Boarding by authorities

[Knoxes]

In your state, do the enforcement agencies need reason to board?

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: Boarding by authorities

I beleive in NJ they have to have Probable Cause. Now that could me the Trooper "thought" he saw something.

 

[Specks n Reds]

Re: Boarding by authorities

 

[Knoxes]

Re: Boarding by authorities

I agree that it keeps some of the drunks off the water, but Saturday, I watched one of the agencies simply go from boat to boat to boat. I got pulled and generally harassed despite the fact that I had everything in order. Seems to go against "illegal search and seizure".

 

[Homerr]

Re: Boarding by authorities

Around here, just about anything is PC enough to pull you over. A simple inspection of your spark arrestor is enough.<br /><br />I've never been pulled over in the water...They always get me before I launch or when leave.<br /><br />I've already been inspected twice this year in two different places (coast and local lake) <br />They gave me a fancy sticker for the boat so they don't have to pull me over in the water (so they say)<br /><br />Hmmm...<br /><br />Maybe an idea for a fake inspection sticker operation? Anyone interested? <br /><br />Just kidding! <br /><br />H.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Boarding by authorities

Knoxes apperecate the little harassing if they got one drunk or dope head off the water. It could have been the one with your name on it

 

[flashback]

Re: Boarding by authorities

Bubakat, I disagree, I would rather keep my liberties and deal with the dopehead on my own. govt. messes with us too much already........

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Boarding by authorities

Here in Ky. they don't have to have a reason.<br />They will just pull up and ask for all the stuff, say thanks and have a good day.<br /><br />Nothing to worry about if you got your stuff together.<br /><br />If you don't, you don't need to be on the water.<br /><br />I don't want any drunks or dopeheads raining on my parade.<br /><br />I think it is against the law to drink and operate a boat anyway, so if you drink and get caught, tuff.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boarding by authorities

As I understand it, sherriff and police need a "reason" to pull you over, and to board.<br />USCG and DNR wardens do not.

 

[flashback]

Re: Boarding by authorities

SBN, Thats exactly my point "they don't have to have a reason" Hitler started that way.......

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Boarding by authorities

Well flashback, if there is some idiot out on the water drunk or all smoked up, I hope and pray that the water enforcement people would catch him/her before they ran over me or my family.

 

[flashback]

Re: Boarding by authorities

SBN, I agree with probable cause, If a cop sees a person weaving and acting a fool, then I have no problem with him stopping and boarding them. unfortunatly, there is a fine line there, and personally I would prefer that line to be in the favor of freedom and liberties rather than Big Brother......

 

[marty_scher]

Re: Boarding by authorities

At Elevenmile reservoir in Colorado, I (and many others) have received a "safety check" every time I have came to the lake this season.<br /><br />Sure, they are polite, but who want to spend 15 minutes at the launch ramp pulling out fire extinguishers and flotation vests.<br /><br />Even though they are just doing their "job", I really let them know how I felt about what they were doing with my valuable time. <br /><br />What the h@ll, they could not arrest me for being belligerent, I wasn't drinking.<br /><br />I'm all for safety, but it's just like waiting in line 20 minutes at a sobriety check point - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!<br /><br />Marty

 

[magster65]

Re: Boarding by authorities

Same here, a random safety inspection is all they have to say. The cops patrol the waters around here way too much. There just isn't that many drunk boaters around our area so they're looking for anything to write tickets for. It sucks.

 

[plywoody]

Re: Boarding by authorities

I can see a mandatory safety check. We expect the government to provide search and rescue missions, and it should be proper that they require minimum safety requirements, and be able to check for that.<br /><br />As far as a full scale "search" of your vessel, they still need probable cause or consent, or it is an illegal search, just as if it were your home or auto.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Boarding by authorities

I have had friends injured and acquaintences killed because of drunk boat drivers.<br /><br />As a member of the local EMS, I have had to deal with many drunk boater injuries.<br /><br />I don't like being delayed at the launch ramp or boarded on the lake because of Deputy Dog wanting to impress someone, or a uniform making him/her feel big and important, but I would rather have that then pull another dead body from the driver's seat of a boat because a drunk didn't see him and ran his boat at WOT right over the other, allowing the prop to become a lethal weapon and nearly the chop the head from the neck - something about trying to do CPR to someone when the air is bubbling out the back of the neck that really changes your opinion!

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Boarding by authorities

It's just one more chip away at our freedoms in the name of a good cause. <br /><br />It's like putting a frog in a pan of water on the stove. You slowly turn up the heat and he never jumps out. Next thing you know he's dead. <br /><br />Living the life of a free man has risks but the alternative is worse than death.<br /><br />As for me, give me liberty or give me death. Live free or die (NH Motto). Don't tred on me (RI Motto). There is a reason the New England states chose these mottos. The ironic thing is that most of them are now the least free of all the States.

 

[flashback]

Re: Boarding by authorities

well said Ralph!

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Boarding by authorities

As most of you know from previous post's I where the badge for a living. I disagree with the amount of leeway that is allowed with law enforcement. I like to be able to make a good arrest and it go through, not stopped because I violated a little gray area. I am a firm believer in your personall rights. I read the following somewhere and believe its the absolute truth. "Those who would trade an inch of freedowm for a mile of safety and protection deserve neither" Flame on if you feel its needed, the board seems split on this issue.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boarding by authorities

I've spent many years on or near the water (inland). Never seen a fire on a boat. Of those I have heard about, the people went overboard and didn't fight the fire. On many smaller boats, the only thing that can burn is the gas tank, and I'm not sticking around if that is on fire.<br /><br />I've seen plenty of auto fires though. <br />So how long till they make us carry extinguishers in our cars, and then start the "random safety checks" to see if they are charged up?<br /><br />Driving a boat is less restricted than driving a car-- no license or insurance requirements. But owning a boat is more restricted in that you give up your freedoms once you put it on water.<br /><br />Call it a loss of freedom, and a revenue generator.<br /><br />I can't wait till I get pulled over on my motorcycle to have my extinguisher checked. I guarrantee it won't be charged after that stop.