Just doing their job

At my lake over the weekend, the patrols racked up a record number of DUI's on the water and in the park. My friend has a 40' camper at the park. He is a bit scruffy looking and had been targeted 4 different times by different officers. He said he couldn't turn around without them wanting to a sobriety test. He knew that they were doing a full crack down and vowed not to drink during the holiday weekend. That pretty much saved him except,,,,,,,,,,,he failed to register his truck as his plates had expired. Gave him a written warning and let him go,,,,,,,,,,only to be pulled over again an hour later.

Sometimes I think the LEO's go extreme by some of the tactics they use, but I know it is all in the name of safety. Especially on the water. They had one officer in the woods observing boaters going from the docks to their campsites. While at the campsite, the boaters would guzzle down a few brew and head back out on the lake. That is when the officer in the woods would radio the watercraft patrol to target that watercraft. I'm glad I just stayed tied up in my slip with all the action going on out on the lake.

I have heard that the reason that they are hard on drinking on this lake is due to it is the smallest lake with unlimited horsepower in Ohio. Been lots of accidents in the past and they want to stop the insanity before it starts this year. Hopefully it will work............SS

Re: Just doing their job

Just not up there SS, they were out in force down here over the holiday.
Campground had plenty of patrols, also plenty of help on the water.
I don't drink, never have, but there is a time and place for it and operating a car/truck/boat is not one of them.

Re: Just doing their job

yes, but i hate when the target people for their looks. they were in heavy force in the inter coastal in Daytona. FHP was also on the way home.

Re: Just doing their job

How many drug deals, robbery's, and thefts went down while Law enforcement officers were "cracking down" on the lake?? Before I get toasted here I understand fully the impact of alcohol on boating, driving, and public or private gatherings. Some times seeing that many resources focused on on one issue just seems wrong. Especially in times when resources such as Law enforcement seem to be stretched way to thin to begin with.

Re: Just doing their job

SS MAYFLOAT said:

At my lake over the weekend, the patrols racked up a record number of DUI's on the water and in the park. My friend has a 40' camper at the park. He is a bit scruffy looking and had been targeted 4 different times by different officers. He said he couldn't turn around without them wanting to a sobriety test. He knew that they were doing a full crack down and vowed not to drink during the holiday weekend. That pretty much saved him except,,,,,,,,,,,he failed to register his truck as his plates had expired. Gave him a written warning and let him go,,,,,,,,,,only to be pulled over again an hour later.

Sometimes I think the LEO's go extreme by some of the tactics they use, but I know it is all in the name of safety. Especially on the water. They had one officer in the woods observing boaters going from the docks to their campsites. While at the campsite, the boaters would guzzle down a few brew and head back out on the lake. That is when the officer in the woods would radio the watercraft patrol to target that watercraft. I'm glad I just stayed tied up in my slip with all the action going on out on the lake.

I have heard that the reason that they are hard on drinking on this lake is due to it is the smallest lake with unlimited horsepower in Ohio. Been lots of accidents in the past and they want to stop the insanity before it starts this year. Hopefully it will work............SS

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Ain't the entire state of Ohio on somebody's do not drive through speed trap list?

Re: Just doing their job

JCF350 said:

Ain't the entire state of Ohio on somebody's do not drive through speed trap list?

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Yes, anyone from Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky..............oh and West (By God) Virgenn'e........

Re: Just doing their job

Limited-Time said:

How many drug deals, robbery's, and thefts went down while Law enforcement officers were "cracking down" on the lake?? Before I get toasted here I understand fully the impact of alcohol on boating, driving, and public or private gatherings. Some times seeing that many resources focused on on one issue just seems wrong. Especially in times when resources such as Law enforcement seem to be stretched way to thin to begin with.

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Exactly. On a section of highway that I drive everyday, they changed the speed limit to drop from 60 mph to 50 mph at certain times during the day. (there is a school with a fence around it a few hundred feet from the highway).

Most days, 2 cops would be sitting at each end of this stretch writing tickets for going 5 mph over. What a waste of time and tax payer money! They should be out busting all the meth heads that live down the road, but instead they pick on the working class people that are just trying to get to work on time.

Re: Just doing their job

SS MAYFLOAT said:

At my lake over the weekend, the patrols racked up a record number of DUI's on the water and in the park. My friend has a 40' camper at the park. He is a bit scruffy looking and had been targeted 4 different times by different officers. He said he couldn't turn around without them wanting to a sobriety test. He knew that they were doing a full crack down and vowed not to drink during the holiday weekend. That pretty much saved him except,,,,,,,,,,,he failed to register his truck as his plates had expired. Gave him a written warning and let him go,,,,,,,,,,only to be pulled over again an hour later.

Sometimes I think the LEO's go extreme by some of the tactics they use, but I know it is all in the name of safety. Especially on the water. They had one officer in the woods observing boaters going from the docks to their campsites. While at the campsite, the boaters would guzzle down a few brew and head back out on the lake. That is when the officer in the woods would radio the watercraft patrol to target that watercraft. I'm glad I just stayed tied up in my slip with all the action going on out on the lake.

I have heard that the reason that they are hard on drinking on this lake is due to it is the smallest lake with unlimited horsepower in Ohio. Been lots of accidents in the past and they want to stop the insanity before it starts this year. Hopefully it will work............SS

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On Barkley lake this weekend, we saw many, many law enforcement boats floating around. We also saw a couple of Coast Guard boats. They did bust quite a few of them. I even saw them towing a couple of boats back to shore....

Re: Just doing their job

I really hope this doesn't turn into an anti LE thread, as I have nothing but respect for most people in LE; some of my best friends are out there risking their lives every day for our safety - something most of us don't have the guts for. That being said, when you see such a huge force doing one thing, like the situation described here, it is usually for nothing more than revenue generation under the guise of public safety, and that I have no tolerance for.
Erik - my $.02

Re: Just doing their job

I respect the need for and position of many of the dedicated law enforcement officers we have. I'll bet there are a few that cruise this site as fellow boaters. However I also believe that the power can be exploited to an inapproiate level. 50 squad speed traps, road block on New Years, over staffed sporting/concert events are all aimed at collecting revenue. This form of policing does very little to "protect" our saftey. Much like the seat belt laws it is simply an excercise in profit. Yes, I believe there is a very real and welcomed need for law enforcement, but it should be kept at the level it is needed.

Re: Just doing their job

I was trolling along the favorite fishing spot with my uncle when the fish and game patrol pulled up beside us. Funny thing was he has the same type of boat as my other uncle has but a different color and horse power plus he had a bimini top. I was lucky that he came then instead of 2 days later because my fishing license was about to exspire. He didn't say anything about the Landyard kill switch not being hooked up, I do have it in the storage compartment but the gator clip is wore out. I have not been drinking, hadn't had a drink in a few months or so, wouldn't mind one though.

He checked how many life vest that we had, checked the only fish that we had in the boat to make sure it was the right size, checked my boating license and fishing, checked my uncles fishing license also. To bad I can't afford it I would get the life time fishing license. Which all this reminds me that I need to get an air horn to carry with me in the boat, I have an electric horn hooked up in my boat but it isn't any louder then a car horn.

Not to long after patrol headed up stream a pontoon boat was underway with 2 kids standing outside the gate , and a boat full of people. My uncle hollered over at them and warned them that they best get the kids inside the boat when underway because the patrol was just in the area.

Re: Just doing their job

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of the patrols. I just don't like the idea of them purposely going after people that haven't done nothing wrong just to see if they have been using drugs or drinking.

My friend said when the officer stopped him, he asked for his license. My bud asked him what he was pulled over for. The officer said he wanted his license first. After running his license for wants/warrants, the officer told him it was because of a cracked windshield. My bud and myself would like to know how in the heck this officer saw a small crack in his windshield from following behind his truck? The crack is 1" above the defroster vents. When standing in behind the truck, looking thru the back window,,,,all one can see is the dashboard. After that is when the officer said that he noticed that his plates were expired. So in actuallity, did this officer have just cause to pull him over? He had his seatbelt on and was aware of how heavy the patrols were. I think it was because of his long hair, leathers, and scruffy biker look that he has.

I would think that watching for unsafe operation would be just cause. While checking someone just to see if they can get them for something is plain wrong in my eyes. Afterall, while they are trying to make a call for themselves, the unsafe operators are getting by right under their noses. I say catch them in the act and not to try to fabricate or come up with something minor to justify their stop.

Re: Just doing their job

In WA state, its gone past enforcement, to entrapment....
But not much you do ...just have to CYA

Re: Just doing their job

I was flagged down once by a patrol boat, wasn't in physical violation of any ordanance. The operator of the patrol vessel (obviously an inexperienced captain) pointed the bow of their rig broadside to my hull and proceeded toward me. I yelled to slow down, but she did not, and with blue light flashing she hit me.... hard. Left a huge black streak from their rub-rail on my shiny white gelcoat.

Immedately after hitting me the second officer in the boat began to rub vigorously on the streak with some sort of cleaner. All the while the directionally challanged offier ran down a list of items she wanted to check. Never once did she (or the other officer) explain why they stopped me.... Or even apologize for hitting me! Eventually they found me with a PFD violation and wrote me a 150 dollar ticket. No warning, no nothing. Then proceded to challenge me to "see them in court" over the damage they inflicted to my boat, which was no longer visable.... Again, revenue came over respect. Too many hunters and not enough prey.

Re: Just doing their job

... Knot that down right suxs! We run with a digital camera and 4 gig sd card. A little footage with audio asking why heck did they slam into your boat with such force levels the playing field.

Re: Just doing their job

done my law enforcement time
and have to agree that to sterotype is wrong but sometimes it becomes habit .you get caught up in dealing with these people .criminals and it has
caused problems for people that fit the mo, but i saw lots of officers that
didnt care ,and quite a few that enjoyed harrasment .
for them, its apower thing .i went to work for the police department .after the military .and contrary to belief had better understanding . of what it takes to be civil to those you serve,one of the biggest reasons i left law enforcement was that .its hard to win the peoples trust ,because of
the stero typeing of law enforcement ,which alot of times was the truth
Bennyb

Re: Just doing their job

Several days ago the police went to search the house of a suspected crack dealer . They couldnt find any evidence of crack but they did find 1/2 of a viagra pill for which he didnt have a script for so they arrested him.. its true believe it or not.

Re: Just doing their job

One of my best friends her WA state..(excellent "Old School", old gearhead".. re-builder of the old "Tower of Powers"s...has probably 25 ready to go old rebuilt 99 CI Tops), has been a beat cop, then detective, now School Resource Officer.
Wooo, the stories told.
He see's a major "society"..decine... of the way we know it...and he's HS "front lines"...

Re: Just doing their job

Can you get a DUI/BUI if you're operating a sail boat?

Re: Just doing their job

Mark42 said:

Can you get a DUI/BUI if you're operating a sail boat?

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Don't know about your state, but in Ohio, any vehicle used on public thouroghfares are subject to all laws. If you are boating in this state and get stopped on the water, you will lose your operators license for driving. I have heard of guys mowing their lawns and drinking a beer being cited. I think that is a bit too far.

So yep, in Ohio you can be arrested for DUI while operating a sail boat.

My neighbor lost his license and decided to ride his horse to a bar. On the way home he was pulled over and arrested for under the influence and suspended license. I still can't figure out the suspended license thing for riding a horse, but you can't argue with the badge.