thru their binoculars. I knew it was because of my coozie....with a Diet Pepsi in it, that was on the dash. They never stopped me. When I was pulling the boat out, they came in and as one was walking by, he was looking hard at the coozie. I told him next time, just pull up and ask what I was drinking. I wouldn't be offended. I know they guy has a job to do.

If game wardens were interested in what people were drinking or that they had a coozie, they would stop every boat on the water. I rarely see a boat in my area where drinking alcohol is not happening. The sailboaters often have wine glasses, the fishermen with their canned beer, and the cruisers with the longnecks. The law states (at least in MD) you can drink on the boat, even while operating the boat, but you cannot be legally intoxicated.

 

[56 rude]

Re: getting pulled over?

One of the places i boat is the st.marys river between Ontario and Michigan.Just off the top of my head there are 10 yes no less than 10 agencies that could pull you over.Not a good place to be doing something illegal or stupid but a good place for getting rescued,lol.

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: getting pulled over?

I mostly boat in the susquahanna river in, Pa. The area where i put in has 2 ramps and gets very buisy on the weekends.

The Pa boat commision likes to sit in the parking lot and when you pull your boat out they direct you to the side to check you out. Pa law states they can only check you out if they see a violation and its amazing how every other boat has a violation.

Ive been stopped 4 times this year to be checked out I never got a ticket they just want to see if you been drinking etc. Ive been told the reason im being stopped range from "could not read your registration #'s to possibly to many people on my boat???? which is a crock of Sh**. This is the only area that I know of that they sworm. There even to lazy to get in a boat they just wait for you to come in.

 

[Euro95]

Re: getting pulled over?

Over here the cops are only hunting down boats going too fast, no inspections or whatsoever. Not getting caught is matter of knowing when to play around, and where to do it.


What kind of boats does the cg or other officials use on U.S. lakes?

 

[travaler18]

Re: getting pulled over?

here on winnipesaukee in nh we have many marine patrole boats out .the lake is very crowded these days,and a lot of very fast boats with a lot less water due to crowds makes a bad combo.add the idiot factor ,throw in all the jet skiis and you need some policing .not to mention the fact that the president of the nh boaters ***. crashed into an island after leaving a bar (dui has not been proven yet but suspected).so i think we as a whole should welcome the stops as a safty factor.of course i havnt been stopped in years and if they are a jerk to me i take it all back

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Re: getting pulled over?

I got stopped once on Lake Puddingstone and they recommended I turn my engine air scoop around. I told them no thank you and went about my business.

 

[cuzzx]

Re: getting pulled over?

A few weeks ago, me, my wife, her sister and my father-in-law were out on Panama City Fl. Bay. We were in close , about 3 ft of water. Noticed the Coast Guard coming by, then turn toward us. I said here He comes and the two girls started to get there permits out. When He got to us the first thing he said was, Thought I might have someone until you ladies got up and started looking. I knew then you were ok. He checked us, I ask a few quetions about the new laws. Then he left, checked another boat . When he left them they left, went to the dock.

 

[mthieme]

Re: getting pulled over?

Here in Maryland we have DNR (Marine) Police seemingly with not much else to do other that check the dickens out of you. I have found that during the week when fewer boats are out and if you are fishing/crabbing/sitting/drifting - not moving much in general, you are easy prey for them. Matter of fact, when I whip out my hydroplane they go the other way!
I could tell you story after story about how ridiculous they can be. The laws are getting more and more ridiculous too. I work with cops and I know the mindset, but everyone is not out to break the law.
I've contemplated registering my vessel with the Coast Guard - used to be they only detain you until USCG arrives - just to be able to give them a hard time. Not that it would do any good in the long run, and the rules have changed...but it's sporadic happy thought!

 

[mthieme]

Re: getting pulled over?

Yeah, but is it possible to consume enough Natty Bohs to get legally intoxicated before having to empty them?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: getting pulled over?

I'm usually out in the boat a couple of times a week, nearly all year long.

I get "greeted" by LADWF every so often, but have never been boarded or had a full boat inspection by them. Usually when they come visit, it is when I am fishing, or have poles in the tubes while underway. This happens at some of the boat launches too, because DWF will usually hang out for a bit, at the ones with heavy fishing activity. From what I have seen, their main interest is enforcing limits and checking for PFDs. They will, of course, stop boats if they see something unsafe, but aside from some of the known "party spots," that doesn't happen all that often.

If I've ever been stopped or boarded by the USCG, I don't remember the incident at the moment. I do, however, get my boat inspected by the Coast Guard Aux on a semi regular basis. I like to do that because having the sticker on the windshield usually results in a cursory peek by any marine LEO, when they do happen to visit with me.

On the opposite side of things, I did tow a Navy sailboat in at Newport, Rhode Island once. The Naval War College had a few good sized sloops with no engines in them, and these guys got caught "in the doldrums" with a tide pushing them into some rocks. Of course, I had to let them know ... several times .... that I was ex-USCG, and was pleased to tow a bunch of "squids" into the dock! Another, recent memory is pulling a St. Charles Parish Sherriff's Dept. boat in during a SAR that we were both on, when his motor decided to quit.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: getting pulled over?

Double post - mods, please delete.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: getting pulled over?

Here in northern Indiana I don't see the dnr very often. When I do I act right and they ignore me.
I think they are more concerned with letting the bad ramps get worse and messing up the good ramps. sylvan lake has one of the nicer ramps in the area and they are totally redoing it, while waldron lake about two miles away has one of the worst in the area so they are redoing the ramp at sylvan.
jamie

 

[LTDan440]

Re: getting pulled over?

Ive only been boarded once in the last 2 years, which is surprising because around here, theres the Coast Guard, the Marine Police, the Game Wardens, and local PDs and SOs that have their own marine units.

But Im a Park Police Officer and a Coast Guard Reservist so Im usually the one doing the boardings

 

[modernrocketry]

Re: getting pulled over?

I live in Long Beach California

We have the Coast Guard, Los Angeles County Sherriff, Long Beach Police and the Lifeguards all watching us -- and all have really nice boats with HUGE engines.

I have been stopped by everyone except the Lifeguards.

IMO the Coast Guard is the one that pisses my off the most. They pull up to my boat -- a very proper private motor yacht -- with their bow mounted machine guns manned, and everyone on board the Coast Guard boat has their hand on their side arm (gun).
Keep in mind, my 9 year old son is onboard, and about ready to melt-down.

I am as polite as I would be with a stranger, they do not reciprocate.
It really torques me!

However, I have learned that when they board. I make them take off their shoes. They seem to hate taking the time to unlace their boots. Once, when I told them they may board, but will need to remove their shoes as all guests aboard my boats are require to do, they said, never mind and left.

I could tell you horror stories!!!

However, I must acknowledge ? if I every had a serious problem on the water? I?m glad they are out there.

Maybe I?ll reconsider the shoe thing? but probably not.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: getting pulled over?

Let's see what you said. You like the Coast Guard if you need them to come rescue you, but you don't like their enforcement stuff for smuggling and other crimes. Is that about it?

So, you break their stones by making them take their shoes off before coming aboard. And they comply? I fail to see your problem. They're complying with your request, even though they needn't do that.

You're in a state where large "motor yachts" bring in drugs, illegal immigrants, and more. The Coast Guard is charged with enforcing the laws with regard to such things. I assume your craft is documented. Do you not understand the laws with regard to the USCG? Should they know that you're a fine, upstanding citizen? How would they know who you are?

They are, by law, entitled to stop and board boats in the waters they patrol. They man their weapons because they encounter bad guys in boats just like yours. They're not going to shoot you. You're not breaking the law.

But, you're annoyed by the interruption in your day. I'm annoyed by drug smugglers and people who bring in illegal aliens and even terrorists.

Think about it for a moment. Why should they know who you are and that you're not engaged in any illegal activities?

When they ask you to heave to and ask to come aboard, try thanking them for keeping our borders safer. They're part of our military. Salute them for the job they do.

Or...you can take umbrage at them doing their job and make them take their shoes off, if that makes you feel better. Me? I'll say, "Thank you for your service. It's a tough job, and I appreciate it."

Who knows...the very guys you made remove their shoes may come and rescue you and your son one day. Won't you feel foolish then? And yet, they will do their job, regardless of your contempt for them. Think, please.

 

[winenut]

Re: getting pulled over?

We've only been out a dozen or so times, never even seen any type of official boat on the St. Johns River. However, since I am usually the designated driver and we have more than enough PFDs onboard, and are very careful about the rules, I wouldn't mind if they pulled us over. I like the fact that there are agencies watching out for boaters to make sure some idiot doesn't run into me while DUI. I'm a little anal about doing things by the book anyway, lol. :redface: And yes, being female...I read the instruction manuals to everything

 

[chrisg]

Re: getting pulled over?

Last year, I was pulled over almost each day I went out - and got 15 speeding tickets!

Here is Iowa, they are using laws meant for large bodies of water, impossible to adbide by in the waterways here. ( IE, cant exceed 10MPH unless you are more then 100 feet from shore. well most bodies of water ( DAMed rivers) are only 200 feet wide at spots). you cant water ski at less then 10 MPH. so they just had out tickets left and right.

Another law is that you must be less then 5mph if you are closer then 50 feet from another boat. again, 2 boats on the water, you are braking 2 laws!, then the 3rd, can go over 10mph if you cant see over 300 feet ahead. These are winding rivers. So anyone on the water manages to break 3 laws each time you go out to water ski or tube.

I went to court, apparently others must have done the same thing, as the Judge was pissed at the officers, who addmitted that these laws cant be followed and throw all the tickets out.

Don't know why the Iowa DNR dont adjust their laws to match the conditions.

 

[travaler18]

Re: getting pulled over?

sounds like Iowa marine patrole dont kwow how to think for themselves ,all situations can be cause for breaking the law if you look close enough into it ,and there is a dif. between someone who dosnt give a hoot and someone who whos trying to make due with what they have to work with. sounds like the judge might be a boater.

 

[Paul DuLaney]

Re: getting pulled over?

Have been boarded here in Ohio and Tennessee. Here it was about eight years ago and my extingusher was bad,needle went from good to needs charged when hit with palm of hand.Tennessee (Norris Lake) he saw us fishing and came over to talk? I showed the him the fish(all legal size) and he gave us ideas on how and why striper's feed in this lake.We talked for about an hour saw that I use ship to shore asked what safety equipment on board, told us everyone should keep a check on their gear like I do. Then I told him about my extinguisher in Ohio,he laughed and said I'd learned the easy way.They for the most part are doing their job which protects us and them.

 

[DJ]

Re: getting pulled over?

I've been checked/boarded too many times to count. Never an issue, except ONCE.

That one time was in Minnesota. When I lived there (still may be true) you could only have one fishing line in the water/person.

My 10 year old son and I were trolling for pike along a weedbed. We had two lines out with Daredevils as the terminal tackle.

I had another rod, in the holder, with the line payed out with no lure, snap or anything on the line. Bare line. I was getting the twist out of the line.

Along comes the DNR. Cited me for having multiple lines in the water and left a nice scratch in my new boat. The fine was $265.00.

I went to court. The Judge sided with the DNR and when asked about the damage, she said "don't push your luck".

That incident, even though I was very polite (they were not-very nasty), killed my sons interest in fishing, for good.

I don't envy their jobs. My father was a Wildlfe Bioligist/Officer for over 30 years for another state agency. At least they could have been polite.