I cleared the lake...

[steam_mill]

Just thought I'd tell you a story about the weekend.<br /><br />On the weekend, my buddy brought his jetski to my cottage. Had not used in a couple of years.<br /><br />I decided to tune it up and make sure it is running right.<br /><br />I'm not supposed to ride jetskis. Had a hip replacement last year and am supposed to avoid any activity with trauma (I was a crazy jet ski rider before).<br /><br />Well I take the j/s out. Ran great. Stopped at the neighbour to say hi. Leave and notice water is really rough. There are boats skiing, other jet skiers etc. <br /><br />I want to get back to the cottage to avoid getting bucked off the machine.<br /><br />Notice that in a couple hundred feet the water is less rough so I a hammer it, while not seeing the 22' police boat that was telling me to stop.<br /><br />Don't notice the police boat following me very closely 'til I approach the dock.<br /><br />Well he pulls me over and asks me for my operator card.<br /><br />I politely tell him that it is in my cottage and I was just testing the machine that I'm not supposed to ride.<br /><br />Well, he want to give me a $320 fine.<br /><br />I convinced him to let me get it from the cottage which by this point is 500' away.<br /><br />He let me go...<br /><br />Moral:<br /><br />If you are in Canada, make sure you have your operators card is your vessel is less than 4 metres.<br /><br />I confirmed with him that I need my operators card for my 50 year old 7.5 hp 'rude but not for my speedboat that will clock over 50 mph....<br /><br />Joe

 

[steam_mill]

Re: I cleared the lake...

Forgot to add. While I was pulled over, everyone docked their boats....<br /><br />J

 

[DJ]

Re: I cleared the lake...

And some want to emulate Canada?

 

[Link]

Re: I cleared the lake...

PWCers Grrrrrr <br />Good story though <br /><br />Last year on major weekend we were going to use<br />the ramp to try out my friends folding boat. Kept seeing all these boats break line and leave.<br /><br />YUP Water cops down at the ramp. Expired flares.. <br />3 X $25.00 3 people but only two vests another 25 bucks. He had a couple reg numbers that had came off so we broke the line and left also.

 

[brother chris]

Re: I cleared the lake...

I think that Canada is just trying to get another cash grab. It just doesn't make sense to make us get a card for 20-40 year old o/b's. <br />There should be a an age exception included there somewhere. <br />I am a test agent and time after time I hear it from everyone who is over 50 years of age complain that they have operated their 12 aluminum boat with a 9.9hp for decades, and NOW they have to have a license to operate their o/b's.<br />That is just plain stupid!

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: I cleared the lake...

Originally posted by brother chris:<br /> I think that Canada is just trying to get another cash grab.

Its the same all over. Govts. are trying to get bucks anyway the can. Many of them now look to their law enforcement agencies as a revenue source.<br /><br />Down here, our Game Wardens do write some big expensive tickets, most of which go for about $300 each. They work for the state, but their tickets get paid to the local county in which they were written.<br /><br />So, they don't really have a big incentive to write them, since the state doesn't get the money.<br /><br />I've seen them around the ramps here looking over boats, and seeing some that don't comply with the state's laws for various reasons, the Warden will often tell someone, "Don't put that boat in Public Waters"....... then move on without writting a ticket.

 

[Das Boot]

Re: I cleared the lake...

(quotes)<br />"If you are in Canada, make sure you have your operators card is your vessel is less than 4 metres." <br /><br />"NOW they have to have a license to operate their o/b's.<br />That is just plain stupid!"<br /><br />You can say that again !!<br /><br />Here is the irony of this, figuratively speaking, I can operate a 50 ft power launch but if i get in my 9 ft tender with an O/B, after anchoring i need an operators licence !! <br /><br />Yup, pretty nonsensical !! After 2009 i think everyone needs the license and by the way it's an easy test, really!!

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: I cleared the lake...

This law was put in place because of Seadoo-type watercraft accidents and people getting killed far too often.<br />These "motorcycles on water" that will fly in only 6" water were involved in more boating accidents in a few short years than all other pleasure watercraft accidents over the last century! Rather than attacking one set of watercraft users and getting sued by PWC makers, a law was put out based on powered watercraft of a certain length. So, unfortunately little 12 foot tinnys with 2 hp outboards fall into this category as well. <br /><br />By Sept. 2009 all watercraft users will have to have an operators card. I think the law is a great idea, as I have seen a marked improvement in watercraft courtesy and safety.