Coastguard Harassment - ?

alexco38 · Jun 22, 2011

This happen too often. Last week, some motor boat skipper fell overboard in our lake. No kill switch so the boat went crazy. The Coastie had to risk their life try to stop the boat. After a few scary moment, he use a boat hook and knock the throttle to neutral.

You got to respect the Coastie. They are just doing their job.

tommays · Jun 22, 2011

In my area the CG is pretty darn good BUT we have 6 (REALLY) Police\Harbor Master units covering the area who seem to think they have CG powers

Freedom77 · Jun 22, 2011

Some years back we anchored in the outer harbor at Avalon. Went in to town for dinner and libations. When we got back our boat was gone. USCG had a station there at that time which has since been replaced with LA County Sheriff. Contacted USCG who said they would start a search at daylight. Spent the night in a hotel. Next morning CG found her drifting about five miles out headed for Newport. Towed her back in, no charge. Anchor line had been cut probably by a propeller. Could have ended up beached or on the rocks. THANKS USCG. Semper Paratus, Always Ready.
On a lighter note I met a "Coastie" who told me he was stationed in Phoenix, AZ. I asked, "How do you guard the coast from there?" He replied, "Have you noticed any of it Missing?"

Fair Winds and Full Sails...

dparilla · Jun 22, 2011

S/V Brighid said:
those who would sacrifice securityfor liberty deserve neither....Benj. Franklin

Wrong... he said the exact opposite. Those who would sacrifice an essential liberty for temporary security deserve neither.

Fact checked in Bartlett's.

Ross · Jun 22, 2011

1977oday22 said:
Hot topic, I'm not against any type of boarding or inspection, Infact I was boarded 3 times last year ....with a safety inspection sticker, 2 times it was a training session for new coasties..about an hour and a half of repeating everything..showing this, showing that etc.... a real dumb moment is when I was asked to show my life vest, I showed them my belt-pac (I always wear).. and they said "wow that's a life vest?"
The USCG boat and hazzard to navigation I was referring to, commonly takes place in the cut of the breakwall. About a 1000 ft. wide section of traffic. The USCG boat is about a 40ft. You literally have to pass it within a stones thow. Boaters freak out because there is a combination of vessels under sail power and some motoring, also alot of jet ski traffic. I don't know what the hell they are thinking when the make it so you just about have to dodge them.... when In addition to that, there is a public launch ramp right next door. They also have a dozen or so inspecting boats while on land.
I'm sure it's not like this everywhere...but the old saying in Cleveland still holds true...If there is a Bikini onboard... the coast guard will be too...
It sucks around here.

Your math don't work! 1000 foot channel -40 foot boat leaves 960 feet of open water. What is the problem?

KMm · Jun 22, 2011

The laws for operating a boat should be no different than the laws that govern a motor vehicle. In Calif last year the County marine patrols and the Coast Guard began stopping boats of all kinds and giving Citations and arresting operators for DUI's. This year an open container gives the officer PC to stop and check the vessel operator. On my boat there is no open containers while the vessel is moving, at anchor a different story. Sorry but safety first fun later. As far as Inspections, they should be mandatory, as should a license.

sinnettc · Jun 22, 2011

1977oday22 said:
She has over 1700 ship wrecks, some I've dove on.
It's a rough body of water....more wrecks that any body of water in history.

Maybe that's why they're there.

USCG brat and proud of it.

Solace of Freedom · Jun 23, 2011

police state

sinnettc said:
Maybe that's why they're there.

USCG brat and proud of it.

Sinnettc has a point, you would think. Unless you actually saw this is person. (I haven't, but I have a good idea of what it looks like.) You, the well wishing public, would like to think that the CG have our best interests in mind, but it sounds like they are just creating caios (so, I can't spell) because they can. If any other boat was parked in such an area what would the CG say to them.
I boat on the NW end of Lake Erie and it has become a police state around there. The local Sherif has a # of boats, two local cities have police boats, the Border Patrol maintains a rediculous presence (in just about every marina & park, besides on the water), the DNR has a # of boats (and they have ticketed me) and there is the CG. It seems that they pretty much leave the sail boats alone. (I have a motor boat as well.) If one asked me to pull over while under sail I would be livid, for a ridulous safety check? I take my safety in to my own hands. The inspection should be an option. We all know it is really just an invitation to harass, write tickets, and if at all possible arrest individuals out enjoying themselves.
Just about every Metro Detroit city is laying off police officers and we've got Border Patrol sitting in parks 24/7 and sherif's harrassing boaters (while murders go unsolved). On the water they can pull you over w/out cause (i.e. safety inspection). What if they did that on the road, to safety check your car?
Right-on Ben, give me freedom (security, is usually an illusion any ways. "Thanks for the inspection and the ticket officer. No, I'm not drunk. Am I free to go now?")

S/V Brighid · Jun 23, 2011

Solace of Freedom said:
Sinnettc has a point, you would think. Unless you actually saw this is person. (I haven't, but I have a good idea of what it looks like.) You, the well wishing public, would like to think that the CG have our best interests in mind, but it sounds like they are just creating caios (so, I can't spell) because they can. If any other boat was parked in such an area what would the CG say to them.
I boat on the NW end of Lake Erie and it has become a police state around there. The local Sherif has a # of boats, two local cities have police boats, the Border Patrol maintains a rediculous presence (in just about every marina & park, besides on the water), the DNR has a # of boats (and they have ticketed me) and there is the CG. It seems that they pretty much leave the sail boats alone. (I have a motor boat as well.) If one asked me to pull over while under sail I would be livid, for a ridulous safety check? I take my safety in to my own hands. The inspection should be an option. We all know it is really just an invitation to harass, write tickets, and if at all possible arrest individuals out enjoying themselves.
Just about every Metro Detroit city is laying off police officers and we've got Border Patrol sitting in parks 24/7 and sherif's harrassing boaters (while murders go unsolved). On the water they can pull you over w/out cause (i.e. safety inspection). What if they did that on the road, to safety check your car?
Right-on Ben, give me freedom (security, is usually an illusion any ways. "Thanks for the inspection and the ticket officer. No, I'm not drunk. Am I free to go now?")[/

S/V Brighid · Jun 23, 2011

about 2400 years ago, Plato postulated that the life span of any republic is about 200 years.....think about what has transpired in this country in the last 35 years--since our bicenntinal.

S/V Brighid · Jun 23, 2011

so, how do you spell bicenntinal??

S/V Brighid · Jun 23, 2011

sorry for the mispost--i'm new to this site

Don S/V ILLusion · Jun 23, 2011

"I take my safety in to my own hands. The inspection should be an option. We all know it is really just an invitation to harass, write tickets, and if at all possible arrest individuals out enjoying themselves."

Precisely why many of us support CG boardings of all boats. There are way too many incompetent boaters out there and they all pose a threat to the rest of us. You may feel confident you are safe but so too do the idiots that endanger the rest of us.

Not sure I understand what you imply the CG does wrong by saying "if at all possible arrest individuals [for] enjoying themselves". To what type enjoyment are you referring?

SEMIJim · Jun 23, 2011

Don S/V ILLusion said:
Precisely why many of us support CG boardings of all boats.

Some day, and I fear that day is not long off, those of you that feel this way are going to have the country you asked for. I'm just glad that, one way or the other, I won't be around to suffer it with you.

Jim

KMm · Jun 26, 2011

I attended a meeting in Sacramento, CA on Friday of local law enforcement, and a new policy of zero tolerance for boating under the influence was put into effect across the state. If the operator of a vessel tests 0.08 (just like a vehicle) that person will be arrested and cited for BUI. If no one on board can pass, the boat will be impounded. This law went in effect last year but the zero tolerance is new. What was also interesting is if there is a high volume of arrests the intention is to add the open container law to boating, which will mean no open containers on a moving vessel. Harsh maybe, but 3 out of 5 boating accidents involve drinking. Those of you that protest about inspections and BUI stops are the first in line demanding some ones head when some drunken fool hits you or someone you care about. Yes, Im a retired cop and I will tell you this if I see you or anyone else operating a vessel under the influence I will drop a dime on you in a heart beat. I have carried way more bodies, and had to tell some one that there loved one is gone because of some drunken fool. If you want to party anchor out, get drunk, party your ass off, but don't move the boat till you are sober.
" Party on but party safe. '

Ross · Jun 27, 2011

The other day I was going down to my boat crossing a mile long toll bridge. There is a move pending to raise the toll rates substantially. I was driving 5 over the speed limit and 15 cars passed me in that one mile span. I told the lady taking the tolls that they don't need to raise the tolls, they just need to enforce the speed limit. They would coolet more money and the road would be safer.

Scott T-Bird · Jun 27, 2011

What constitutes harassment?

Kaymar, you went on a nice rant about drinking and boating but the topic is about random boardings where there is no evidence that anything is amiss. Why shouldn't it be objectionable when you are a law-abiding boater and you are selected at random to be boarded and subjected to all the intimidation that the authorities are capable of dishing out?

I suppose that the CG purposely selects high traffic areas and difficult conditions at times for their random check-points so that they have the element of surpise on their side. They are sure to find more violations this way. That doesn't necessarily make it right ...

Bill Roosa · Jun 27, 2011

How is this different from cops setting up a check point (center of the channel) to catch folks not following the rules or a sobriety check?
Given the number of "crazies" boating drunk I would think more folks would be applauding the law enforcement.
Course if you can't pass the test don't go boating.