How many of you have ever been "harrassed" by boat cops?

[imagine2frolic]

If they were "out to get you" they would have found something.

Does that mean they would plant something?

Just like everything else in life. There are some bad apples in the barrel, but mostly good ones. As I stated when the Coasties boarded me they chose to be the bad apples. When I talked with the commander of the base the following day. He apologized, and very well knew exactly who I was talking about.

Slamming my boat in calm seas is uncalled for. Stealing cash out of my navigation station is uncalled for. While stopping me they are bragging out loud how they catch, and treat boaters. This team was highly unprofessional. I have been boarded several times before, and the Coasties were extremely professional, and polite. They are doing their job, and I want them to do it well. If they need to drill holes into my collision compartment. Then drill them, but don't play a game with me. Trying to make me confess to a crime. JUST DO YOUR JOB, and get on with it!

As far as a cop saving my life. I think not! Those decisions are made in split seconds, and no time for a 911 call. Owning a home in East St. Louis in the mid 70's, and owning a cash business in Oakland at the turn of the century has taught me to be self suffecient on land as well as at sea. I am better prepared to take care of me, and mine than the police are.

Not all cops are good cops. Just like not all teachers are good teachers. That is just a reality in life.

[fsstnotch]

No, I'm not saying they would have planted something. Chances are, if they really wanted to find somehting, they would have found something they could have nitpicked.

Sounds like they were pretty sure you had drugs or something! haha You should have just confessed! :P

[Commodore]

If you really want to see a "blinking blue light special" and get surrounded by every patrol craft in the area use a shotgun to finish a sailboat race on a busy boating weekend. Even with a large Race Committee flag flown (mystery flag to most power boaters), all aboard the RC boat in dress whites and the Coast Guard notified (required) of a regatta in progress several boaters near the finish line of a race we held a couple of year ago thought we were trying to kill them with said shotgun and called in the troops. A good laugh was had by all. Water safety and the culling of reckless and inconsiderate jerks on our waterways works for me. I've only been asked for permission to board once in fifty years of boating and that was for a courtesy safety check.

[lovehamr]

Normally I try to stay out of these conversations because it makes my blood pressure go up but you just crossed the line into butt-head territory.

Originally Posted by AMF

But cops would NEVER target out of state boaters right

Absofriggintivly! If anything looks out of place it draws scrutiny. If you don’t want to be scrutinized then don’t stand out. How many other people are out on the water when you are? Lots, correct? Are they all getting boarded as well? Guess not since you feel particularly violated. What made you stand out? I’ll bet my next HUGE government paycheck that you already know!

Originally Posted by AMF

the cops kept digging and digging, trying to find something to give us a ticket for.

Since you are so obviously mislead I’ll spell it out. They could give half a crap about writing you a ticket or they would have found a reason! They aren’t looking for something to write, they’re looking for something bigger. Again, I bet you already know what it is!

Originally Posted by AMF

The irony was that we were a bunch of "old" fogies comparitvely speaking (all in our mid to late 20's)

Now we’re getting somewhere. Boatloads/truckloads/carloads/planeloads of “old fogies” in their 20s nearly always have something on board that interests LE.

Originally Posted by AMF

You can hand out citations at the ramp, just as easily as you can pull people over in the water and hand them out.

Like I said, the ticket is never the focus, it's just the means to an end. If it happens to make someone think twice the next time and maybe get some coin for the local then so be it.

Originally Posted by AMF

God forbid that you actually PREVENT someone from going under way without proper safety equipment....that wouldn't bring in any money, but it sure would be a lot more effective (and would actually SAVE taxpayers money in the long run).

Again with the money! You must be one of the shallowest people on this board. Every day when I go to work, I pass a law enforcement memorial, a memorial to the men and women who have given their lives protecting every day people like you. They didn't give their lives for a ticket count or for revenue or to get their rocks off; they gave their lives protecting other people (sometimes a-holes) just like you! When an officer is doing his job believe me money is way down on the priority list!

Originally Posted by AMF

But to harass people who are just enjoying the water and having a good time is stupid.

Let anarchy reign, the booze flow and the hooters bounce right?!

Originally Posted by AMF

Like I said, it's all about revenue these days and much less about "protect and serve." When I was a kid...if you were on the side of the road long enough, you could bet that a trooper would eventually stop to see if you needed assistance. Today, don't hold your breath....you're more likely to see half a dozen of them drive by than you are to get one to stop and assist. There's no money in helping a disabled vehicle...

The idiocy reflected in this statement is almost too much to take. I can’t count the number of times that I’ve seen the Troopers of various states, including Florida, who were stopped helping a stranded motorist. And then to bring money into it, what an A-hole! Those Troopers, putting their lives on the line for you every day while you play, make so little money it’s a sin. And you defame them like this. You’re a poor miss-guided pup man.

Originally Posted by AMF

Call the cops today and see how long it takes for someone to show up at your door. Hours....days...even. We have murderers and child molestors and rapists on the loose running rampant.....but municipalities think it's more important to police some idiot who isn't smart enough to have a life jacket handy With limited resources, it becomes VERY clear that the system is flawed. I don't really blame the individual officers....it's the system that encourages citations and revenue over effectiveness and real impact on safety and good order.

If you have a better idea then speak up. That means get involved, not whining on an internet forum. Vote (if you guys in FL can figure that out yet. sorry, couldn't help it). If you haven't figured it out by now, something that you do attracts LE attention and it's NOT your wallet.

Steve