Nautical DUI Emphasis Patrol

[Baz]

[Bugsinrugs]

I was lit up once when the family was on Shasta Lake (Northern California). It was late afternoon/evening and the water was like glass. Kids were wake boarding. I was unaware that as soon as the sun set, no more skiing or tubing or boarding. They made sure I had the right amount of life jackets. Gave me a warning and let us go. I thanked them and apologized for my ignorance.

[Rich Lambert]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I wonder how the two have grown so far apart. Seems to me that the greater "danger" lies in the operation of our land going vehicles, at least as far as the danger they present to others. Yet we enjoy the absolute right to travel unimpeded in those, with some sort of probable cause being required before we can be stopped. No stopping just to check. Interesting that that seems to be a given in the nautical world, and even more interesting that it appears to be accepted. Why the difference?

Jeff, I think operating a boat on a busy lake is far more dangerous than driving on the road. Stuff comes at you from 360 degrees and there is a huge speed potential difference between, say a ski boat or a 200hp jet ski and a kayak, paddle board, or rowing scull. And you know people, they're stupid...on both sides of the speed equation. As often as not, it's the paddle boards and kayaks in the middle of the lake that get stopped and I imagine the conversation goes something like this, "Get out of the middle the lake you dumb$%*#, don't you see the 20 surf and wakeboard boats out here trying not to kill you?"

When we sit on the deck on busy weekends and watch the police or sheriff boats roam around, we can pretty much tell who's in for a "fear of God check" and I have no problem with that. I've lived on the lake for 9 years and have never been stopped. I also never drink and boat.

[HardDrive]

My dad gets pulled over in the FL keys at least once a year. He’s glad they’re out there. All it takes to operate a boat is money, brains not required. People also ignore fishing laws that are critical to maintaining viable fishing stocks.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Rich Lambert

... I also never drink and boat.

^^^^ Owning a bass boat that would haul azz fer 27 years sure messed up my fishin' on my own boat...seriously .

A drunkin' sailor...

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Rich Lambert

Jeff, I think operating a boat on a busy lake is far more dangerous than driving on the road. Stuff comes at you from 360 degrees and there is a huge speed potential difference between, say a ski boat or a 200hp jet ski and a kayak, paddle board, or rowing scull. And you know people, they're stupid...on both sides of the speed equation. As often as not, it's the paddle boards and kayaks in the middle of the lake that get stopped and I imagine the conversation goes something like this, "Get out of the middle the lake you dumb$%*#, don't you see the 20 surf and wakeboard boats out here trying not to kill you?"

When we sit on the deck on busy weekends and watch the police or sheriff boats roam around, we can pretty much tell who's in for a "fear of God check" and I have no problem with that. I've lived on the lake for 9 years and have never been stopped. I also never drink and boat.

That makes sense when you explain it like that. On the road, at least we are all traveling in marked lanes in the same direction, and every direction from which another vehicle might appear is pretty darn obvious. Plus, everyone is going at more or less the same speed, by legal requirement. I had not considered the randomness and sheer variety of speed and direction of approaching and departing traffic on a busy lake.

[greglepore]

On the Chesapeake you have full size ships and worse tugs pulling barges. They can t manuver for crap. Every year some dumbass get cut in half by the steel cable pulling the barge.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Thanks again, guys. This is one of the things I love about hanging with you folks - beyond the banter, we always have folks who know. What a resource....

No kidding! Any obscure topic. Expert level knowledge, often in minutes.

[VincentVega]

Originally Posted by greglepore

On the Chesapeake you have full size ships and worse tugs pulling barges. They can t manuver for crap. Every year some dumbass get cut in half by the steel cable pulling the barge.

All I'll say is barge, long tow cable, during an overnight race....

Out there all day, you're tired, its dark, what are those running lights?

I think most boats around do a decent job but the folks that dont care really make it tough. Rules of the road? No wake zones... as said earlier, getting on the water takes $$, not much else.

[Rich Lambert]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

That makes sense when you explain it like that. On the road, at least we are all traveling in marked lanes in the same direction, and every direction from which another vehicle might appear is pretty darn obvious. Plus, everyone is going at more or less the same speed, by legal requirement. I had not considered the randomness and sheer variety of speed and direction of approaching and departing traffic on a busy lake.

On the road I mostly worry about the speed of what’s coming up behind me...

[Wetwork]

Title 14 of the United States Code, Section 89-

The Coast Guard may make inquiries, examinations, inspections, searches, seizures, and arrests upon the high seas and waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, for the prevention, detection, and suppression of violations of laws of the United States. For such purposes, commissioned, warrant, and petty officers may at any time go on board of any vessel subject to the jurisdiction, or to the operation of any law, of the United States, address inquiries to those on board, examine the ship’s documents and papers, and examine, inspect, and search the vessel and use all necessary force to compel compliance. When from such inquiries, examination, inspection, or search it appears that a breach of the laws of the United States rendering a person liable to arrest is being, or has been committed, by any person, such person shall be arrested or, if escaping to shore, shall be immediately pursued and arrested on shore, or other lawful and appropriate action shall be taken; or, if it shall appear that a breach of the laws of the United States has been committed so as to render such vessel, or the merchandise, or any part thereof, on board of, or brought into the United States by, such vessel, liable to forfeiture, or so as to render such vessel liable to a fine or penalty and if necessary to secure such fine or penalty, such vessel or such merchandise, or both, shall be seized.

This is where it begins...but there's a few other statutes and stuff that apply to Coasties. CG Aux has zero LE authority, they are just kind folks who are helping out. They can't enforce anything, same as the Navy can't enforce anything. All Navy drug busts have a CG detachment onboard or fast roped onboard to do the actual enforcement. This all came about I believe two years after the Constitution was ratified. Same guys who signed the Constitution invented the CG. The amazing thing to me is how rarely these powers are abused. Seriously, when I was active the only agency that had more authority was the Secret Service.-WW

[SoCal911T]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

That makes sense when you explain it like that. On the road, at least we are all traveling in marked lanes in the same direction, and every direction from which another vehicle might appear is pretty darn obvious. Plus, everyone is going at more or less the same speed, by legal requirement. I had not considered the randomness and sheer variety of speed and direction of approaching and departing traffic on a busy lake.

Also, on a boat, there are no seatbelts or airbags.




I've been hit three times on three different sailboats over the years. All three times the mast snapped in half from the impact. It can really ruin your whole day. Not passing judgement but it IS an issue.

[Jim Richards]

3 times? Racing or just pleasure sailing?

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

All I'll say is barge, long tow cable, during an overnight race....



Out there all day, you're tired, its dark, what are those running lights?



I think most boats around do a decent job but the folks that dont care really make it tough. Rules of the road? No wake zones... as said earlier, getting on the water takes $$, not much else.

I bought a specialized duck boat (tdb14) from a guy in Philly years ago. We tested it on the Delaware river where he normally hunted. I asked if it was a bit sketchy running on big water like that at 0 dark thirty to get to a creek.

I’ll never forget his response; he said you can’t see nav lights on the big ships since they are so damn high up. You know they are there when the stars disappear.

[Wetwork]

Jurisdiction gets funky too..any waters that border two states the CG has authority. Such as "Station Vacation" on Lake Tahoe, or on the Snake River in Oregon, Idaho, Washington. Pretty sure we send a detachment to Havasu during the peak boating months. Stateless vessels were basically pirates or smugglers faking they had a home country. Say a smuggler is flying a Columbia national flag off its stern, well we call the State Dept, they call the Nation in question, they instantly say they never heard of them...so poof "stateless" so we board them. Any US flagged boat we can do, or any boat in our waters which sometimes extend out to 300 nautical miles (EEZ).

Nobody who wasn't in the CG has any idea what we really do or did, and all the different hats we wear. From the Civil War, World Wars, Viet Nam to all the stuff going on the Gulf. We had guys in Afghanistan. Aids to Navigation, pollution, and my bread and butter Search and Rescue. Best job ever-WW

Jeff, I don't know the reason the law is that way, but I got warned by the guy who sold me my first boat not to EVER deny access to law enforcement.

We fish every year up at Ross Lake, which is in the North Cascades National Park. We rent 12-foot wooden boats with 15hp outboards, which are fun little hot rods. The Park Service doesn't board very often, but when they do there's no fooling around. They usually just say they want to spot check one thing--whether the hooks are barbed or baited (neither allowed), but they tie up and look everywhere and at everything. Ross runs 35 miles and up into Canada, so they are always on the lookout for drug runners and terrorists and the like. They made a big coke bust up there about 20 years ago when we first started going.

I generally have zero problem with law enforcement doing their jobs. It's how some of them choose to go about it that I have a problem with. The Park Rangers have all been pretty cool. And you can get into some pretty serious trouble out on that lake, so I am happy they are there.

[VincentVega]

I’ll never forget his response; he said you can’t see nav lights on the big ships since they are so damn high up. You know they are there when the stars disappear.

What an idiot. I've been through the canal way past dark and its no fun. Seems like no room and even when they are at transit speed the ships leave a pretty nasty wake. So many opportunities for an incident, following the rules is pretty straight forward.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

What an idiot. I've been through the canal way past dark and its no fun. Seems like no room and even when they are at transit speed the ships leave a pretty nasty wake. So many opportunities for an incident, following the rules is pretty straight forward.

The canal is one of the spots of which I speak, a 35 ft sb got pulled under by a cable not far from Schaffers in the early 2000's.

I do get that it happens to normal sober folks, but add some drinks at the helm and disaster ensues. And I'm no saint, I like my liquor.

Jeff, I do understand your initial statement. But running a boat in crowded water or at night is more like flying than driving, so yeah, do you want the guy in the 150 in your pattern to be schitzfaced?

[dyhunter]

Thanks for your service Wetworks! I spent four years in Maine at a small boat station 89-93. I still have to explain to friends what exactly the CG does.

The snowbirds on their boats were always amusing in the summer but it was the drunk fishing captains that gave us the most trouble.

[Wetwork]

Originally Posted by dyhunter

Thanks for your service Wetworks! I spent four years in Maine at a small boat station 89-93. I still have to explain to friends what exactly the CG does.

The snowbirds on their boats were always amusing in the summer but it was the drunk fishing captains that gave us the most trouble.

You too and thank you, enlisted in 89 (Yankee 131). Did some fisheries off Maine as a boot. Stayed a weekend in Rockland. Our D-9 Icebreaker did a summer patrol out of Boston. Spent my winters breaking ice in your current neck of the woods. Small world. I spent those four years more in the UP than I did in home port Cleveland. I quickly ran home to the West Coast as soon as I was tour complete. Stayed in Oregon the rest of my twenty, driving boats at Surf Stations. Semper Par-WW