"Snafu" wrote in message
nk.net...
You can go by the book enforcing any laws at your disposal related to the
operation of jet skis...

I agree on that subject - not to worry. Thanks.
--
-= swatcop =-

"If it wasn't for stupid people I'd be unemployed."

Swatcop:
I just want to echo what others have said, and to thank you for asking for
the opinions of boaters on the subject of marine law enforcement!

"swatcop" wrote in message
m...



"Snafu" wrote in message
nk.net...
You can go by the book enforcing any laws at your disposal related to
the
operation of jet skis...

I agree on that subject - not to worry. Thanks.
--
-= swatcop =-

"If it wasn't for stupid people I'd be unemployed."

From my experience, where the cops are NOT is patrolling almost anywhere after
dark. I bet more constituants care about after dark piracy along the water
front than all the traffic tickets you can write.
Getting rocked by a wake or hearing a loud boat is a minor irritation compared
to waking up and finding your engine gone.
Other than that I imagine a boat cop is juat like being in the roller. You
spend most of your shift clearing radio calls.

"Greg" wrote in message
...
From my experience, where the cops are NOT is patrolling almost anywhere
after
dark. I bet more constituants care about after dark piracy along the water
front than all the traffic tickets you can write.
Getting rocked by a wake or hearing a loud boat is a minor irritation
compared
to waking up and finding your engine gone.
Other than that I imagine a boat cop is juat like being in the roller. You
spend most of your shift clearing radio calls.

Ah-ha! Someone who agrees with me! I usually work the road after dark, and
my biggest pet-peeve is business checks and residential checks. I take it
personally if my sector has a burglary when I'm working because I'm very
thorough. The crime rate in my sector dropped 10% last year, which I'm very
proud of and attribute to high visibility patrol after dark. I plan on doing
the same thing with the Marine Unit by patrolling the channels and such.
Thanks.
--
-= swatcop =-

"If it wasn't for stupid people I'd be unemployed."

Ah-ha! Someone who agrees with me! I usually work the road after dark, and
my biggest pet-peeve is business checks and residential checks. I take it
personally if my sector has a burglary when I'm working because I'm very
thorough. The crime rate in my sector dropped 10% last year, which I'm very
proud of and attribute to high visibility patrol after dark. I plan on doing
the same thing with the Marine Unit by patrolling the channels and such.
Thanks.

Marina fairways?

Also visit and get to know the marina operators and liveaboards. In
areas where liveaboards aren't strictly legal, you'll find there are
still people who "spend significant amounts of time on their boats."
Think of them as built-in neighborhood watch. Sailboats with wind
generators and solar panels are highly likely to be home to someone who
keeps their eyes peeled. Worth getting to know the locals and welcoming
the transients.

Good luck and be safe.

dave

I'll echo Harry's points above -- DUI, noise, and careless & reckless. If
your jurisdiction couples careless with reckless, you can probably squeeze
even more of the yahoos than with reckless alone. Depending on what part of
FL, your department probably has some pretty well thought out patrol and
enforcement objectives, but those three would probably yield the greatest
aggregate benefit to the boating community and the public at large.

Thanks for asking, and thanks for doing your job.

JG

"John Gaquin" wrote in message
...
I'll echo Harry's points above -- DUI, noise, and careless & reckless. If
your jurisdiction couples careless with reckless, you can probably squeeze
even more of the yahoos than with reckless alone. Depending on what part
of
FL, your department probably has some pretty well thought out patrol and
enforcement objectives, but those three would probably yield the greatest
aggregate benefit to the boating community and the public at large.

Thanks for asking, and thanks for doing your job.

JG

Actually, there are no current enforcement objectives (thus the change in
administration). I've spoken with some of the surrounding agency's marine
officers and have gotten some pretty good ideas, but I want to know what the
PUBLIC wants done. Thank you for your input.
--
-= swatcop =-

"If it wasn't for stupid people I'd be unemployed."

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 22:35:44 GMT, "swatcop"
wrote:
I want to know what the
PUBLIC wants done. Thank you for your input.

==========================================

I can't claim to speak for the entire public but here are some of my
hot buttons:

Really tough noise enforcement. There is no excuse whatsoever for
operating a boat that can be heard more than a mile away. Ideally
this should start with the manufacurers and dealers but tough "on the
water" enforcement would have the same effect over time. No mufflers,
no boating.

Mindless operation in general, particularly personal water craft (jet
skis) that circle in the same general area. This is a constant
annoyance both to anchored boats, and also to home owners who can't
escape.

Mindless enforcement by marine police with a "by the book" radar trap
mentality. Speed zones are out of control in many areas because of
the mindless and irresponsible actions of a few. If a boat is being
operated in a safe manner, leaving a minimal wake, is not bothering
anyone, leave them alone - even if they are running on plane in a
speed zone. Many small boats can run on plane without endangering or
bothering anyone.

Last but not least, be unobtrusive. People are on the water to have a
good time and do not like a police state atmosphere. It's a tough
balance to strike but well worth the effort.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...


I can't claim to speak for the entire public but here are some of my
hot buttons:

Really tough noise enforcement.

You'll be running for town supervisor here next year, right? :-)

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 14:42:59 +0000, Wayne.B wrote:

I can't claim to speak for the entire public but here are some of my hot
buttons:

Really tough noise enforcement.

As I get older, I'm surprised at how intrusive I find loud noises. Things
that never used to bother me are now an annoyance, loud boats,
un-muffled Harleys, or, my personal favorite, the Sunday mower
marathon.