"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 17:43:47 GMT, "swatcop"
wrote:
Looking for a little bit of direction here. I've been recently assigned
to
my department's Marine Unit. I've been a cop for 15 years. I lived in NJ
at
the shore around boats most of my life, but never owned one. I rarely
even
went out on boats except for fishing or waterskiing. I moved to Florida
in
late 2000, and I'm still working as a cop (just in a nicer place). As a
result of some administrative changes in my department, I was assigned to
the Marine Unit. I've completed the necessary training and such, but one
thing is lacking: experience. I'll try to get to the point - I'm open for
comments and opinions. I know what the law says, and I know what my job
is,
but I try to use more common sense than what the law may actually say in
black & white. What do you (as boaters) feel the most important issues
are
for the Police to deal with on the water? Would you like to see more
O.U.I.
enforcement? More vessel stops for no wake zone infractions? More safety
inspections? More after dark patrols of inlets, channels, and harbor
areas?
You tell me. I'm asking for your honest opinions here. As a rule I use
more
common sense than anything on the job. I treat people fairly, and as a
result I rarely ever have to appear in court. I would like to do the same
on
the water. Here's your chance to make a difference, because I will take
every opinion into consideration. Thanks for your help.
Enforcement Needed:
Inconsiderate and dangerous operation.... wakes, skiing in areas that
just aren't safe, and the like. Drug interdiction. Violation of
"green" laws.
Enforcement Not Needed:
Don't stop boaters unless you explain the WHY. In some areas,
enforcement amounts to harassment. Stopping nearly everybody on the
water isn't the best use of police resources (which are usually thin
enough) and doesn't go a long way toward community opinion,
especially, if a stop is just "a stop."
Remember:
A citation is not always the best answer. Hopefully you are looking
for a favorable change in public behavior and are not acting
principally as a profit center for the municipality.
In short? Don't proudly and visibly stomp on the ants while letting
the elephants run wild.
--
Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Southport, NC.
http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/cavern/
Homepage
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/directions.asp Where
Southport,NC is located.
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/autoupdater.htm Real Time
Pictures at My Marina
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats Rec.boats
at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
Duly noted. Just F.Y.I., I plan on using the same discretion that use with
road patrol. I figured out my traffic stop vs. citations ratio on another
newsgroup about a month ago. It seems that I only write citations to 28% of
the people that I stop. I plan on doing the same on the water, and I agree
that citations are most definitely not always the answer. I am indeed
looking for a favorable public opinion, which is the main reason that I
posted this message. I want to know what the PUBLIC wants. I already know
what the administration wants, but the administration isn't going to be out
on the water - I am.
As far as your ants vs. elephants theory, well, there's no challenge in
hunting ants and I like a challenge.
--
-= swatcop =-
"If it wasn't for stupid people I'd be unemployed."