I want boaters to be aware of an incident that occurred yesterday on a freshwater lake but has equal implications on saltwater as well. I hadn’t put my boat in the water for nearly a year, largely because of my wife’s health problems. After riding around for awhile we were approaching the landing at a low speed when two DNR guys in a boat approached us from out of nowhere. They did the standard safety check which we had no problem passing. They then informed us they’d be writing us a $160 citation. (They said it could have been $400)because my wife because my wife was sitting on the bow with her feet hanging over. After returning home I consulted the DNR safety handbook and discovered a section that said it was illegal for a boat’s passenger to ride on the bow (as my wife was doing) or the gunwales, seat backs, seats on raised decks, the boat’s transom or any other place where there may be a chance of falling overboard. That doesn’t leave a lot of places to sit but I guess the law is the law. What gives me heartburn is that after 45 years as an outdoors man and boater I have never been cited by DNR for any reason and have seen hundreds of people sitting on the bow of a boat. The clincher, however, is that upon reaching the landing a couple told us they were stopped two weeks previously for the same offense and were let go with a verbal warning. The ticketing officers told us, however, that they weren’t allowed to give warnings and were obligated to give a citation. Also. while we continued our approach to the landing a boat towing a kid on a flotation device passed between us and the DNR guys. On that particular particular lake there is a sign at the landing stating that jet ski’s, watersking, parasailing, and towing on tubes, etc is not permitted. Yet the DNR guys completely ignored the kid being towed on a tube. I think the thing that burns my butt the most is the selective enforcement of the rules. The two DNR officers weren’t much more than boys and I’m thinking a more mature adult would have handled things d
Those guys have a lot of territory and an exponentially increasing number of inexperienced people to police. They, like traffic cops, will not catch every infraction; it just sucks when it is you. Not one time did I sense that you thought you were innocent, just incensed that you had been caught and not let go. I agree with the part about reading the handbook. When I get a ticket, I get upset too, but it is usually with myself.
It’s against the law and they are paid to uphold the law. It’s for safety purposes and is meant to prevent injury or death. Yes it’s unfortunate that you have to pay a fine, but suck it up and pay. Consider it one of those life lessons.
Redfish Baron Extraordinaire
Yeah, title is a bit over the top. It’s not like a “speed trap” or some other questionable law enforcement practices. I’ve earned every speeding ticket I ever received. To blame the DNR officers for this citation is like blaming pencils for spelling errors.
Earn it everyday
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
Never shoot a large caliber man with a small caliber bullet.
It’s a known law and for good reason. Think what would happen were she to fall off while underway
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
Not sure what your issue is. Is it a violation and was someone on your boat doing it? How do you know the officers didn’t just issue 1 or more warnings to others and their good nature ran out? It is hard for me to be completely objective being in LE and having friends at DNR. They’re people too believe it or not, subject to the same human failings we all are.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
We see it all the time and I wish a DNR guy would be around to issue a citation. We have people that want to sit on the gunnel while underway and we tell them that it’s a violation - they can’t do it.
Sorry you got a ticket, but your experience may have saved others from letting passengers ride on the bow or gunnels.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 20 year old (boy of leisure)
1 - 17 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
ECFC
Legs in the boat underway.
big dog
Yeah, but you do see some mighty fine sights, laid out on the transom sometimes!
Darn gobment takin some fun awda our lives:wink:
quote:
To blame the DNR officers for this citation is like blaming pencils for spelling errors.Earn it everyday
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Can’t add much to that. The law is the least of your worries if somebody falls off the bow and gets fed thru the prop. You’ve got more serious and immediate problems to deal with then, and will still have to deal with the law. Some laws are good. Protects the stupid. Maybe.
If I’ve ever had to beware the DNR, I was doing something that I really should not of been doing in the first place. Every ticket I’ve got was deserved, they got me fair and square and I don’t hold any of them against them. Just like speeding, which I also avoid.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Yep my old man got hit with the same ticket when I was a kid and a cousin was sitting up front as we idled through no wake zones. It really is a good law.
They’re people too so sometimes they’re dicks and sometimes they’re forgiving. A few weeks back I had DRN check my friends boat and when he asked for my buddies ID (captain) I thought he wanted mine too so I didn’t give him my fishing license on the first pass. After he saw all the safety equipment he came back for one more pass to hand my friends credentials back and took my word that my license had a year left on it.
First, Most, Biggest
I want to catch them all
Were you being cooperative during the safety check? Writing a citation or a warning is up to the officers discretion.
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larryquote:
To blame the DNR officers for this citation is like blaming pencils for spelling errors.Earn it everyday
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Can’t add much to that. The law is the least of your worries if somebody falls off the bow and gets fed thru the prop.
I’ve actually seen it, and this guy was lucky. Just his hand and arm got hit by the prop after he fell in. Could have been worse, this was slightly above idle and he got 50 stitches.
Ugly.
Redfish Baron Extraordinaire
I met an individual who fell off of a boat and was hit by the prop. He gave credit for saving his life, to a female DNR officer who dove in, put a tourniquet on his arm and called 911. When I met him, years later, he was looking for a light 20 ga. shotgun to try to shoot skeet again. He said he used to be a competition skeet shooter but no longer could control his 12 ga. due to the damage to his left arm. It was almost cut completely off and the surgeons repaired it the best they could. The boat he fell from was inside a no wake zone at a landing and the officer who helped him was giving courtesy boat inspections at the time. He had his life jacket on and didn’t sink deep enough as the boat went over him. He said he was lucky that it was only his arm. Lets all be careful out there.
If your thinking about going to court for some relief of some sort forget it,you’ve broken rule number one…
Yes, KillinR, I was exceedingly pleasant and polite. Even made small talk and chit-chat with the guys.
Capehorn16, I do plan to go to court because I was advised to do so by one of the DNR guys who said the judge would probably cut the fine in half.
quote:
Originally posted by oakridgeYes, KillinR, I was exceedingly pleasant and polite. Even made small talk and chit-chat with the guys.
Capehorn16, I do plan to go to court because I was advised to do so by one of the DNR guys who said the judge would probably cut the fine in half.
Did he tell you that before or after you vented on the internet??
Ive been in your shoes,poking the bear before you ask it not to eat you does not turn out well.
That’s typically one of the laws they don’t play with, and straight up issue a citation. I bet if your wife hadn’t had appendages hanging overboard you wouldn’t had been stopped for the safety check
Capehorn16,
The DNR officer advised me to attend court at the same time he handed me the ticket. The advice from him was completely unsolicited and volunteered on his part.
A couple of the DNR guys have been known to read up on CF.com…just sayin. I’d take Cape’s advice about poking bears…
Redfish Baron Extraordinaire