Good Cop, Bad Cop

[jay_merrill]

In another thread, we were discussing being inspected and/or boarded by marine patrols, be they USCG, CG Auxilliary or state/local law enforcement. Before opening this thread, I did a search on the topic and did find a few older threads, ranging from a couple that were fairly recent, to a few from back as far as 2002. I didn't see one quite like what I hope develops here, however.

Specifically, I'd love to hear from anyone who cares to particpate, in regard to their experiences in being inspected, and how they handled the incident. Have your experiences been generally good? Generally Bad? A mix of the two? Also, how did you handle the situation, and what is your advice in dealing with an inspection and/or boarding.

Some of you may have read my comments about these thiings in other threads, and know my general take on the matter, but I'm going to hold back a bit before I "chime in." For the present moment, I am more interested in hearing everyone else's experiences and wisdoms. I'd also love it if a few of the folks around here who are current or former USCG would add their comments and thoughts. Same thing for former/current marine LEOs - please join in.

What I hope doesn't happen, and I'm asking all to police themselves (pun intended ), is for this to just become a rant thread. Instead, I hope we can get to real issues - good and bad - in a thoughtful way, with the intended outcome being a thread that offers sound advice, on how to approach/deal with the issue of being inspected and/or boarded.

Happy boating to all!

 

[marine4003]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

I was a participant in the other thread and am also interested in reply's to the query...i had dinner last light with a good friend who is a SC State Trooper of 14 years and discussed LEO and there relationship with the public..i left out my run-in of late,its interesting how the salary & benefits vary considerably from state to state,which has a big impact on recruitment, and the "quality" of applicants,We boat in a highly congested area,in a 10 mile stretch of the ICW, there are 12 jetski rentals, 18 marinas and 6 public boat ramps..this dumps into the ICW which at best is 50-75 YARDS wide....while the USCG is stationed 28 miles to the north and only comes thru on Thursdays,there is the DNR - and local police try to maintain there presence..in the 24 years of boating these waters i have never seen the same LEO's out from one season to the next.According to Don..( my friend in SCT) the above mentioned positions have incredible turnover due to the fact these positions are "stepping stones" to better,higher paying positions in other areas of L.E. which are better funded posts.Now given all that..i have been stopped at least 6 times per season for "PFD checks" which is fine by me,the professionalism of the officers has always been in concert with there years in law enforcement,as in all aspects of law enforcement,the rookies and the guys who were bullied in high school seem "text book" types who don't assess a situation and act accordingly, but act "by the book" which doesn't help community relations,nor does it help younger boaters develop respect for L.E. On a side note i was raised to respond to officers with "yes,sir - no-sir" attitude, as my dad said: Respect demands Respect, so all of my encounters....minus one have always been easy situations,efficient,and as comfortable as being stopped can be.So for the 99% of the time, i'd say for the underfunded..understaffed..overworked dimension these guy's & gal's are in...they do a great job.

 

[1976 Slickcraft]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Every spring I do a voluntary inspection with the coast guard auxillary. My boat passes no problem and they give me a sticker to put on my windshield. Since I have been displaying those stickers I have not been stopped. Even on "quota days" when it seems like they are making as many stops as they can.
Jesse

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

I was inspected last week By our local Fish & Game, they asked for the saftey stuff,, i had it all. very easy and polite..

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

I've never had a problem with them on the water.

Been stopped a couple times for a quick safety check and been on board when others were stopped for violations and never felt it was bad or anything.

One thing I've always known which goes against marine4003's post is don't ever call a law enforcement officer sir.

Not at all saying don't show respect but as soon as you start to yes sir - no sir they just go in cop mode and don't really care about you.

I've been told this by friends who are officers and local sheriffs that I work for.

Just be polite and respectful.

 

[jennis9]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Our experience so far has been positive.

We see a strong presence here in Lake Erie/Cleve - close to a USCG station, the DNR and Park and Rec all make sure they are visible. They used to hold inspections at the ramp and turn people away to get up to date - have not seen that this year. I have seen the USCG out on many occasion and have been checked at the dock for license and catch by the parks guys.

Back in May - we had an inquiry by the DNR while we were four miles out. Just pulled up and wanted to make sure we had PFDs and registration on board. The Officer that conducted our safety class happened to be the captain that day. We saw them coming and I pulled out the paperwork and had the cards in my hand when they pulled to our starboard. They did not ask to board us - but made it around the lake to everyone.

We recently had a voluntary inspection from the USCG Aux. I was the last one of the day. So, I quickly took out all of the equipment that would be on his list so he wouldn't have to wait for me to fumble around. Answered questions politely and I was treated with respect and passed my inspection.

I haven't heard anything negative about our team here (as of yet) and am glad about that. Some of the stories you guys have are frightening. I don't think the system is supposed to work like that - you are supposed to respect and admire the guys who are out there to save lives and keep peace - and they are to be respectable - not make it into a mob/mockery.

Thanks to all who put their heart and soul into it for us.

 

[PhatboyC]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

We where approached by the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) for a security items check. Professional and polite. They give you a security done sticker afterwards. Which is good for the remainder of the season. You can wave it if they come towards you and will turn away if all they wanted to do was a safety check. Good system.

But every time I see them I'm still uneasy. I boat in waters where on one side it's Ontario and the other Quebec. If I am on the Ontario side no one in the boat is allowed to have a drink. I try to stay on the Quebec side for my passengers but sometimes where in the middle.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

I rarely see any law enforcement at the smaller lakes I boat on during the week. Occasionally, a DNR Conservation Officer will stop by my boat while I'm fishing and ask to see my fishing license and boat registration card. They also ask about what I've caught. Those visits are always friendly, especially once they find out I'm a catch and release angler who only fishes with artificials.

My experience with those folks is that they can often tell me about some spot I haven't tried...always with good results.

We also have some DNR interns who show up at the ramps from time to time and advise regarding exotic species and like to put little stickers on our trailers showing that we've been so advised.

Things may be different on the larger lakes and on weekends.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

i have never had an unpleasant experience with the authorities on the water. over the 45 years of boating, i have recieved a few tickets, all of which i was guilty, and were oversights on my part. 2 expired registration, 1 my boat, 1 my brothers, when he was hospitalized, and i was moving it to another marina. never a safety violation. treat them as you would like to be treated, with courtesy, you will get it in return. even the dnr, when check licenses, will pull up within a reasonable distance, not to disturb your fishing, ask you to hold up the license, and the look at it with binoculars.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Two years ago I was stopped about half hour before dusk by the NJ Marine State Police for not having my nav lights on. I was putting around because I had engine troubles and was working my way back to the ramp but it took longer than I had expected. If I wiggled the switch right, I could get the lights to come on but they wouldn't stay on. The officers checked all of my documentation and safety gear and sent me on my way with a written warning about the lights. They were very professional and understanding and despite the fact that it made me a half hour later to the ramp, it was a positive experience. They did not board the boat.

Just last weekend, I had a run-in with the CGAux. I saw them at a dock while I was on my way to the ramp and stopped to see if they would perform a safety check. I was surprised to hear that they wanted to board the boat even after I tied up to the dock but everything went well and I received my sticker. One of the guys from the Aux was admiring my GPS mount as he apparently has a problem finding room to mount things at the helm. It took about 45 minutes for the inspection and conversation but everyone involved was polite and pleasant. Even me.

 

[mike64]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

New boater this season, been on the water 1/2 a dozen times and never been stopped yet, though I've seen the police boat cruising around several times. The guy I bought the boat from does safety checks for the coast guard and gave me a safety inspection sticker for my windshield. Maybe that gives me a little bit of a pass(?)

...years ago when I went camping in Michigan's U.P. with a friend we borrowed his dad's canoe and we were out on a flood plain, big swampy area that went on for miles. DNR came by, which concerned us because we were drinking beer. But they didn't care about the beer-- they were very friendly and chatted with us, then asked "do you guys have cushions for those seats?" We said, "no, but these seats are pretty comfortable"...We actually thought they were concerned for our comfort! $50 fine for no flotation devices. :redface:

 

[DRIFTER_016]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

When I boated in Lake Ontario out of Port Credit I was approached quite often by the Marine Patrol and asked for my fishing license, safety equipment and checked for alcohol. When I was fishing hard I had them stop me almost every day. It got to be a running joke between me and the cops that they must be brain damaged because they stopped me every day and couldn't remember one day to the next. They were always courteous and I never had a bad run in with them.
I have also been stopped by fish and game on several occasions and had the same experience, they were always professional and courteous.
But they're Canadian EH!!
Yankee boating cops and F&G maybe different.

 

[zach103]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

We got pulled over in New Hampshire by the locals.. we were on our old boat and just got the engine going after 2 days on the water.. so my dad and his buddy took the tube out.. they got pulled over.. too close to land. didnt have someone watching the tuber. ddidnt have life vests.. the cop said he had us for about $500 worth of infractions.. he ended up giving us a $200 ticket cuz we weren't rude

 

[cribber]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

I've logged about 50 hours on our area lakes and usually run into the Sheriff's Marine Patrol out on the water somewhere. It's usually the deputy who did the local law enforcement portion of the CG Boater's Safety Course I took hosted by the Power Squadron. A quick wave to each other is the extent of my experience. Although I did catch him out one day when he came flying around an island as I was approaching causing me to power down so we wouldn't collide. I loved the surprised look on his face when he finally noticed I was there. Just smiled and waved to him as he shot past the front of my bow by about 50 feet.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

I've never had a problem with them on the water.

Been stopped a couple times for a quick safety check and been on board when others were stopped for violations and never felt it was bad or anything.

One thing I've always known which goes against marine4003's post is don't ever call a law enforcement officer sir.

Not at all saying don't show respect but as soon as you start to yes sir - no sir they just go in cop mode and don't really care about you.

I've been told this by friends who are officers and local sheriffs that I work for.

Just be polite and respectful.

Interesting,i wonder why yes sir whould be construed as disrespectful,i guess it all depends on how its said...where I'm from, anyone older than i am, is Sir
And all females other than youngins..are 'Mam.I guess its from a different era,not to mention being in the Service.

 

[mike64]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Interesting,i wonder why yes sir whould be construed as disrespectful,i guess it all depends on how its said...where I'm from, anyone older than i am, is Sir
And all females other than youngins..are 'Mam.I guess its from a different era,not to mention being in the Service.

I think NSBCraig just meant if you treat them like cops they will act like cops, more stiff and to-the-point. If you act toward them with the same level of friendliness and respect that you would say, a neighbor or coworker then they will respond in kind. At least that's how I took it, apologies to NSBCraig if I'm off base.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Yea,that makes sense...not acting sarcastically or condescending towards anyone works best,'specially Da Man!!

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Nothing but good here. We have had several drunk boating deaths over the last two years and the officers are tough, but if you are obeying the rules and show that you are responsible, they are great. The CG, DGIF and all three different counties patrol the river here. The only issue I have ever had was with the CG auxillary overstepping their authority.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Two years ago I was stopped about half hour before dusk by the NJ Marine State Police for not having my nav lights on. I was putting around because I had engine troubles and was working my way back to the ramp but it took longer than I had expected. If I wiggled the switch right, I could get the lights to come on but they wouldn't stay on.

Here's a suggestion to prevent that sort of a problem - keep a couple of red, green and yellow "cyalume" type chemical light sticks, and a roll of tape (I prefer electrical tape because it easier to remove than duct tape) on the boat. If you lose your lights for any reason, you can illuminate the sticks and tape them to a rail or cleat on the port and starboard sides, as well as the nonfunctional white light at the stern.

You can purchase the sticks in these colors at a lot of sporting goods stores. I bought mine at Academy Sports.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Last year, we owned "2" boats.

The smaller lake that we go to, I pulled up to the Water Patrol station, to purchase my permit, and I ASK for an inspection. Suring the time we owned the boat, we were ask "6" times to inspect our boat.

There is NOT, and will NOT ever be any alcohol on board, so I'm not ever worried.

We bought the new boat, went to the same lake, and the ranger, came over to inspect our boat. More to have a look at the boat, as much as to inspect our boat. (He wanted to buy our old boat, but didn't have the funding).

It has already been inspected once this year. (Same guy). {I think it is to fulfill his quota).

The day we bought our new boat, we used the dealerships "dealers board", (like a dealers tag), and it was laying on the floor, when we docked at the marina to go and get something to eat. We docked right next to the ranger. I didn't realize that the board was NOT available to be seen, and the ranger stood and looked our boat over, and turned and said to me, "Nice boat. Really nice boat. Have fun, and be safe".

That is as close as we got to being inspected on the bigger lake.