getting pulled over?

[bowman316]

Re: getting pulled over?

if you get a satey check sticker on your windshield from the cg, they won't bother you much. Just drive by and say hello.

 

[mthieme]

Re: getting pulled over?

With the ban on female crabs this year, they were checking everyone that was crabbing. They were more interested in what was in the basket. They don't bother me otherwise. But I was crabbing 2-4 days a week. Before Labor day, the checks were very consistent. On the Magothy they have one boat stationed near the mouth in Deep Creek and another toward the headwaters.
After Labor Day, they're not there. I've seen two that had to come in from the Bay (south) - Sandy Point (?).

 

[bowman316]

Re: getting pulled over?

Are you still catching crabs down there? I am thinking about going crabbing in the wye river this weekend.

 

[mthieme]

Re: getting pulled over?

Believe it or not - yes.
Last Monday I got my bushel but it took me 4 hours.
I've been going out a lot this month - stocking up the freezer for winter.
They're running deep right now which is typical for this time of year.

 

[Nehoc]

CQ Checked in Noyo Harbor

CQ Checked in Noyo Harbor

Over the years I've done quite a bit of salmon and bottom fishing out of Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg, CA. We've never been boarded (rough seas out there though, and with open cabin boats and California's visible license law, I understand why) but we've had drive by's with life vest tugs and a wave every third or fourth trip. I'll tell you though, CQ has been there to help us out the two times we were in trouble. I'll take their constant vigilance over not having to show folks my pfd's any day.

One place we do get to talk with the local law is when Fish and Game are sitting at the ramp, checking limits and lengths when you are pulling your boat out. We're always on the up and up, so our meetings with them are pleasant. I have seen a few folks written up and fish confiscated over the years, luckily never on our boat. The fines are just too steep and the fish too sparse to be so greedy as to keep undersized or the wrong kind of fish.

The local CG station at Fort Bragg is always full of friendly coasties, but then up in Northern California, out of the rough grey water oceans we get, I think the worst they're dealing with are abalone poachers. Not exactly a hot bed for drug smuggling or illegal immigrants or the like.

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: getting pulled over?

I've seen many, many patrol boats over the last few years, but I have not
been stopped once. I was using a paddle to get the boat out of a shallow
water area, and a patrol boat came over, and the guys asked if I needed
any assistance. I told them I was ok, and I did appreciate their asking.
We usually wear pfds, including the dog, and I think I am law abiding and
considerate of others at all times.

The only time I got stopped was at a launching area, just after I had bought
a new jon boat. I actually welcomed the inspection, thinking I had everything
covered right, but that was questionable. My jon boat is an 1848, but the
owner's card says it is 17' 10". The marina salesman told me that it was not
subject to the 18' rules. Well, the USCG guy said it was 18', even though the
registration card said it was not. I forget what I was missing at the time, and
think I have everything right now. I have chalked up this experience under the
"not everybody is perfect, and no system is perfect" category.

So, I'm glad the patrol boats are out there, might need help sometime, and
their presence helps to keep the ding-a-lings in line.

 

[Benny1963]

Re: getting pulled over?

three trips three stops they dont play on the local river by my house
all they want is to make sure you have pdfs and or not drunk .
they had 4 people die a cpouple of weeks ago when two larger ski boats collided all killed were young ,so now they are stepping it up although alchol was not involved ,i belive it was driver error they swerved the wrong way into the other boats right of way both were going at fast speed ,
bit in south louisiana in general you better be legal or they will hit ya

 

[Mr. Bogus]

Re: getting pulled over?

We have had only one encounter in the past four years. Our engine overheated and the sheriff towed us to the dock.

 

[airframer]

Re: getting pulled over?

down here on the westbank of new orleans it depends on where you go. if its a popular public launch like jean lafitte is an every day occurance, but if you go out in the bayou it never happens. seems like their more worried about the kids heading out in their babys boat for the day honestly

 

[204 Escape]

Re: getting pulled over?

Well, we live in S.E. Kansas.

The first boat that we had, when we bought the permit for the state lakes, I "ask" the water patrol to come and check out our boat. I had read the manuels, and talked to my dealership ALOT. I ask alot of questions, because alot of the rules, had changed since I owned a boat in 1978.

After I had the boat checked out, everything went along well. HOWEVER, I went back to the same lake, a month or so later, and the WP guy, that was in charge that day, (I had been told), was a jerk. SO, I decided to take the bull by the horns, and approach him. I told him that I was new to boating, and I'd appreciate having him do a look at my boat, as I liked to abide by the rules, and get "his opinion", as to what if anything my boat needed, to be current with the laws.

He grumbled, a bit, but checked out the boat. He said that it was up to date, and that it was nice that he had talked to someone that wasn't afraid to have their boat checked !! He ask me if I had been drinking, and I told him YES !!!!!!!! Then I walked back to the cooler, and I offered him a bottle of WATER !!!!! I let him look in the cooler, to see that there was NO ALOHOL !!!!!! I also let him know that I drank at HOME, NOT on the water !!!! He and I talked for probably 20 minutes, and all was fine.

Then for about 3 week-ends in a row, I got checked at the dock, by a WP person. "I think", it was so they looked like they were doing their jobs. I don't know that for a fact, JMO. It don't matter to me.

When I got the second boat, I again insisted that they do a check on the new boat. They did with NO PROBLEMS !!!!!

There is one young WP guy, that often times meets us at the dock, to chat, and to just look at our boat.

I've offered him the opportuity to go for a ride, and he hasn't yet, but I think he will.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: getting pulled over?

I haven't been stopped or checked in awhile, but did have something interesting happen yesterday.

While monitoring channel 16, I heard the CG talking to a boater who was disabled, due to rudder problems. I had just hooked the trailer to the boat and was going out to "burn up some fuel" anyway, so I called CG Sector New Orleans and volunteered to launch and go get the stranded boater.

Usually, the CG will accept an offer like that in a heartbeat, but we talked for a bit about the fact that it would take me an hour to travel to the nearest launch, 15 minutes to get in the water, and 30 minutes to get to the boat. That would have put me on scene at about 3:30 in the afternoon, with an anticipated sunset at a little after 5pm.

While all of this didn't particularly bother me, the CG opted to launch one of their own boats. I was quite surprised at this, because they normally don't go out for tows, instead opting to rely on volunteers or commercial services.

It was a little windy yesterday, and the distressed vessel turned out to be a couple of miles out into the Mississippi Sound, so that may have been part of the decision. It could also be that fuel is so much less expensive now that the CG has little more flexibility in regard to budget. Whatever the case, however, its nice to know that they are there when needed - I second the sentiment that I'll deal with he occassional boarding to have that sort of security!

 

[UnregisteredUser]

Re: getting pulled over?

I can only think of one time I was ever stopped and checked out in my entire life, including my years as a child fishing with my father.

It was Memorial weekend of 2007 and I had just gotten my 1976 Steury CC up and running. Well, I guess I would have to say I was checked out twice that day by the same Water Patrol officer. It was a very busy Saturday on Longview Lake, as you can imagine. This is not a very large body of water and it was full of boats. We tried to launch at Mouse Creek but, the boat would not start and we decided to go to the marina and buy a new battery, which proved to be the problem.

While I was putting the new battery in, still in the parking lot, the WP officer came up and checked the tag on the trailer and asked if it was going to start. I'm guessing he was surprised by the age of the craft and OB motor, being it was probably a few years older than him. As I worked, I noticed him looking into the boat from the trailer tire, and I asked him if I could help him find anything. He looked rather stern at me but, them smiled and said,"Just admiring the condition of the boat for it's age." I did not have time to give him a guided tour so I just replied, "Cheap boats mean lots of work but, I think we're ready to launch." He waved and walked away.

My friends and I spent the day tubing and swimming and partaking in a few adult beverages. Being the DD I only have two beers all day. (I promise)

Just as the sun was setting we set out for the marina to put her away for the night and about mid lake he pulled up and hit the lights. We threw out a couple bumpers and tied off to his boat and the inspection began.

"Show me this" and "Show me that" from the top of the list on down. I was so proud to have everything he asked for, I could not help but to have a smile on my face.

As he was getting ready to leave he said, "One more thing. Why the s**t eating grin on your face?" I could no longer help myself, "The two best days on a boat are the first and the last in a craft. Today was the first time this boat has been in the water in over a decade. Being inspected by you twice, and passing just made my day even better."

 

[sunburnt]

Re: getting pulled over?

great to see all the responses! makes me feel at home, on i-boats. i;ve even learned a little from all the replies . good to see a lot of safe boaters out there! didn't get many replies from jet skiers thou???? wonder why??? wrong forum, or don't they ever violate the laws !!!! keep safe hope to see you all on the water

 

[reybec]

Re: getting pulled over?

i only ever see the watepolice on the Brisbane river and out of the last 3 times we have been on the river i've been stopped twice

for random safety gear checks

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: getting pulled over?

Back in the early '80s I worked as a deckhand for the Department of Fisheries & Oceans (Canada) on the FPV Laurier (85') which was based out of Victoria and patrolled mostly on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. In the summer we occasionally patrolled the international border between British Columbia and Washington and one day we happened across an U.S. registered sport fishing 18' open boat several miles off shore jigging for halibut.

This was before the days of GPS and it was a beautiful day with both the Olympic Range mountains of Washington State and the Mountains of Vancouver Island in sight. We hailed the boat and our Captain asked the fishermen if they had Canadian sport fishing licenses in their possession as they were fishing in Canadian waters. The fishermen replied that no, they did not have Canadian licenses as they were not fishing in Canadian waters but were in U.S. waters. They then pointed out to our Captain the mountains that they were using as navigation aids. Our Captain and the Mate who was on duty then rechecked our position on our charts and realized that the fishermen where correct and in fact we were in U.S waters!

Our Captain humbly apologised to the fishermen, we tucked our tails between our legs and scurried back to Canadian waters!

 

[tartansailor]

Re: getting pulled over?

In 50 years of boating we never got pulled over until Sept. 11th then we could not come within a country mile of a Coast Guard station without being boarded. This lasted for about 3 months.

****

 

[642mx]

Re: getting pulled over?

95 hours spent on Lake Barkley, Kentucky Lake and the Ohio river this year and I haven't been pulled over yet. I'm sure it will happen, but so far so good.

 

[kaferhaus]

Re: getting pulled over?

Here in South Alabama it really depends on where you're boating... If you're a gulf boater you're gonna get boarded a good bit. In fact I don't know anyone who doesn't get stopped at least a couple times every year, some guys say they're stopped at least 15% of the time.

Also not unusual to have your boat inspected at the ramp, while launching or retrieving.

However, get into the bay a couple miles or on any of the rivers feeding the bay and it's very rare to ever get stopped or inspected.

So you'll find most of the boneheads on the rivers or north end of the bay... overloaded boats, faulty or nonexistant equipment etc.

Since AL starting requiring PWC operators to have a boat operators license the number of idiot jet ski operators has gone down dramatically and so have sales and rentals of such craft. In fact I think all the PWC rental places closed within a few months of the law taking effect. Also the marine police can now positively ID anyone operating them and give them a ticket that they actually have to pay.... prior to the law anyone stopped on a PWC simply said their ID was ashore and gave a bogus name.

This law undoubtedly saved some lives too as we always had several fatal accidents every year on them. I haven't heard of one for some time now.

The river and upper bay idiots though.... still a problem blasting through no wake areas, nearly swamping other boats who are sitting still fishing etc.

You know "Billy Bob" gets a bass boat with a 250 on it and he has to run it wide open everywhere he goes.

Obviously I'd like to see more marine police on the rivers and upper bay but they just don't have the manpower for it.

 

[jspringator]

Re: getting pulled over?

I got pulled over on the 4th of July 2008 adjacent to St. Andrews State Park, Florida, in my inflatable because of no visible numbers. At that time, I had never registered any of my portable or inflatable craft. He wrote me a warning. His complaint was that I had no evidence of who I was and no evidence the craft belonged to me. I passed a WP officer at Bradenton Beach 4 days ago. I had no visable numbers attached, but registered it and had a copy of my title with me just in case. I waved at him and he went right on by.

 

[cribber]

Re: getting pulled over?

We went out on Lake Griffin here in sunny and warm central Florida and the Lake County Sheriff's Marine Patrol stopped us for a safety check. I think he was more interested in seeing our boat since it wasn't the typical bass boat or toon out on water today. Showed him everything he asked for and we talked about the lake for 15 minutes and on our way we both went.

When we were ready to call it a day he was at the ramp retrieving his boat. It was crowded so I beached the boat to wait my turn while another guy proceeded to stow all of his gear while taking up ramp space. The Deputy tells the guy the ramp is not the place to prep your boat when folks are waiting. I just gave him a nod of thanks for taking care of my pet peeve!!!