getting pulled over?

[Jeepster04]

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

Funny you say that, we were stopped 3 times on our jet ski this summer.

The first time we had just bought it and the seller just happened to be a cop. He told us that we had to get the stickers before the end of the month but since we had a bill of sale we could ride it. Given he was a cop, we believed him but as soon as we got it on the water that evening we were stopped. Said we had to get them before that weekend was over, that was on a friday.

Other time we were towing a tube, its a 3 seater but it feels very uneasy when you get 3 adults on it. To help things, I hopped on the tube and tied it off around 10 feet behind the jet ski till we got out of the no wake zone. Stopped us and said we couldnt do that since some people will try to go between the jetski and the tube which gets the rope in their prop. Not sure a boat could of fit between us but we didnt care.

other time they were just checking us. Weve never gotten a ticket for anything and usually they are very understanding. We boat on a lake though, sounds like others are on a river or the sort.

Been stopped many times on our fishing boat but theyve never asked to see our license. Usually just checking the fire extinguisher and other things.

Yet to be stopped on the boat in my sig.

 

[TRSC]

Re: getting pulled over?

I know this is an old thread but I wanted to weigh in. I have been stopped by SCDNR as much as twice in the same day by the same officer while on the lake. It seems that I get stopped every single time I go out. Bear in mind this was always in an old 18' Chap with a top speed of 25mph. I've always boated responsibly and never did anything to draw attention to my boat. SCDNR seems just to stop as many boats as possible to conduct "safety checks." Lovely.

 

[magillacuddy]

Re: getting pulled over?

I have never been pulled over or boarded (although I probably will this year, since I am jinx'ing myself).
On Lake George, there is a ton of law enforcement: County, State Police, LG ParkCommision, and some environmental dudes who have guns and badges (those Zerbra Mussels must be packing). They like hassling the obvious drinkers/partiers (I try to be a non-obvious partier), but like nothing more than to pull over the fast loud boats. There is a speed limit on the lake, but also a noise limit. The check decibal levels and if you are over, you get a ticket. I even heard of a boat getting banned from the lake during a fun run last fall.

 

[Psycho71]

Re: getting pulled over?

In Texas, I get checked MAYBE 1 out of ten trips on the water. We do have one place we go where we'll be checked at least once every day (record is three times in one day by the same GW). But that's a major fishing destination during the spawn, and the place where we rent a cabin happens to be owned by the Game Warden's wife and Himself. So it's to be expected.

Honestly, I welcome them to check me out, check my catch, and do whatever they need to do. I thank them for being out on the water anytime I encounter one. I wish they could do more with their limited budgets myself. I see people committing violations all the time where nothing gets done because our GW's are stretched so thin down here.

I operate within the law all of time, thus have absolutely nothing to fear from them. I welcome them aboard, offer them a soda, and comply with them 100%.


Jay

 

[elahuta]

Re: getting pulled over?

Well in NJ in Margate every 2 hours in the bay and twice when the shift changes.
Welcome to NJ......

 

[ebry710]

Re: getting pulled over?

I have never been pull over in No. California.

 

[nlain]

Re: getting pulled over?

I have been stopped once by Ga DNR in all my 40 years boating, I had ordered my Ga sticker, had not received it and it had expired, I had also forgot about it, saw them looking at me across the sound with binocs, saw the blue light come on and them turn my way so I just stopped and waited, I had copied the form and my check when I sent it in, they looked at that, their computer system was down, gave me a phone number to call and get replacement sticker and told me to have a nice day. I see them out all the time if I pass by I give them plenty of room and wave.

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: getting pulled over?

We boat mostky on the Suwannee and Sante fe rivers and we see FWC alot but mostly they do not bother people. They kinda know the area boats that are around regularly.
I have been stopped twice in my boating several years apart, both by the same guy and both were the first time out in a different boat that they did not recognize. When I got the Glastron we were running around on the first day with it getttin acquainted so to speak. Guy stopps me and says "Oh hey its you. You get a new boat?" Look nice got all your safty stuff? Showed him and we were on our way. No problem.

I work in contact with them alot and they all say the same thing they just want all to be careful and safe. The only thig they are really looking for is people acting like as*@)$(.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: getting pulled over?

If game wardens were interested in what people were drinking or that they had a coozie, they would stop every boat on the water. I rarely see a boat in my area where drinking alcohol is not happening. The sailboaters often have wine glasses, the fishermen with their canned beer, and the cruisers with the longnecks. The law states (at least in MD) you can drink on the boat, even while operating the boat, but you cannot be legally intoxicated.

i have seen them on lake mead go past me purposely, then stop and turn around and look thru binoculars. just looking to see if i was drinking or what was goin on. never stopped or talked to though.

 

[11rufus11]

Re: getting pulled over?

I go out at least once a week, weather permitting, fishing from March to November on various lakes here in the upstate of SC. I get checked rarely, but when I do, it is on the weekend. You can just about guarantee to be checked on a holiday. During the week I have been checked once in my life.

 

[rp23g7]

Re: getting pulled over?

We got pulled over a few yrs ago for the first time. My tabs on the boathad expired in June of course, and this was October, the last time we were going out till spring probably.

We live in Seattle, and were out in Lake Washington and putting around the ship canal.

We were going through the cut between Ballard and Lake Union, and here comes a police boat. Time to look inconspicuous.

This guy was looking for expired tabs, he did a u turn as soon as he passed us. OPPS, back to the dock.

 

[Sikiguya]

Re: getting pulled over?

My buddy that has been boating for years gets pulled over everytimes he goes onto a new body of water....I have seen it twice. First time it was Lake Mead and the second was the local lake. First time was to check us as the lake was pretty empty except for us midwesterners. Second was that we had three in a towable and only 2 were allowed. He has had sobriety tests amongst safety checks.

We got the information from DNR that said that we could use our boat before we got our registration number....didn't take the chance. Last week, we were out boating and saw them pull over a little paddle/fishing boat that sat two. We watched them with our binocular...actually enjoying it. He threw them off the lake...we wonder whether the boat was too small or maybe they didn't have registration. Then we realized that we were short 2 PFD for adults. We had arrived at the lake and they had joined us. We cruise to the boat ramp and thought for sure he was going to get us...luckily there were some jetskis that got his attention.

 

[BodunkPHilroe1]

Re: getting pulled over?

I boat in southern Indiana and central Kentucky. In ten years I have been approached 3 times. We usually just wave as they go by!

 

[tawood]

Re: getting pulled over?

I've been pulled over "by telephone"....It didn't go well for the marine officer!

I was out last year with my kids on my little seadoo jet boat, when the kids decided they wanted to swim at the local public beach. So, at idle (no wake) speed I pulled up along side the beach, never getting closer than about 50 yards from the marked public swimming area. In the area I pulled up to there was just one older lady (maybe about 60 yoa) sunbathing on shore (all this is part of a public park).
As I beached the boat, she started yelling, saying I was breaking the law by driving near shore. I tried nicely to explain you eventually HAVE TO drive a boat near shore to get in or out, but she wasn't hearing it. Then she said, "I'm calling my son! He's a marine deputy!" I didn't even bother to tell her that I'm a police officer, have been one for 17 years, and I know the law pretty well.
I could hear her talking to her son, giving him my hull numbers, etc. She then walked back over to me and said, "Mr. Wood, my son wants to talk to you," and she handed me her phone (and by calling me by name, her son obviously ran my hull numbers). I said, "Hello?" and he answered by saying, "Mr. Wood? This is Deputy Smith..." I cut him short by asking him, "Deputy Smith, do you know what a LEIN violation is?" (An example of a LEIN violation is when you run a plate, name, hull number, etc for YOUR MOTHER!!! It is a crime, and is taken VERY SERIOUS in the state of Michigan, usually resulting in the officer being fired AND charged criminally). I then told the deputy the only conversation that was going to take place was for him to tell his mother to leave me alone, and I handed the phone back to his mom.

Needless to say she left the park immediately.

Tim

 

[Eddie P]

Re: getting pulled over?

Tim, that's poetic justice.

 

[travaler18]

Re: getting pulled over?

tawood---------that IS a humorous story ,but you never did say if it was legal for you to beach there

 

[tawood]

Re: getting pulled over?

Oops, thought it was apparent....completely legal.
Tim

 

[redfury]

Re: getting pulled over?

Completely and totally hilarious! I love how some people feel they are "empowered" just because they "know" someone. She's obviously the type you don't want to live next to...

 

[tawood]

Re: getting pulled over?

For sure...I was later approached by several people that knew her...said she worked for the school board and was a real bizzy body that constantly looked for "problems" that weren't really problems so she could complain, etc.
A couple of weeks later I did the same thing and she was there again. I intentionally stayed away from her, beaching an extra 50 yards down even further, but she just packed it up as I pulled up.
Tim

 

[MercGuy]

Re: getting pulled over?

Speaking as a recent ex Coastie ...

I have even attempted to stop all traffic out of a particular harbor, just to chat with people and see if they get nervous or are hiding something.

Al

OK, so let me get this straight... just because you feel like it, you decide to stop everybody and make your own decisions about what it right and what is wrong ??

We are so blessed to have people like you around, people who are much better and wiser than people like me.

To heck with freedom, rights, liberty - we have you to play God when you feel like it...