Because the State of Florida requires that a boat be registered in
*some* state
to be used on Florida waterways, the watercop is simply doing his job
when he cites a boat that has no registration from any state.

The state of FL has no right to require other states to do anything.
If they want to get horsey about it, I imagine the other states on the
Gulf Coast should reciprocate and immeditely ticket any FL boater that
enters their water without a registration in their state. Most states
recognize transients and welcome them and their $$. This cop is simply
writing tickets to non-locals, knowing that 99% of them will just pay
the fine, rather than returning later (possibly multiple times) to go
to court to fight it. It's just another form of piracy.


Your auto argument is moot, since every state require auto
registration and plates. Again, this guy would give you a ticket just
because you had an out-of-state plate. Same thing he's doing to boats.
A few more comments by others:
__________________________________________________ ___--
Here's the deal. The law is the law. When different municipalities
or
different officers are allowed to interpret the same law differently,
chaos
ensues. That's the problem that we have in Florida right now
regarding the
anchorage law snafu. Some municipalities seem to think that they are
above
the law and have decided to go their own way regardless of what the
State Law
says. I fully support the state's right to collect a use tax after 90
days
but that's not what this guy is doing. He is making it up as he
goes. As the
good old boys say, "taint right".
__________________________________________________ __-
Wait, let me get this straight:
We own a documented boat which is also registered in Maryland. We
travel to Florida, and find ourselves in lovely Venice.
This guy boards our boat and gives us a warning ticket because we
MIGHT be staying in Florida for more than 90 days.
(Or does he give us a regular ticket because we MIGHT be staying in
Florida over the 90 days?)
In either event he makes us very aware, either subtly or not so
subtly, of the badge, and his power, and authority, which as a law-
abiding citizen has never happened to me before because I've always
had a good relationship with police of any sort. I feel guilty, even
though I'm not. I feel persecuted. I feel bad. I don't NEED to be
there.

In fact if I have this straight then we certainly have no reason to go
to lovely Venice in the first place, do we.

Too bad.
__________________________________________________ ___
Just for grins I went on the web site for the Florida Wildlife
Commission.
There is an ask it section where you can post a question about
vessel
registration. Maybe the folks in Venice, FL. should go to
Myflorida.com
and read what it says. Maybe reading the FWC web site should become
part of their training.

It clearly states the 90 day rule for visiting boaters. Of course
this doesn't
mean that this officer has to stop acting like a jerk. He can still
stop vessels
and harass cruisers from out of state.

What I find hard to believe is he has kept his job for 26 years.
Must be related
to, or has pictures on someone that has the power to make sure he
doesn't
loose his job.
__________________________________________________ ________
Not to mention dozens of "I just won't stop there any more" comments.
HIt 'em in the pocketbook.