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.


You don't sound like the type, but just for future reference:

I went striper fishing one early morning, in the pouring rain, by
myself, in my 14' jon-boat, on the Hudson River. I launched in the
dark, and although I had two approved throwable PDF's onboard, I left
my "wearable" PDF on the launch ramp.

A few hours later, a DEC center cabin comes roaring up, and hooks my
gunwale. My little anchor is holding both of us, against a rising
tide and current, and he damned near swamps me. I disobey his
instruction to leave my anchor set, and pull it before my jon goes
under.

I'm wet, cold, with no fish, and he writes me up for no "wearable"
PDF. Yup, it was my mistake, but he was bustin' my ass, and he was an
idiot. In a 14' jon, the law does not require me to wear the
"wearable", just "have one on board", so what's the difference between
"wearable" and "throwable"? If he hadn't hooked my boat, I wouldn't
have needed the friggin' "wearable". I was the only boat on the river
that morning for miles, so I guess he had to find "something". After
writing me up, he ordered me off the river. Barney Fife.

I paid the fine, and thanked the judge for making it a very small one.
I think the judge was a fisherman. )

You sound like a reasonable guy. People will appreciate that, so do
what you gotta' do. Thanks for listening.
Regards,
noah

To email me, remove the "OT-" from OT-wrecked.boats.noah.
....as you were. )