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Yeah! I got stopped going idol speed by the marine police pulling a boat over so he decided to pull me over for standing up while driving my 25 foot boat. He ticketed me for not having my kill switch attached. Complete B.S. Cause I was just about the safest boater out there yesterday. Also, I respect the laws and I definetly respect officials that enforce them but the way Officer Bradford talked to me was very inappropriate. I am very thankful for all of my friends at the Florence police department but it is gonna be hard for me to respect a marine police officer that was as rude as him. Keeton would have simply politely asked me to attach it and I would have replied with a yes sir with no problem.
My dream job is marine patrol. You are given a boat, and required to use it. It has cool lights and a siren, you get to pull people over and hand out tickets. You get to wear a gun, but you don't ever have to use it. There really isn't a lot of crime on the water, and the worst thing you have to do is pull a dead body out of the water now-and-again. All this and they pay you!!
Marine police and USCG stops are very different than traffic stops. First, a marine policeman can pull you over for no reason at all under the guise of a safety inspection. Many times, they will use this opportunity to search a vessel for contraband. All this without even a smidge of probable cause necessary.

These stops are often used to assess if vessel operator is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Those boating on the Lauderdale County side should be wary. In a dry county (Lauderdale), a person may legally possess up to either one case (24) of beer or one 750mL bottle of liquor. This can be a problem for larger boat owners who keep a stash of beer and liquor onboard at all times. These amounts are per-person, thus 4 people - 4 cases. Being caught with over this limit is a misdemeanor and will land you a date with Judge Medley.

The ability of a marine policeman to stop a vessel under power without any probable cause whatsoever appears to run disturbingly afoul of the 4th Amendment's prohibitions on unreasonable searches and seizures. That does bug me quite a bit.

That being said, i don't have too much of a problem with the way things are. When i pass through a checkpoint, the officer checks my boating license and boat registration, ensures that a have enough PFDs on board, and checks my fire extinguisher and the operation of my kill-switch. I have never had my boat searched, though it is a rather small boat. I don't drink on the water and no drugs are allowed on my vessel, so i have nothing to worry about.

Although these safety stopa may pinch a Constitutional nerve or two, for the most part i have no problem with how they are carried out. I believe that alcohol on the water is many times more dangerous that alcohol on the road. There are just that many more things that can go wrong, and you really need your reaction time on those busy days in Shoal Creek.

He nailed several folks for BUI last year using this same checkpoint. If he can stop one drunkar$e before he hurts himself, his passengers, or another innocent boater, its worth the small intrusion upon my privacy.

That being said, I still think its unconstitutional, the law just hasn't been tested yet.
Thanks for the info Small Talker, sorry it was you, that sounds crappy....maybe they should check the show off's on the jet ski's....I don't know if they think they can do what they want, or just don't care!! I wonder how many of THEM are licensed judging from the way they drive...I've seen very few who ARE courtious AND safe ~ Saturday I saw one almost get ran over when they decided to come to a stop in the middle of the river without even looking around, boats all around, the one behind them had to quickly change course which could have been fatal. We stayed way behind them because they kept changing course, slowing down and speeding up without checking their surroundings.

Don't get me wrong, there are some boaters also who are the same way. Everyone should be aware of their surroundings at all times, and just like the road, respect the laws..

And, CrustyMac how old are you, like 12? And pulling a dead body out the water "now-and-again" sounds a little harsh. That doesn't seem like a "dream job" but if you think so GO FOR IT but hand out tickets to the people who deserve them..Standing up in a large vessel is not a reason for a ticket while you are going idol speed, espically when you are close to the MP who has someone pulled over. And God forbid, if you ever have to pull a dead body out of the water, I hope it's no one you know.
Last edited by applejax
quote:
Originally posted by Small talker:
Yeah! I got stopped going idol speed by the marine police pulling a boat over so he decided to pull me over for standing up while driving my 25 foot boat. He ticketed me for not having my kill switch attached. Complete B.S.


The ticket is BS; the line is at 24 feet. Take it to court with your boat registration showing the 25ft length and reference the code section below.

Code of Alabama
Section 33-5-72
Emergency engine or motor shut-off switch.

(a) It shall be unlawful on the waters of this state for any person to operate, or give permission to another person to operate, any vessel less than 24 feet in length having an open construction and having more than 50 horsepower, unless the vessel is equipped with an emergency engine or motor shut-off switch.

(b) The shut-off switch referred to in subsection (a), shall be a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch and shall be attached to the person, clothing, or personal flotation device of the operator, as is appropriate, and shall be constructed and installed in a manner so that when in use, any removal of the operator from the normal operating station will result in the immediate shut-off of the engine or motor.

...
quote:
Originally posted by applejax:

And, CrustyMac how old are you, like 12? And pulling a dead body out the water "now-and-again" sounds a little harsh. That doesn't seem like a "dream job" but if you think so GO FOR IT but hand out tickets to the people who deserve them..Standing up in a large vessel is not a reason for a ticket while you are going idol speed, espically when you are close to the MP who has someone pulled over. And God forbid, if you ever have to pull a dead body out of the water, I hope it's no one you know.


lay off crusty, how about it? your second post is not a good time to start thumping people.....
quote:
Originally posted by applejax:

And, CrustyMac how old are you, like 12? And pulling a dead body out the water "now-and-again" sounds a little harsh. That doesn't seem like a "dream job" but if you think so GO FOR IT but hand out tickets to the people who deserve them..Standing up in a large vessel is not a reason for a ticket while you are going idol speed, espically when you are close to the MP who has someone pulled over. And God forbid, if you ever have to pull a dead body out of the water, I hope it's no one you know.


Applejax, how old are you, 90?
quote:
Originally posted by applejax:

And, CrustyMac how old are you, like 12? And pulling a dead body out the water "now-and-again" sounds a little harsh. That doesn't seem like a "dream job" but if you think so GO FOR IT but hand out tickets to the people who deserve them..Standing up in a large vessel is not a reason for a ticket while you are going idol speed, espically when you are close to the MP who has someone pulled over. And God forbid, if you ever have to pull a dead body out of the water, I hope it's no one you know.


Applejax, how old are you, 90?

ha! NOT HARDLEY, but thanks for asking Big Grin

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