There is a guy there that routinely hassles transiting boaters with no
FL registration. Never mind that you can pass through FL without FL
numbers, he will give you a ticket anyway. Here are some comments and
people to write if this concerns you.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


As a soon-to-be Venice resident, who never knew anything about this
"till now, I just sent a letter to the Venice Gondolier expressing my
concern. I urge all of you to take a moment to contact
and register a protest. Venice is too
beautiful a stopover to be deemed not worth the trouble because of
some capricious cop. Jeff Sharkey

-----Original Message-----
From:
To: ; trawlers-and-

Sent: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 4:58 PM
Subject: T&T: Venice Water Patrol

Bob,

I had an experience with this fellow in 2002. Very rude and assertive.
I
started saying "Yes Sir" every other breath and that saved me a
ticket. I was
passing through Venice on my way to Maine with a federally registered
boat but
no state registration. At that time it was not possible in Texas,
where I
lived, to have a boat with both state and federal registration. He
didn't care,

saying "Well, you're not in Texas anymore and what I say goes."

This fellow is nationally infamous. I am sure that he causes many
boats to
bypass Venice.

Doc


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Here is the e-address to the mayor of Venice, Fl...

Let him know what you think of overly aggressive water cops and the
effect
on his tourism industry.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


From: Matt Mattson
Subject: GL: Venice Water Cop
To: , ,
, ,
, ,

Cc:
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

To:

Mr. Fred Hammett, Mayor, City of Venice, FL
Ms. Vicki Taylor, Vice Mayor, City of Venice, FL
Mr. Bill Wilson, Council Member, City of Venice, FL
Mr. Jim Woods, Council Member, City of Venice, FL
Mr. John Simmonds, Council Member, City of Venice, FL
Mr. John Moore, Council Member, City of Venice, FL
Mr. Rick Tracy, Council Member, City of Venice, FL

Dear Mr. Mayor & Council Members:

Although I would love to stop, and refuel and eat at one of my
favorite seafood places of all at the inlet, I will be passing your
fine city on my trip and refuel and re-provision at Ft. Meyers
before
crossing the Okeechobee Waterway.

The reason: the word is out (and I'm afraid confirmed) that a
certain
patrol officer (well known) harasses all who stop with out of state
registrations. I do not know if you are aware, but there are a
large
volume of vessels that do the "Great Loop Cruise" each year (Great
Lakes Mississippi Florida & across to the Intracoastal New
York
& back to the Great Lakes) and getting larger, but more and more
will be bypassing Venice due to comments like this:

This guy got me in 2002. I went down and FL registered my boat even
though
it was not allowed in Texas at the time. You don't talk back to
this dude
unless you want to be in a heap of trouble.

I know what everyone calls him, but what is his name?

Doc

--
ANOTHER:

I spoke to the Fl Revenue guys at their booth at the Miami Boat
Show. They knew all about the guy in Venice and chuckled about his
activities. I have a unique situation where I am a FL resident,
bought the boat out of Florida, Documented it out of my vacation
house in NC though it has never stayed there more than a few days,
kept the boat out of Florida for 10 months, then bring it back for a
few months each winter

FL DOR guy said I never have to pay sales tax and since I am not in
FL for more than 90 days I do not have to register it.

He suggested that loopers keep a receipt from Mobile and environs to
show to the Venice cop. In that case he knows that you are in Fl
since a few days ago.
_______

and many many more . . .

I can't speak for the rest of the Great Loop List or the other Great
Loop forums, but until this problem gets resolved, easier to buy my
700 gallons elsewhere so I'll keep motoring on down.

Regards:

Matt Mattson

C-Dawg-E


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Copy of my letter to the Mayor. Thanks for the address.

Dear Mr. Mayor,



Last year we docked at the Crows Nest Marina for a two day stay. We
love the
Venice area and try to make it a regular stop a couple times a year.
After
we tied up and were relaxing in our salon we were paid a visit from
the
water patrol. He demanded documentation which, according to the laws,
we
didn't need. He didn't want to hear it and told us he could seize our
boat
etc. etc. After a long speech to us as well as our guests, very
embarrassing
and rude I might add, and giving us a ticket, he left. If it were not
so
late in the day and looking forward to a great meal at The Crows Nest
we
would have left. To make this long story short, I contacted our
attorney and
he sent a letter interpreting the law along with our check. End
result, we
received a refund for the ticket.



We loved our stops at Venice but I think we will by-pass your lovely
city
until we Know the over zealous officer is gone.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I received the following email from a Venice Fl. News paper, and they
would
like to talk with some people who have had experience with the Water
Nazi. If
you have direct experience, please contact this gentleman,and maybe
something
can be done.

In a message dated 2/19/2007 12:12:11 P.M. Central Standard Time,
writes:

Can you elaborate on the conduct you refer to? We'd like to make an
inquiry
about this but have little to go on. Specific actions would be easier
to
question.

Bob Mudge
Editor
Venice Gondolier Sun

THanks


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I personally think the last one is the most important... get the press
on the case and you've got a leg up. If you've had any experiences
with this a--hole, please write the paper, and also the city council.

Is this the guy?

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pb...703060410/1029

Paul

On Feb 20, 7:47 am, "Keith" wrote:
There is a guy there that routinely hassles transiting boaters with no
FL registration. Never mind that you can pass through FL without FL
numbers, he will give you a ticket anyway. Here are some comments and
people to write if this concerns you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a soon-to-beVeniceresident, who never knew anything about this
"till now, I just sent a letter to theVeniceGondolier expressing my
concern. I urge all of you to take a moment to contact
and register a protest.Veniceis too
beautiful a stopover to be deemed not worth the trouble because of
some capricious cop. Jeff Sharkey

-----Original Message-----
From:
To: ; trawlers-and-


Sent: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 4:58 PM
Subject: T&T:VeniceWater Patrol

Bob,

I had an experience with this fellow in 2002. Very rude and assertive.
I
started saying "Yes Sir" every other breath and that saved me a
ticket. I was
passing throughVeniceon my way to Maine with a federally registered
boat but
no state registration. At that time it was not possible in Texas,
where I
lived, to have a boat with both state and federal registration. He
didn't care,

saying "Well, you're not in Texas anymore and what I say goes."

This fellow is nationally infamous. I am sure that he causes many
boats to
bypassVenice.

Doc

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the e-address to the mayor ofVenice, Fl...

Let him know what you think of overly aggressive water cops and the
effect
on his tourism industry.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Matt Mattson
Subject: GL:VeniceWater Cop
To: , ,
, ,
, ,

Cc:
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

To:

Mr. Fred Hammett, Mayor, City ofVenice, FL
Ms. Vicki Taylor, Vice Mayor, City ofVenice, FL
Mr. Bill Wilson, Council Member, City ofVenice, FL
Mr. Jim Woods, Council Member, City ofVenice, FL
Mr. John Simmonds, Council Member, City ofVenice, FL
Mr. John Moore, Council Member, City ofVenice, FL
Mr. Rick Tracy, Council Member, City ofVenice, FL

Dear Mr. Mayor & Council Members:

Although I would love to stop, and refuel and eat at one of my
favorite seafood places of all at the inlet, I will be passing your
fine city on my trip and refuel and re-provision at Ft. Meyers
before
crossing the Okeechobee Waterway.

The reason: the word is out (and I'm afraid confirmed) that a
certain
patrol officer (well known) harasses all who stop with out of state
registrations. I do not know if you are aware, but there are a
large
volume of vessels that do the "Great Loop Cruise" each year (Great
Lakes Mississippi Florida & across to the Intracoastal New
York
& back to the Great Lakes) and getting larger, but more and more
will be bypassingVenicedue to comments like this:

This guy got me in 2002. I went down and FL registered my boat even
though
it was not allowed in Texas at the time. You don't talk back to
this dude
unless you want to be in a heap of trouble.

I know what everyone calls him, but what is his name?

Doc

--
ANOTHER:

I spoke to the Fl Revenue guys at their booth at the Miami Boat
Show. They knew all about the guy inVeniceand chuckled about his
activities. I have a unique situation where I am a FL resident,
bought the boat out of Florida, Documented it out of my vacation
house in NC though it has never stayed there more than a few days,
kept the boat out of Florida for 10 months, then bring it back for a
few months each winter

FL DOR guy said I never have to pay sales tax and since I am not in
FL for more than 90 days I do not have to register it.

He suggested that loopers keep a receipt from Mobile and environs to
show to theVenicecop. In that case he knows that you are in Fl
since a few days ago.
_______

and many many more . . .

I can't speak for the rest of the Great Loop List or the other Great
Loop forums, but until this problem gets resolved, easier to buy my
700 gallons elsewhere so I'll keep motoring on down.

Regards:

Matt Mattson

C-Dawg-E

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copy of my letter to the Mayor. Thanks for the address.

Dear Mr. Mayor,

Last year we docked at the Crows Nest Marina for a two day stay. We
love theVenicearea and try to make it a regular stop a couple times a year.
After
we tied up and were relaxing in our salon we were paid a visit from
the
water patrol. He demanded documentation which, according to the laws,
we
didn't need. He didn't want to hear it and told us he could seize our
boat
etc. etc. After a long speech to us as well as our guests, very
embarrassing
and rude I might add, and giving us a ticket, he left. If it were not
so
late in the day and looking forward to a great meal at The Crows Nest
we
would have left. To make this long story short, I contacted our
attorney and
he sent a letter interpreting the law along with our check. End
result, we
received a refund for the ticket.

We loved our stops atVenicebut I think we will by-pass your lovely
city
until we Know the over zealous officer is gone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I received the following email from aVeniceFl. News paper, and they
would
like to talk with some people who have had experience with the Water
Nazi. If
you have direct experience, please contact this gentleman,and maybe
something
can be done.

In a message dated 2/19/2007 12:12:11 P.M. Central Standard Time,
writes:

Can you elaborate on the conduct you refer to? We'd like to make an
inquiry
about this but have little to go on. Specific actions would be easier
to
question.

Bob Mudge
EditorVeniceGondolier Sun

THanks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I personally think the last one is the most important... get the press
on the case and you've got a leg up. If you've had any experiences
with this a--hole, please write the paper, and also the city council.

Here is another article

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pb...NEWS/703040804

On Mar 6, 9:49 am, "Paul" wrote:
Is this the guy?

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pb.../20070306/OPIN...

Paul

On Feb 20, 7:47 am, "Keith" wrote:

There is a guy there that routinely hassles transiting boaters with no
FL registration. Never mind that you can pass through FL without FL
numbers, he will give you a ticket anyway. Here are some comments and
people to write if this concerns you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a soon-to-beVeniceresident, who never knew anything about this
"till now, I just sent a letter to theVeniceGondolier expressing my
concern. I urge all of you to take a moment to contact
and register a protest.Veniceis too
beautiful a stopover to be deemed not worth the trouble because of
some capricious cop. Jeff Sharkey

-----Original Message-----
From:
To: ; trawlers-and-


Sent: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 4:58 PM
Subject: T&T:VeniceWater Patrol

Bob,

I had an experience with this fellow in 2002. Very rude and assertive.
I
started saying "Yes Sir" every other breath and that saved me a
ticket. I was
passing throughVeniceon my way to Maine with a federally registered
boat but
no state registration. At that time it was not possible in Texas,
where I
lived, to have a boat with both state and federal registration. He
didn't care,

saying "Well, you're not in Texas anymore and what I say goes."

This fellow is nationally infamous. I am sure that he causes many
boats to
bypassVenice.

Doc

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the e-address to the mayor ofVenice, Fl...

Let him know what you think of overly aggressive water cops and the
effect
on his tourism industry.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Matt Mattson
Subject: GL:VeniceWater Cop
To: , ,
, ,
, ,

Cc:
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

To:

Mr. Fred Hammett, Mayor, City ofVenice, FL
Ms. Vicki Taylor, Vice Mayor, City ofVenice, FL
Mr. Bill Wilson, Council Member, City ofVenice, FL
Mr. Jim Woods, Council Member, City ofVenice, FL
Mr. John Simmonds, Council Member, City ofVenice, FL
Mr. John Moore, Council Member, City ofVenice, FL
Mr. Rick Tracy, Council Member, City ofVenice, FL

Dear Mr. Mayor & Council Members:

Although I would love to stop, and refuel and eat at one of my
favorite seafood places of all at the inlet, I will be passing your
fine city on my trip and refuel and re-provision at Ft. Meyers
before
crossing the Okeechobee Waterway.

The reason: the word is out (and I'm afraid confirmed) that a
certain
patrol officer (well known) harasses all who stop with out of state
registrations. I do not know if you are aware, but there are a
large
volume of vessels that do the "Great Loop Cruise" each year (Great
Lakes Mississippi Florida & across to the Intracoastal New
York
& back to the Great Lakes) and getting larger, but more and more
will be bypassingVenicedue to comments like this:

This guy got me in 2002. I went down and FL registered my boat even
though
it was not allowed in Texas at the time. You don't talk back to
this dude
unless you want to be in a heap of trouble.

I know what everyone calls him, but what is his name?

Doc

--
ANOTHER:

I spoke to the Fl Revenue guys at their booth at the Miami Boat
Show. They knew all about the guy inVeniceand chuckled about his
activities. I have a unique situation where I am a FL resident,
bought the boat out of Florida, Documented it out of my vacation
house in NC though it has never stayed there more than a few days,
kept the boat out of Florida for 10 months, then bring it back for a
few months each winter

FL DOR guy said I never have to pay sales tax and since I am not in
FL for more than 90 days I do not have to register it.

He suggested that loopers keep a receipt from Mobile and environs to
show to theVenicecop. In that case he knows that you are in Fl
since a few days ago.
_______

and many many more . . .

I can't speak for the rest of the Great Loop List or the other Great
Loop forums, but until this problem gets resolved, easier to buy my
700 gallons elsewhere so I'll keep motoring on down.

Regards:

Matt Mattson

C-Dawg-E

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copy of my letter to the Mayor. Thanks for the address.

Dear Mr. Mayor,

Last year we docked at the Crows Nest Marina for a two day stay. We
love theVenicearea and try to make it a regular stop a couple times a year.
After
we tied up and were relaxing in our salon we were paid a visit from
the
water patrol. He demanded documentation which, according to the laws,
we
didn't need. He didn't want to hear it and told us he could seize our
boat
etc. etc. After a long speech to us as well as our guests, very
embarrassing
and rude I might add, and giving us a ticket, he left. If it were not
so
late in the day and looking forward to a great meal at The Crows Nest
we
would have left. To make this long story short, I contacted our
attorney and
he sent a letter interpreting the law along with our check. End
result, we
received a refund for the ticket.

We loved our stops atVenicebut I think we will by-pass your lovely
city
until we Know the over zealous officer is gone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I received the following email from aVeniceFl. News paper, and they
would
like to talk with some people who have had experience with the Water
Nazi. If
you have direct experience, please contact this gentleman,and maybe
something
can be done.

In a message dated 2/19/2007 12:12:11 P.M. Central Standard Time,
writes:

Can you elaborate on the conduct you refer to? We'd like to make an
inquiry
about this but have little to go on. Specific actions would be easier
to
question.

Bob Mudge
EditorVeniceGondolier Sun

THanks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I personally think the last one is the most important... get the press
on the case and you've got a leg up. If you've had any experiences
with this a--hole, please write the paper, and also the city council.

Yea, that's him. The paper spun the article like he's some sort of
hero collecting taxes from nee'r do wells.

Note the part about his issuing warning tickets to totally legal
boaters? Now why the hell does he do that? How would you like to be
issued a warning ticket for NOT speeding? He absolutely is rude and
harrasing, pulling over boaters that are totally legal and registered
in their own home state, still issuing warning tickets. Best thing as
we have told the mayor and CofC there, is to just avoid the Venice
area completely and spend your cruising $$ elsewhere.

On 7 Mar 2007 05:02:30 -0800, "Keith"
wrote:

Yea, that's him. The paper spun the article like he's some sort of
hero collecting taxes from nee'r do wells.

Note the part about his issuing warning tickets to totally legal
boaters? Now why the hell does he do that? How would you like to be
issued a warning ticket for NOT speeding? He absolutely is rude and
harrasing, pulling over boaters that are totally legal and registered
in their own home state, still issuing warning tickets. Best thing as
we have told the mayor and CofC there, is to just avoid the Venice
area completely and spend your cruising $$ elsewhere.

If he gave me a "warning" while I was legal, he'd be in a world of
legal hurt.

On Mar 7, 5:02?am, "Keith" wrote:
Yea, that's him. The paper spun the article like he's some sort of
hero collecting taxes from nee'r do wells.


The facts as outlined in the article don't justify any sort of outrage
at all.

The guy wrote a walloping total of 255 tickets last year, less than
one per day.



Note the part about his issuing warning tickets to totally legal
boaters? Now why the hell does he do that?


No, there was no portion of the story that said this cop was issuing
warning tickets to totally legal boaters. Here's the factor that may
have escaped your notice: In the state of Florida, all boats on the
waters are required to carry some sort of state registration. That
registration can be from any state. If a boater lives in a state where
registration is not required or is considered optional and arrives in
Florida without a valid state registration on his boat he or she is in
violation of Florida state law. How the hell does that make them
"totally legal"? Yes, they are totally legal in their own state but
they're not totally legal in Florida. If you go to another state or
country, it's customary to obey any local laws that may be different
than the laws in the state or country you came from. In Florida, state
law reuires all vessels to be registered in *some* state.

The warning tickets were issued to people who lived in states where
registration was not required or was optional. According to the
newspaper, boaters who received warning tickets could continue boating
in Florida for another two weeks- so the issue of a vacation being
terminated by a lack of
proper out-of-state registration is almost moot.



How would you like to be
issued a warning ticket for NOT speeding? He absolutely is rude and
harrasing, pulling over boaters that are totally legal and registered
in their own home state, still issuing warning tickets.


Not so, according to the newspaper account. Warning tickets are not
issued to boaters who are in compliance with the law by having their
boat registered in their home state. Warning tickets are issued to
boater who are, (or who claim to be) from out of state and have no
state registration for their boat.

Enjoying the privilege of using the public waterways for private
recreation means that we have agreed to be boarded for safety checks
and to make sure that our papers are in order.

My boat is documented, and has no state title. Even so, my state
requires that I pay an annual tab fee (several hundred bucks) and post
a sticker in my pilothouse window or on the hull. We are often
inspected pretty closely by water patrolmen in varioius communities,
and more than once have been asked to show our registration papers
that correspond with the sticker in the pilothouse window.


Best thing as
we have told the mayor and CofC there, is to just avoid the Venice
area completely and spend your cruising $$ elsewhere.

If you want to stir up a lot of outrage, at least get your facts
straight.
How dumb do you suppose everybody is? After a newspaper account that
dubunks a lot of your accusations is posted here you then say "See,
everything I claimed is right there in the newspaper article!"

The cop sounds like he's got some issues with his policing style. Who
the heck carries a duffle bag filled with law books? But he's not
ticketing people who are "totally legal". State laws differ. If I'm
allowed to have medical marijuana in California, I wouldn't expect to
get away with it in FLA. :-)
Don't like the Florida state law that requires boats to be registered
in some state or another? Then don't take your boat there- or if you
live in Florida ask your state legislature to change it.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Mar 7, 5:02?am, "Keith" wrote:
Yea, that's him. The paper spun the article like he's some sort of
hero collecting taxes from nee'r do wells.


The facts as outlined in the article don't justify any sort of outrage
at all.

The guy wrote a walloping total of 255 tickets last year, less than
one per day.


Better hit the math books again Chuck. The *average* work year is some 240
days.