Please step out of your boat...

[Ross]

I once asked a US Customs agent how they were able

to monitor all of the small boats along our coasts. I said that I had a boatthat could sail to Europe and back in a single season and I didn't think that anybody cared where I went on my boat until I checked in with Customs upon my return. He confirmed for me that there is no way for them to track a boat if it should sail off shore without telling anyone it was going. I could come in off the ocean and sail all the way up the bay bypassing all ports of entry and land at any private dock I choose.

 

[Boone]

Already have ID

I have a state registration number, pay taxes on my boat, and have to park my trailer somewhere with my registered automobile and boat trailer when my boat is launched. The Coast Guard, DNR, Charleston County Marine Patrol, the city of Charleston Marine Patrol and some new big boats with guns already stop me and inspect my boat at will. They already know the area and it's regular boaters. The regular boaters know the waters and observe other boats carefully. What's to improve here?

 

[Bev Hoffman]

Another registration?

Our Hunter 40.5 is registerered with the state of Texas and is documented by the Coast Guard. We have driver's license, Ham license, EPIRB license, passports etc. Nothing else should be needed.

 

[KorculaChris]

Once when stopped

many years ago by the CG to perform a safety check, they asked to see proof of a boater safety course (not a legal requirement), life jackets, a bell (not required on a 23 footer), flares AND smoke signals (only one required, not both) and my drivers' license. I had no problem with complying with their courteous request, but I did have a problem with them not knowing the rules for smaller boats. If I had not pointed out, for example, that a bell only applies for 39 feet and above, I believe the LT would have ticketed me. They never asked about a horn or other sound producing device except for the bell.What's wrong with using drivers' licenses, we nearly all have them and the CG could (if they don't already) use the same microwave interface as the various PDs do to access State records. Swipe the licenses and get an instant record. The mechanism and technology are there, why duplicate it?It's nuts!IMHO

 

[Capt. Kermie]

How much ID is enough?

I would think that full implementation of the MMSI number for DSC capable radios would be sufficient for most boaters, that covers full ID doesn't it?As for homeland security and Coastguard pulling you over, well, I remember first getting my NeXus/CanPass for water travel across the 49th and having your uncle sam taking my finger prints and eye prints to get those documents. Then when I first used my CanPass Canada Customs arrived via their high powered RIB and double checked all my ID passport and all! Every time we phone for customs clearance we get the third degree before landing and there is a customs dock at our marina that calls us over even when we have'nt crossed. When I look at the GPS it registers 12 eyes in the sky at max but there are likely more than that watching us. With boat registration number, Boaters Card, Passports, MMSI numbers and god knows what else, why do they need more?

 

[Ross]

I think that they are concerned that you

will land a company of special forces troops from your 22 foot daysailer and mount an assault on the nearest international airport. Not that you wouldn't get stuck in traffic even if the rest were posible. ;-)

 

[Terry Cox]

I've never been boarded by the CG...

but two years ago shortly after I crossed over from Canadian into US waters a high speed boat being skippered by a customs agent and a sheriff deputy crew stopped me and asked to come aboard. I graciously invited them on and after they checked my passport and boat ownership papers they thanked me and said I was free to go. No big deal. I would think a passport, valid drivers license, etc. should be ample ID. Terry

 

[Benny]

Another bureaucratic scheme to

get in your wallet. There will be a registration fee, an issuance fee and a periodic renewal fee. If they offer it for free for life I would not have a problem. All these things are for the law abiding citizen, the criminals will get bootleg ones.

 

[Capt Clyde]

CG ID

Why don't we just get it over with and require a National ID card? I'm not really for the idea but it might make my wallet thinner.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Why don't we just get it over with

Steve's #26 post answers that question.I find it hard to believe that people will accept the tortuous and unnecessary amount of government spying and snooping, and actually suggest that it be increased.Enough is enough already, they know who we are easily enough. Now they're going to try and find out where we are all the time.It is NONE of their business.It has nothing to do with security, and everything to do with bureaucratic power plays.Someone suggested it, these guys need to get out of the office more often.Eventually it'll come down to the simple logic of "would you like to have this done to you?"The logical extension of this desire to "control" everything is needing to get permission to take your own boat out. I doubt if anyone wants that.

 

[Guy D]

Agin it

I am against thr proposal. All ststes issue driver's licenses and a state ID card if you do not drive. These should be good enough for the CG's purposes. The problem with driver's licenses is fraud, a motivating factor in the motor/voter law. Most states do not adequately research driver's license applicants, certain politicians who have no problem with illegals voting knew this, and hence motor/voter was passed. More stringent checks for driver's license/ID card would solve the problem, and the only legislation required would be that you have your license with you.This is not an operator's license currently proposed. How long before it becomes one? Bearing in mind that the only reason to issue a license is so you can take it away, I think this whole proposal should be resisted. Not against licensing? Wait until you are laying alongside, having a few adult beverages, and are required to show your license, guess what's next. And do you think the standard will be your state's or the feds for merchant marine crew?Safety. The feds desperately want us to believe they can protect us. Nowhere in American life do we surrender more liberties than when we fly, under the understanding that the feds are going to keep us safe. We saw how that worked out on 9/11. The only dent we made against those terrorists was by the passengers on Flight 93 who violated a half dozen federal laws in their efforts to stop the terrorists. They acted like true Americans, who generally ignore stupid laws, and didn't wait for the FAA to help them. The FAA that is no more capable of helping them today than it was five years ago. I see no numbers of Coast Guard vessels or a manning structure of the Guard itself that provides for any better "safety" at sea than the FAA does the skies. This proposal is a needless "feel-good" attempt by politicians desperate to be seen "doing something". What if the FAA allowed firearms on flights? 9/11 probably never would have happened due to the doubt in aterrorists mind as to whether or not he was flying with Annie Oakley. Forget IDs, let's require every boater to be armed. Now that would be a real coast guard. (with no offense intended to the one we have) And we could get back to acting like Americans.

 

[dreamshadow C26]

I am who the picture says I am

I agree. I understand we will soon need passports to sail the great lakes. OK, so we pay for the trailer plates, the boats registration, carry a drivers license, have a insurance card, have a boating safety card, and all the license for the radios, etc. I did get pulled over while operating anothers 22ft. It seems we was moon sailing without any lights on. the owner was a little under the sun but smart enough to shine a 20,000 candle power light into the CG boat fast approaching. Anyway I guess he turned out the running lights when he changed the CD (turned out cabin lights) They didn't give us any hassle. They just asked a few questions and were on their way. So do we need more ID? No! Just keep your lights on and be nice. And have your sober mate drive your boat.

 

[dsmsoccerdad]

666

well it's the US gov't. Should they just toss all of our ID's out the window since most criminal's / terrorists and any other lowlife that desires to acquire a US document to prove their identity, somehow can get thier hands on one? Isn't it about time the govt start issuing tatoos to our wrist or forehead with the number 666 and toss all the ID's.Don't get me wrong, I am all for homeland security but what is wrong with wearing a six gun on your belt and waving a flag don't tread on me?Just a thought from a Madman red blooded US American inland Sailor.

 

[RichH]

How about embedded RFID chips in ones neck.

Maybe we should turn all this ID business over to the SuperMarket chain stores. With RFID (Radio Frequency Identity Chips) on every damn package in ther stores, they know EXACTLY where every piece of grocery stock is, how long its been there, how much it actually costs, etc. But the 'gummit' already cant find (what) 20 Million Illegal Aliens !!!!!!!! .... and they want ME to get another form of ID. Hell No.... outsource Home Land Security to "Giant Supermarkets, Inc.", etc. and if THAT fails (as most govt. programs such as this fail) THEN require me to get yet another ID. I can drive on most turnpikes, freeways with an "EZPass" and they never screw this up. Want to know where your UPS or FED-EX package is .... if you have the tracking number, just look it up on the internet !!!!!!!!!! ..... but this 'government' still doesnt have a clue how to track someone. (or just maybe "Homeland Security" is just actually just another govt. "welfare for lawyers/bureacrats" entity). So how about required ID chips implanted in ones neck, etc. and turn this over to 'private enterprise' FIRST as certainly 'government' would have NOT THE FOGGIEST IDEA how to 'track' someone, even WITH a new and improved HI-TECH ID .... and they *prove* this point EVERY DAMN DAY.

 

[Doug]

Hmmm

Well it seems pretty clear. It's a stupid concept to create more wasteful beauracratic spending moving sombody up the ladder because he has 10 more people working under him to fill out forms and his boss has 20 more managers and so on. Should only cost 50/100 million a year in salary increases. Do we wait for applications in the mail or do we take off work and go somewhere to fill out the forms, cause this sure has a chitload of gov employees with a reason to push it through.

 

[Bruce C. Stone]

Gunboat

Not long after the 9/11 attack I was sailing south out of Marina del Rey past an oil tanker that was offloading fuel. The Coast Guard was enforcing the 500 yard limit for passage near a commercial vessel. I guess I was too close (those tankers are so large, it is difficult to judge distances.) Suddenly I had a small Coast Guard craft with orange pontoons and two large Honda outboard motors pull up behind me and hail me. On the foredeck was the largest machine gun I have ever been close to. It was loaded and thank heavens they did not have a gunner standing next to that weapon. That got my attention, and I fully cooperated. They did not board me or ask for personal ID but I would have done anthing they asked. That vessel was fast and in a moment it was gone. Those orange pontoons stood out but at some distance were hard to see.I agree that we have enough ID's. Try not paying your taxes on your vessel and they certainly know where to find you.

 

[Littlebreeze]

Haven't we learned yet?

We experienced the events of 9/11 because one government agency was not talking to the other. Haven't they learned? Why can't the Coast Guard quit trying to re-event the wheel? Every state already has the information the Coast Guard wants. It is in their DMV records and their criminal records, and now it is in their passport records. What do you think federal government, will you let the Coast Guard have access to your toys? Isn't this what the Department of Homeland Security suppose to be doing? Showing every one how to play well together? Lets not find another way to bankrupt the USA. It is already being done for us.

 

[captain]

Quit Your Whining and Help

Do you guys understand there are people out there who want to kill you, your wife, your children, your mother, etc., etc.I see the Coast Guard where I sail protecting Trident submarines from those that would like to blow them and every American within 50 miles off the face of the earth. You would not believe the effort these people go through.They work with minimum budget, minimum pay and have to deal with idiot boaters that complain about what they do.The liberals in this country are trying to give the USA away. Sorry that was was a political statement........ Forget that I am not sorry!Quit your whining and get off your duff and support those who are trying to protect you.We Americans must understand, we are going to have give up some liberties if we are going to survive as a free nation. I don't know about you but I do not want my children bowing to Mecca several times a day.

 

[Ross]

Golly Captain, for just a little while I thought

you were being serious. Can you spell paranoid?

 

[BobW]

Hey, Captain.....

We're all out of conservatives to pillory over in the Angst forum. ;DSure there's bad guys out there, and we should be going after them. Adding more licenses and tests for American recreational boaters is pretty questionable, IMNHO.See ya' on the 'dark side' if you're gonna keep talking politics.Cheers,Bobs/v X SAIL R 8<<<exits to sounds of liberals sharpening their blades in anticipation of another un-suspecting neo-con victim wandering onto the island>>>