I understand shrimping ends at noon today. Headed back to garris landing had 5 boats ahead of me. I saw dnr at top of launch waved with no response. Noticed group of shrimpers all talking to officer at top of ramp. Just figured he was checking license .etc… What he was doing was issuing citations for still having bait and poles in water. Guys ahead of me getting citation right at noon and all boats waiting to pull boats out. I told officer I was here and you was holding people up at ramp. He didn’t want to hear it. All he would say is your lucky I didn’t catch you throwing on bait after noon, that’s 470.00 fine compared to 110.00. I respect the law? Have three brothers that are cops. But isn’t this a little extreme? He had no respect for us, people that spend a lot of money to enjoy natural resources… My ticket was written at 1215. I was at ramp waiting for other boats to pull out at 1145? Just frustrating have to go to court and all now.
Sounds like a slam dunk case dismissed to me. Go to court and tell it to the judge. Better not to argue with the green jeans.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
that does suck…agree with Larry, best not to argue with the man on the spot…did he confiscate your shrimp or let you keep them? And how’d you do?
The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org
that’s why we never go on last day period. we don’t go many days but that is one day we don’t bother with.
As a LEO, I have to say that kind of act doesn’t sit well with me. With so many reasons to hate LE, this guy had an opportunity to send a positive vibe by using his discretion and common sense. At the very most, he should have checked for a valid license and tags and noted which boats were at the ramp (in or not) before noon. Many professions have people ill suited for them. Unfortunately, LE is one where those ill-suited stand out the most.
I would definitely go to court (though it sucks you have to take time out of your day to do so)and state your case. It would have been nice to get the names of others ticketed so you could all appear and tell the same story. Additionally, I am not so sure I would not write a letter to the DNR Director. Even though you were technically “on the water” after noon, he saw you and elected to ticket you and others anyway. To me, that is a poor way to make good relationships with the people he is supposed to serve.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
Sorry to hear this again . DNR really likes to screw you on the opening and closing of the season. I guess they really need money. I was caught on the opening doing what you are talking about and it cost me big because I went to court. You end up paying the fine and court costs. The law reads that they can not reduce the fine so just pay and get over it. When the season opens, they wait on the outer dock and watch everyone putting in and getting ready to go by 12 AM. When you pull out at 12, they pull you over for shrimping out of season because your boat was in the water waiting to go before 12. When I went to court, 45 others were there and the judge didn’t let anyone off.
quote:
Originally posted by benitomirandaI understand shrimping ends at noon today. Headed back to garris landing had 5 boats ahead of me. I saw dnr at top of launch waved with no response. Noticed group of shrimpers all talking to officer at top of ramp. Just figured he was checking license .etc… What he was doing was issuing citations for still having bait and poles in water. Guys ahead of me getting citation right at noon and all boats waiting to pull boats out. I told officer I was here and you was holding people up at ramp. He didn’t want to hear it. All he would say is your lucky I didn’t catch you throwing on bait after noon, that’s 470.00 fine compared to 110.00. I respect the law? Have three brothers that are cops. But isn’t this a little extreme? He had no respect for us, people that spend a lot of money to enjoy natural resources… My ticket was written at 1215. I was at ramp waiting for other boats to pull out at 1145? Just frustrating have to go to court and all now.
It was a bad day after all. Not only did I get ticket waiting in line I almost drowned out there. I lost my balance and fell in back first with 8 ft net on me. Went straight down in 7 ft water. Had waders on which filled quick and held me down. As soon as I got everything off I tried to kick off bottom but legs got stuck in mud. I saw entire life flash in front of me and how pissed my wife was going to be. Lucky I saw shadow of boat reached up and was able to grab prop, thank God for neutral. Pulled my self up and thanked God for another chance. Funny thing was looks I got back at garris with only my under wear and t shirt. I got little more than a 1/4 cooler large. It just sucked how he ticketed people waiting to get boats out. Glad Im alive, could have been much worse
He never asked about shrimp or even want to see shrimping license.
I got back to garris at 11 54 saw 3 boats come in after 12 I’m not saying it was you but dropped my poles and bait and went fishing good day on the water. Limit of shrimp several spot tail and black drum and a 19 in sheephead. Dnr didn’t screw you you screwed yourself sorry don’t mean to start anything but everybody knows to be off the water at 12. Everybody knows green jeans will be there with book in hand sorry y’all got tickets fellows.
I’D HIT DAT!
Not much help now, but I use to put the boat in on opening day about 11:30. LE would be standing at the ramp watching me - so would about 15 others boats ( who would wait until 12 to put in). Trick was to put poles and bait on dock or bank until 12. That way I was legal. So next time guys if you can’t take out, take your poles and bait out of the boat.
EWC
You gotta love the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Quite possibly one of the stupidest regulations they have. Good money making scam though.
i was there and had my boat out in time. There was no line waiting to take out. I was leaving as the first guy who pulled up got a ticket. He was coming out at 12:07 and he owned up to it so im guessing it wasnt benito here… he must have been in the traffic of shrimping past the deadline.
I never go on opening day or the last day for that very reason. Too much traffic and too many over-eager LE “officials!” I understand the regs, but common sense should prevail that OBVIOUSLY you are not baiting and casting while waiting at the ramp to trailer your boat?!? Mr. Green Jeans has the last say, but this is ludicrous! On the other side of the coin, I would not try and be the first one out on opening day and the last one in on closing day…
quote:
Originally posted by benitomirandaI almost drowned out there.
sorry, I was trying to make light of your situation with some humor…alomst drowning is not funny at all…glad you are ok and have a story to tell…
The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org
Glad you are ok! I really don’t know why they start and end a season
at 12:00? Why not just make it a whole day? Almost like the season
is setup to catch someone.
I think the way they do this is bad all around…with that said it is a bit like going out in the rain…you know what it is. ALWAYS make sure you don’t put bait/poles on the boat in the water before noon, and make sure you have it off before noon. We always drop the bait and poles on the bank opening day and only put them on the boat at noon. Ditto when returning closing day; get to the ramp before noon and take them off the boat whether you can get the boat out immediately or not. I wish they would act differently but we all know they aren’t going to so we know what we HAVE to do…comply with the clock.
Will bring my ticket to court showing time officer wrote it which was 1210…
That sucks, but from experience, I pull up before 12 and take poles, cooler and any left over bait out and put them in the truck. Then I can take my sweet time loading the boat on the trailer.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
sounds like you were about 10 minutes past the deadline then… not surprisingly you got burned. But I know there wasnt a road block there so sell crazy somewhere else
oh yea and in your OP you stated the ticket was written at 1215… now its 1210?? how did that happen?