getting pulled over?

[CATransplant]

Re: getting pulled over?

Minnesota C.O.s are very tough on the single line deal. It's ridiculous, really. But, I make sure any rod that I'm not currently using has whatever terminal tackle hooked to the support for one of the guides and is laying on the seats, and not in a rod holder.

It's just what a guy has to do in this state. Now, they're considering two rods per angler. It didn't go through this year, but probably will next year. Heck, I have enough trouble with one rod...I don't need two. It'd just make my life more complicated. Not everyone feels that way, though.

Nobody's going to board my 12' aluminum boat, though. Where would they stand?

 

[Coaltrain]

Re: getting pulled over?

When I would take my airboat out on the river I got stopped every time I saw an officer. With my little 12ft aluminum v hull they just tug on their pfd a little so i pick mine up and wave it and they just keep on driving by.

 

[mthieme]

Re: getting pulled over?

Got checked just this morning.
BCD Monday morning and only three boats out.
One commercial crabber laying his second line, me...just getting to my crabbing spot and still baiting traps...and here he comes...yup, DNR.
He seemed disappointed they I was coming and not going as there were no crabs to check. He wasn't very interested in anything else. Lifejackets? Whistle? OK. Good Luck! He was significantly more cordial than most.
Onto the commercial guy where he spent more time.
Well, I guess his day was done after that.

 

[OldePharte]

Re: getting pulled over?

Wow, I have been very lucky. Boating for close to 40 years and been stopped once.

My son and I were going down the lake, the water patrol boat was passing within hailing distance and we waved at him, as we do to most boaters.

The SOB, turned around, turned on his lights, and we stopped. We had our pfds and throwable cushion very visible and my FE is right by my knee. He did a quick looksee and left. He never said a word.

 

[captlee]

Re: getting pulled over?

In 25+ yrs of boating Ive been stopped 4 times, once by the coast guard and 3 times by conservation officers checking for short fish.

 

[AZMinyard]

Re: getting pulled over?

I have only been pulled over once, in a buddy?s 14? jon boat. It was on Upper Lake Mary outside of Flagstaff, AZ during duck season. My buddy and I were well within regulations, plinking away at fly-bys.

The funny part of this is that we were pulled over by Flagstaff PD.

I was using a Marlin 55 goose gun, which is a bolt action, clip fed shotgun that shoots 3.5? shells and has a 36? long barrel ? the whole gun measures somewhere in the 50? range. If you happen to miss a shot, you can just poke the duck . . .

At any rate, the PD got a call that someone was shooting at ducks with a high power rifle. I guess I could understand the confusion if you are not familiar with firearms.

To make a long story endless ? the patrolman pulled up next to the lake, got on his PA, called us over and explained the call. He was rather amazed at the goose gun, we chatted about guns, he showed us his Glock, shot the breeze about hunting spots, shook hands and went on our way. He did ask to look through the boat to make sure that there were no other firearms present and he did have his hand on his gun when we approached. Can?t really blame him, though, it?s the same thing I would do in his shoes.

At no point did we ask him to take his shoes off . . .

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: getting pulled over?

At no point did we ask him to take his shoes off . . .

OUCH

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: getting pulled over?

Been "stopped" three times by C.O.'s Only once was I not ticked off by them.

First was on the highway, on the way home from fishing. It was hunting season so they had a roadblock set up heading into town. I guess they were bored so they pulled us over as well. What ticked me off is that the first thing that goes in the back of my truck is my tackle box, and that's where my license was. So I had to crawl in the back, over my motor and other gear just to show I had it. I wasn't even close to water at this point.

Second time I'd been fishing with a couple friends and, while heading back, the friends boat trailer broke. So we chained it up to a tree and took back what could go for a walk. Came back the next day with a flatbed, loaded the boat/trailer on it and headed out of the bush. Ran into a CO who asked what what going on. Explained it all to him and he asked to see our licenses. Ummm. We aren't fishing. He tried to argue that we were the day prior which got him an earful from both of us. We went on our way shaking our heads.

Third time (the only one that was reasonable) was three days before my current license expired (end of March) and I had no idea where it was as I hadn't used it since the fall. I contemplated risking it that morning and decided for the $10, I'd buy a day license.

Halfway through loading the gear in the boat at the ramp, the CO's show up. Showed them my day license and went on my merry way. First friend did the same. Second friend showed up just as we were launching and was asked for his. Well, he digs into his tackle box. Has one that is good April 1 (2-3 days ahead) and about 8 from prior years but not the current one. The CO's figured if he had 9 out of 10, he likely did have the 10th and let him fish.

So, other than requests for fishing licenses, never had anything looked at in my boat.

 

[AEROCOOK]

Re: getting pulled over?

I've been boating at the same lake in Burks Falls Ontario for the past 8 years and have only been stopped once by the Ontario Provincial Police. It was a routine stop just checking for all the safety equipment. They typically will go onto the lake and go around checking every boat. I had everything in order and was on my way with a smile in just a few minutes. I have a lot of respect for the OPP always been friendly to me and never an attitude.

 

[Euro95]

Re: getting pulled over?

Probably a few years ago, we had a ticket when speeding alongside the abandoned ski-strip. Now you got to know the speed limit here is 5 mph in the open, and 2.5 ~ close to land. Ok, so all out of sudden, a helicopter pops up on our back, with 2 boats speeding they must've seen it. The door on the side of the heli goes open, and a man with a camera shoots a dozen of fotos, like it was a damn fotoshoot.

A minute later the police pops up, and my dad with his unshaved beard and hat has a little offending look. The 2 police officers get a bit rude, and want to get this done fast. But since the helicopter was flying so low, about 2 meters of the water just above my head in the other boat, and my dad happens to work at an airport, he knows the rules about those choppers. They can't go lower than X meters when not trying to land. With alot of arguing, my dad asked for the names of the police officers, and they left. Now, about 5 years later, we still got the ticket on the wall, and have never got the bill.


It was also very surprising, we were with 2, and they were only interested in the red speedboat, not the other one.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: getting pulled over?

I think it has something to do with being the smallest boat on the river here, but they never bother me.

I have a friend that gets pulled over every time he goes out. He can be a wise*** at times, and I think they do it on purpose.

If the police & I talk at all, it is because I start the conversation.

Tomorrow is a boat parade, and I called them on the phone to ask a few questions about when & where. They asked what boat we were coming in, I said a orange inflatable, he laughed and said, oh you, and got real friendly.

Small boat, strange color, American accent. Kind of hard to blend in here. I have to follow all the rules. I get the, oh, so, your the American, line all the time.

 

[mike176]

Re: getting pulled over?

I have never been stoped, but I did ask an FWC officer for an inspection once at the ramp. I wanted to know if I needed to correct anything befor I got on the water.

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: getting pulled over?

i fish in a lot of small lakes and one is awfull. a person who lives on the lake always calls the DEC agent when she gets annoyed at people on the lake i have seen him 3 times in one day some times. she calls if we get to close to her dock, or if she thinks were are over limit on fish. it is a mess. We love the lake and do well every year there but this woman is a nut. I have given the
DEC guys my # to call us if she ever complains and save them a trip out. i hope it will be better next year

 

[mthieme]

Re: getting pulled over?

Got checked again yesterday. Unlike last time with just two boats on the river, there were hundreds of boats out being a holiday weekend. Guess who they picked first? Moi! I figured it out though. If you have a crab trap in the water, it's the same as having a big sign saying "I'm first". Like the last time, they were most interested in the crabs. Of course I'm legal so it was a formality.
Three DNR guys decked out in BDU's complete with combat boots approach. (I should have asked what they use for hull cleaner) looking much like the SWAT guys at work. I even comennted that lloked like they just got home from Iraq. I was glad I alone instead of having the family complete with grandkids. It would have been unnecessarily intimidating...an amphibious unit coming at you.
The youngest showed he payed attention in DNR school. He said the crabs would die in the bucket in 10 minutes. (Last year it was 40 minutes). I didn't think of it until after they left; how would he explain the one that lived for three weeks in the bilge of my other boat before I managed to coax him out before I released him back in the water?. Anyhow, I assured him I was not keeping them as pets. I also told him that the water had been in the bucket for more than 10 minutes and he was welcome to stick his hands in the bucket. They quized me about females, how many I caught, little ones, how many traps I had, etc...almost like they were doing research. In the end, another finally inquired about my life jacket and I had to volunteer the fact that I had a whistle too. No business for them here. Have a nice day and off they went.

 

[mthieme]

Re: getting pulled over?

I was towing my son on a tube last year in an oval formation when the water-cop came over and told me that my son's tube was going into the no wake zone on the turns, even though my boat wasnt. He then asked to see my life vests, and that was it. No check for fire extinguisher, sound device, or anything else. Gave me a verbal warning and went away.

Have you signed my petition for tubing within the 6 knot zone?

 

[hazwild]

Re: getting pulled over?

I have been stopped twice this season.i was boarded by the cg once and stopped for a reg and pfd check by the marine patrol.No fines or tickets

 

[treeman]

Re: getting pulled over?

iam from indiana and we boat on lake sullivan alot and the wabash river. i was asked to see my pdf,s and my throwable and away they went as to the river i have yet to see any dnr,s









2150 300 hp volvo 280 outdrive

 

[mthieme]

Re: getting pulled over?

PREDICTION !!!
I'm going crabbing Monday morning with my nephew.
Anybody care to lay odds about my being visited by DNR for a friendly check ?

 

[ErikF]

Re: getting pulled over?

I have never been stopped, but the police and coast guard had to come and get me when my little boat got stranded on the lake :redface:

I've since towed others back to the launch so I've paid my debt

 

[CATransplant]

Re: getting pulled over?

PREDICTION !!!
I'm going crabbing Monday morning with my nephew.
Anybody care to lay odds about my being visited by DNR for a friendly check ?

5 to 4.

And you'll get to hear the same lecture about the 10 minutes in the bucket again and get to show them your pfds and throwable again.

Unluckily for me, there aren't any crabs in Minnesota. Mmmmm.....Crab cakes.