Re: have gun will travel???? its getting to be as bad as dodge city
Hog,
You can't really "enforce" parking areas in terms of vehicles that are legally registered being legally parked in a parking space. It's public use and there's no legal standing (unless the spaces are marked "vehicles with trailers only") to make them move. It's not about being considerate, heck a person could argue it's inconsiderate to ask people who were there before you to move just because you have a trailer and want the spot they currently occupy. I think this also adds to the public view of boaters as people with entitlement complexes (as is reflected in some of the more recent legislation). If I have to walk a little ways extra on account of kids shooting the bull in the parking lot, so be it; I'd rather see them doing that than some of the other stuff kids get into these days.
Lipp,
Absolutely right! If there's a problem on the lake, call the cops. That's what they get paid to do.
I fish the shoreline at night for walleye at certain times of year and the boat guys and the shore guys have a pretty good respect for each other around here. The shore fishermen keep the lanterns on so we know not to troll over top of them, and when we pass we'll let them know what we marked on the sonar, where, and what lures seem to work best that night. Sometimes if boats aren't full we'll ask some of the shore guys (that we know in passing) if they want to come aboard and kill the time between bites. They appreciate the offer, and we always leave with our sides hurting from the stories these guys tell.
Last season a guy who was new to the night bite was fishing from shore and didn't have a lantern. As we passed he went ballistic; namecalling, swearing, etc. I apologized and told him I couldn't see him and I'd be past him in a few seconds. It went quiet for about 30 seconds and I saw a shadow moving in the rocks. A few more seconds later and I heard a distinct "click". I told everyone to cover face and shortly after SWMBO was yelling that she got hooked in the hand. Turns out my instinct was right - he threw a lure (with three treble hooks) into the boat, and it would have caught her in the face if she didn't have it covered with her hands.
I called myself doing the right thing and calling the cops. The dispatcher told me they couldn't be bothered sending someone out. I wrote a strongly worded letter to the Mayor's office the next day (and copied the chief of police) explaining that I realized the resource problems inherent in law enforcement and would be more than happy to deal with it myself if it happened again, provided they were okay with whatever the results may be. Got a phone call the following day with the contact information of a deputy at the sheriff's office who happens to run the county boat and lives 30 seconds from the marina. He called me a few hours later and we talked for a good while and actually have kept in touch ever since.
Point being, no matter what happens think long and hard before doing something you might later regret. And if you're dead set on retaliation, make sure the punishment fits the crime. Better yet, call the cops; they provide a service you pay for, so use it. I understand that tempers flare in situations like this, but there's no sense in taking a life (or causing serious physical harm) over a few scratches or a wet t-shirt. Hopefully we can get back to a place where we respect each other, whatever the differences. We all put 'em on one leg at a time.
