Water Patrol

[DrWiffel]

So I was tooling around on the St. Croix River over in Stillwater this last weekend with my 14? with a 9.9, and I saw the water patrol with a boat pulled off to the side. I?m assuming that they were pulled over for tubing on the river past noon (I believe that to be the rule in the area). As I was starting to get close (I was intending to pass them) I went to a no wake. As soon as the other boat there left they waved me to go to them. They then said that they wanted to do a safety check. So I held my lifejacket up, and they nodded with approval and then asked where my throwable was. I asked if I needed one and they then asked how long my boat was. 14? I told them. And they said I didn?t need one, but if it were a 16? I would have. Then they asked me for my fishing license (I had my rod and tackle in the boat), so I produced that too.

My question is; do they have the right to stop me for no reason, and because I wasn?t fishing at the time, did they have the right to ask me to produce that also?

Overall I?m somewhat glad that they do this to be sure that everyone is safe, but at the same time I don?t feel that they have the right to stop you for not breaking any laws/rules.

 

[OldePharte]

Re: Water Patrol

Yep.

Although in my neck of the woods, the WP don't enforce fishing regs. That is up to the Conservation folks.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Water Patrol

it is only a moment out of my time to know I am safe, I cooperate with all law enforcement without question and it has always been a good experience.

 

[this forum wont let me]

Re: Water Patrol

The Fish Police aka Marine patrol in my neck of the woods can stop any boat at any time for any reason. I like the idea myself. I have been pulled over before because I deserved to be lol... I did however gain lots of points to the officer by first off not having any beer what so ever well I boat... Second my wife and I know our boat very very well this being said every item he asked for both my wife and I at the same time on point showed him every thing with no um.... I know I have it but um.... just let me find it. The officer was so impressed he said He had no choice to give me a verbal warning we all left with smiles on our faces. Also just cause you don't need a throwable on board your boat it is still a good idea to have one, you never know. Good luck, good times, good bye.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Water Patrol

On the mountaun lakes here, it's the Sheriff's Department that enforces safety. I saw them talk to a couple of guys on rubber rafts on one of the lakes last summer. The guys were all ticked off because they were given a warning about not having a whistle or other sound making device on their boats.

I just don't understand why people are so mad about someone trying to enforce safety regulations. My brother in law is an EMT and I can tell you that he's tough on drinking and driving because of the bloody, dead, and maimed people he's pulled from cars - not because he's a hard *****.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Water Patrol

The DNR up here does that for us.

But Generally they will leave you alone, Unless they see something they don't like. Best thing to do when they patrol the area is to smile and wave.
never happened to me, but I've heard they have just come up to boaters and done safety checks.
Especially for Holidays.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Water Patrol

Depends on who stopped you. Locally, we have Natural Resources Police, Coast Guard and State Marine police.

The Coast Guard cannot enforce game laws but being a branch of Federal law enforcement they can make your life miserable for most everything else if you fail to cooperate. They don't play around.

The State Marine Police has full police jurisdiction on the water. No different than the policeman in the cruiser down the street.

Natural Resources Police have jurisdiction to enforce game and pollution laws, but they certainly don't have a problem keeping you around until one of their law enforcement buddies can get to the scene should they suspect anything else.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Water Patrol

That's just the deal. Get over it. Always have the proper, necessary, and required safety equipment on board and easy to locate/use. Always make sure your fire extinguishers are up-to-date, charged, ready to use, and those on board know how to use them. And ALWAYS treat the LEOs that choose to stop and board your vessel with respect, for they CAN make your life miserable, and really F up your afternoon...

 

[DrWiffel]

Re: Water Patrol

I always cooperate with all law enforcement. Makes it easier for them and for me. More of a question do they have the right. I was under the impression that they had to see you with the rod in your hands in order to see your fishing license. I didn?t get any tickets or anything, wasn?t drinking and was all smiles, but I was thinking that it was more like a car or something where you have to do something wrong in order for them to check you out.

So I guess I?m sort of impartial on the idea that they can pull someone over for no reason what so ever. But I am glad that they are making the waters safer.

It was the Sheriff Water Patrol that stopped me, not sure if it was Wisconsin or Minnesota.

 

[DANZIG]

Re: Water Patrol

Same here, kinda like the DOT and big trucks, any time, any ( or No reason).

I am not a big fan of it but with all the morons out there I can't say it is a real bad thing.

If they offer one, see if they will give you a "courtesy sticker" to display. This shows you have been inspected that year and helps keep this silliness to a minimum.

Beginning of the season, seek them out and ask for an inspection (and sticker) and if you know where they hang out after hours,, it never hurts to buy a drink or two.

Round here they are pretty laid back so long as you are not acting the fool. (as it should be)

 

[Lrider]

Re: Water Patrol

Here they have a simple rule

Boat + Water + Fishing Pole = Fishing

If you don't have a license you will get a warning about fishing w/o one - Line in water no Licence you get a ticket

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Water Patrol

As you inferred in the original post, the St. Croix gets a little nutty with all of the boat traffic. Those folks were just flexing a little muscle. They certainly can stop by and inspect you for anything boat related, but for a fishing violation they would need to turn it over to the MN DNR. They were just running you through the paces to make sure you were legit.

They were hounding folks at the Lake Minnetonka accesses in late April.

 

[clarkbre]

Re: Water Patrol

I support any inspection. Usually they happen at the launch and once the inspection checks out good, I have an extra hand in holding the boat at the dock. I?ve always been courteous to them and they?ve shown that same respect back.

In WA they have a newly required boater safety card. My boat was inspected on Saturday morning and I was asked if I had the card. I produced it and the Sherriff was happy. As I was getting my boat ready, I asked him about how the program was going. He said great, and the reason he knew was because there is push back from people. He went on to tell me that it?s forcing people to stop and think about safety for once on the water.

He also told me that he did an inspection earlier that morning of a group of guys who didn?t have their cards. Needless to say, the boat absolutely did not have the required gear and he was able to send the group back up the boat launch.

I?m sure it sucked for them, but I also knew because of that, the water I was on was safer that day.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Water Patrol

Yup, they can pull you over any time they like for a safety check and this time of year is when they will do a lot of that. Fishing boats seem to get pulled over more often and seem less likely to have lifejackets and fire extinguishers.

If you venture near kinik kinik, they like to sit and float near the no wake zone and pull over one boat after another - saftey check/too much beer to drink check.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Water Patrol

America, home of the free? Not so much.

that's the way i see it too..

that said. i assume any leo can pull ya over for no reason what so ever. guess ya better have yer ducks in a row at all times. just part of boating i guess.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Water Patrol

Random safety stops are on shaky legal ground at best. In a motor vehicle you need to be able to avoid the safety check (can't be sole road going somewhere), as well as other restrictions. Boating 'safety' checkpoints frequently violate this.

I'm not against safety and safe boaters, just the loss of freedoms over the years...

 

[clarkbre]

Re: Water Patrol

I'm not against safety and safe boaters, just the loss of freedoms over the years...

So what "freedom" are you losing when they check your boat for safety?

Maybe I'm just really naive but I'd rather have L.E.O.'s stop someone and correct it rather than having to take time to rescue boaters who aren't up to the challenge of bringing life jackets.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Water Patrol

The Coast Guard cannot enforce game laws but being a branch of Federal law enforcement they can make your life miserable for most everything else if you fail to cooperate. They don't play around.

The Coast Guard most certainly can enforce game and fish laws and they do every day. There are MANY federal regulations that apply.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Water Patrol

Not only can they enforce them, they can take your boat, fine you, etc. They don't mess around.

 

[karatejoe]

Re: Water Patrol

Here in Sw Florida the sheriff can, does and will randomly stop any boat he wants for inspection. Its an implied consent law if your boating you will obey them. I have never seen them harass people. Read the rules and regulations in your area and never break them and it will allways be a good stop and quick.
I once got stopped and before he could finish his greeting I showed him life jackets, flares and beeped the horn with drivers license in hand. Opened cooler and offered him a diet coke. He just laffed and said have a nice and safe boating trip. It all took about 50 seconds.