Coastguard Harassment - ?

[1977oday22]

This week, the Coast Guard is promoting it's "safe boating week"
Nothing wrong with that...Been boating for 30 yrs...safely...
Just an observation.... On Lake Erie, the USCG is pulling everyone aside.
Their boat (large,40ft), was a hazard to navigation as they deliberatly positioned it in the middle of a 1000ft channel.
They were the hazard to navigation.
Pretty much entrapment.
They spooked a lot of boaters and it's a very high traffic area, sail power, motoring and jet ski's.
There are roughly 900 boats in the marina that have to pass the channel.
It is also race week (sail) and we are talking zero power. sail, sail, sail!
Sailors were pretty freaked out about the obstruction...
They should use thier efforts on missing children.
Again, if there is a bikini aboard, so will the Lake Erie area coast guard.
(not to mention, they all act like rambo in this area.)

 

[Joe Diver]

A hazard? How big is the CG vessel and how small is the channel? Did they cause an accident or endanger any lives?

 

[woodster]

humm i am dissapointed you feel that way about the USCG ...with out them who would you call in an emergency......yes i know some of the things they requir seem a little hokey at times but if you look real hard you will see most of the things they require is positive on our behalf...just my 2 cents.....have a safe summer...

regards

woody

 

[capejt]

Don't know that I'd call it harassment. I've been through a similar check in the past. It was quick and painless.
I gather you thnk that random DUI checkpoints are harassment too?
I'd say give the guys a break, they're only trying to make things safer for all of us. Unless of course there's something you're trying to hide from them.
BTW, since when does the Coast Guard look for missing children??

 

[Brian D]

I wish they would have done that in San Diego Bay before that Mac26 with 10 people aboard capsized killing 2. The USCG can stop me ANY TIME THEY WANT.

 

[thinwater]

1977oday. Not entrapment or harasment (since they neither encouraged missbehavior nor singled out certain people), but perhaps tedius.

Joediver. That's a joke, right?

Woodster. Intersting grammar but mostly readable.

Capejt. "Something to hide?" Why even type that? Unless you are obviously pickled, they can't search the car and go through the trunk; the police need cause, while the CG does not. That is a difference. No, I don't have anything to hide, and no, it's none of your damn business to look.

Brian D. Unless I'm mistaken, the 10 people on the Mac incident wasn't a violation except in the masafestly unsafe sense (I don't recall that the vessel has a capacity plate, but I could easily be wrong) Certainly it was monumentally supid to the point of negligence, but a once-per-year safety stop won't change that; perhaps operator permits would help. And yes, they can stop you anytime, enter and search your vessel to any extent, without cause. They ask, out of politness, but that answer makes no real difference.



I simply look at it like a yearly vehical inspection; anoying, but it reminds me to check my flare dates.

 

[Dave D]

1977oday. Not entrapment or harasment (since they neither encouraged missbehavior nor singled out certain people), but perhaps tedius.

Joediver. That's a joke, right?

Woodster. Intersting grammar but mostly readable.

Capejt. "Something to hide?" Why even type that? Unless you are obviously pickled, they can't search the car and go through the trunk; the police need cause, while the CG does not. That is a difference. No, I don't have anything to hide, and no, it's none of your damn business to look.

Brian D. Unless I'm mistaken, the 10 people on the Mac incident wasn't a violation except in the masafestly unsafe sense (I don't recall that the vessel has a capacity plate, but I could easily be wrong) Certainly it was monumentally supid to the point of negligence, but a once-per-year safety stop won't change that; perhaps operator permits would help. And yes, they can stop you anytime, enter and search your vessel to any extent, without cause. They ask, out of politness, but that answer makes no real difference.



I simply look at it like a yearly vehical inspection; anoying, but it reminds me to check my flare dates.

OK Thin, I've got to ask:

How would a yearly vehical (sic) inspection look at a a USCG stop?

Who stole the other "n" from anoying (sic)?

Thnaks fer plaeyinge the gayme.

 

[KD3PC]

well in our part of the country (MD&VA) with almost a dozen dead, or severely injured already and it is only early June....

they are a welcome sight.

If they only prevent one death their time and effort has been worth it. Or of they ask ONE DUI to step ashore, (personally after the past couple of years of accidents - they should go straight to JAIL) that will prevent the two deaths that occurred just a few weeks ago at Windmill Pt.

They are simply doing their job. Bringing awareness to the rules, checking safety gear and pointing out the lack of attention that many boaters bring with them when boating, especially if they are not properly qualified.

Look at it as the positive thing, it is.

And to 1977, if you find their boat, whatever size it is, to be a hazard to navigation, perhaps it is you who needs their efforts more than anyone...BTW, their Aux offers classes - both practical and theoretical...

 

[thinwater]

OK Thin, I've got to ask:

How would a yearly vehical (sic) inspection look at a a USCG stop?

Who stole the other "n" from anoying (sic)?

Thnaks fer plaeyinge the gayme.

"Like" is an obvious simile, in this case comparing two predictable inspections that encourage us to maintain certain maintance items and equipment lists. The boat can be a coffin ship and still pass.

And yes, forums are a grand game!

 

[Forrest15112]

I have only had one experience with the CG and that was when I was 15 years old. There is a small "lake" west of Lake Pontchartrain between the lake and the Miss River in an area called the spillway. It was recently opened to allow the Miss River to flow into Lake Pontchartrain and lower the river level at New Orleans. Well, when it isn't open, which is pretty much always, there are two deep narrow lakes about 1-2 miles long. A friend and I were water skiing behind his 15' Aluminum flatboat. There was this odd looking boat up ahead. Odd because it was about 30' long cabin cruiser styled boat. I was wondering how and why they got it back there when a fella gets up on the deck with a handheld stop sign. I pulled up along side and there were three of them who gave us a citation for not have a 3rd person to watch the skier. What really struck me as odd was one of the three guys was armed with an M16 at the ready. He never pointed it at us but was definitely making a show of it. The one in charge then had us open everything and saw the edge of a plastic ziplock bag. He thought he had us. It held a pack of cigarettes and lighter. He said he thought it might have been marijuana. He was mostly courteous but they really didn't need the intimidation factor in the rifle. The ticket was over $200 (1979) and required a trip to the Wildlife and Fisheries office smack in the middle of the French Quarter - that's another story for another time.

I have only been stopped once in my sailboat, case of mistaken identity. There may be more boats per capita in Louisiana than any other state and so many drunken idiots on boats flying at 50+ mph that the sailboats don't seem to get checked as much by CG. I see W&F agents checking quite a bit, but never a sailboat. I wonder what their authroity is in regard to searching private property?

If I get stopped and they want to search, they will not have my permission but I won't try to stop them either.

 

[kloudie1]

I never thought of it as harassment (I was in the Navy for a few years).. those guys are just doing their jobs and, like us, some are more "fervent" about their jobs than others.. I have been stopped several times, once, north of Cuba that involved machine guns and cannon (the hydrofoil cutter was impressive at 2 AM) .. everytime, we have been extra courteous and have been returned that respect.. Forrest, on the Pontchartrain back in those years, there was a LOT of drug traffic that was being interdicted and that was what the guns were about.. I was stopped around that time in my 23 foot boat as well and talked to the guys a little .. The routes now have been pretty much abandoned by the drug runners and so we have a lot less stoppage.. The St.Tammany Sherriff dudes are pretty fervent but if ya have your required gear and are operating safely, they won't bother ya.. I am happy to have 'em there and awake!

 

[kpgraci]

ha, "machine guns and cannon" will make one "extra courteous".

Ditto the sentiments so far, no problem here with the USCG doing their job, that's a long way from harassment. Now if you want to talk about the TSA, but then I hardly ever see them on the lake.

 

[DougM]

Maybe the Coast Guard should do more frequent safety inspections. We just had a voluntary inspection done in our marina. Of the 23 boats that participated in the Coast Guard Auxiliary inpection, 13 failed to pass.Granted, most were minor issues such as mis wired running lights, lack of first aid kit, or outdated flares.

Now, if we could just get everyone who owns any kind of a watercraft to understand that there really are rules of the road, life would be better.

 

[RichH]

The USCG has a major training base in Cape May NJ.
It is 'customary' for the USCG to routinely stop and check boats inside of Cape May harbor .... giving ample opportunity for the 'swabbies' to experience boarding and inspection procedures.
I usually pretend to speak an unintelligible 'foreign language' .... and then offer soft drinks to all.

One time I was shooting a notorious inlet in S. Florida during a rage .... yup, Coastie boat came along side and wanted to board & inspect - I refused politely and requested for them to follow me in to 'safer' water. They're human too.
I appreciate all that the USCG does.

 

[kloudie1]

Ken.. Laughing .. Yes indeed !! We gladly complied .. and smiled while doing so !!

 

[Joe Diver]

Joediver. That's a joke, right?

Of course...a bit more subtle than the easy "I'd sue the marina"....

 

[KD3PC]

Safety Inspections...

In my previous marina, of well over 250 boats...only 15-18 asked for and most passed "vessel checks"...the rest were not interested. With 3 or 4 of us qualified safety examiners for the Aux at the marina, I was appalled that no one was interested. Similar numbers in the nearby marinas

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

If they only prevent one death their time and effort has been worth it. Or of they ask ONE DUI to step ashore, (personally after the past couple of years of accidents - they should go straight to JAIL) that will prevent the two deaths that occurred just a few weeks ago at Windmill Pt.

They are simply doing their job. Bringing awareness to the rules, checking safety gear and pointing out the lack of attention that many boaters bring with them when boating, especially if they are not properly qualified.

kd,

The inconsistencies in your points of view baffle me. Several weeks ago you argued that mandatory life jackets should not be required because:

with 700 dying, part of whom fit the above[reference to DUIs above]...we are going to punish the other million people who like Jim are safe boaters, wear the proper gear for the situation...

Where is the "if they only prevent one death" argument then? Not to mention how this philosophy conflicts with some of the arguments you have made about some of the environmental restrictions.

By the way, I am consistently not for either mandatory life jackets or USCG safety checks. Both are unconstitutional in my opinion. The USCG is an agent of our government and should not be allowed to conduct a search without either probable cause or a search warrant as protected by the fourth amendment.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Maybe the Coast Guard should do more frequent safety inspections. We just had a voluntary inspection done in our marina. Of the 23 boats that participated in the Coast Guard Auxiliary inpection, 13 failed to pass.Granted, most were minor issues such as mis wired running lights, lack of first aid kit, or outdated flares.

Now, if we could just get everyone who owns any kind of a watercraft to understand that there really are rules of the road, life would be better.

Doug,

A boater not understanding the rules of the road can affect you regardless of all of the safety precautions you personally do or don't take.

I would much prefer that the USCG spend their time stopping boaters who operate in an unsafe manner and endanger other boaters. We do have the right to operate our boats without some idiot running into us or swamping us with their wake.

We also have the right for protection against unlawful search and seizure (the fourth amendment). I think that USGC safety checks are unconstitutional and would like to see someone challenge them in court.

I think the voluntary inspections are great if you choose to do them as a precaution. Sometimes we can all get a little laps on a detail and the voluntary inspections are a good way to remind us of some of those details.

JK

 

[SEMIJim]

kd,

The inconsistencies in your points of view baffle me. Several weeks ago you argued that mandatory life jackets should not be required because:
Where is the "if they only prevent one death" argument then?

That one and the "they're only doing their job" are both poor excuses for excessive government intrusion. If you don't mind them boarding you: Fine. Invite them to board you as often as you like. As for me: I'm weary of the constantly-escalating government intrusions into my life.

"The land of the free and the home of the brave" is becoming "the land of the regulated and the home of the protect us from everything."

By the way, I am consistently not for either mandatory life jackets or USCG safety checks. Both are unconstitutional in my opinion. The USCG is an agent of our government and should not be allowed to conduct a search without either probable cause or a search warrant as protected by the fourth amendment.

The USCG operates in a extra-Constitutional zone. Which, btw, extends several miles inland from the closest federal waters, as I understand it. I'm not saying I agree with it, but there it is.

To clarify: The USCG does a lot of good work and we're better-off for having it. But the government intrusion into our daily lives has gone far, far, far too far, IMO.

Jim