Cops at the dock...

[inthedirtagain]

Wondering if anyone else has experienced harrassment by the police or Fish & Game while at the launch? I was forced to sell my boat this weekend because a financial issue I'm going through, so I sold it to a co-worker and her husband. They have never owned a boat before, nor had they any experience towing behind their vehicle. I agreed to take them out on the lake on their maiden voyage. I led them there in my truck and they followed with the boat behind his new Durango. At my local lake, the water level is dropping rapidly and 1 of the 2 docks was found to be closed. When arriving at the only other dock, it was just as I feard: utterly crowded on a Saturday afternoon. I parked and pointed which direction to enter (one way). In his confusion and new-ness, he went in the "out" direction and we got stopped.

The police have been at the top of the ramps everyday throughout the summer and have their fancy jetboat tied off. I already passed inspection, been stickered, and figured they would leave us alone. Nope. The cop walks right up to his door with his book in hand and starts laying into him about safety and a $90 ticket. I jumped in and explained that it was his first time towing and that he had never been to this lake before. My co-worker's husband then starts saying that he got confused and didn't see the wrong-way sign until it was too late to back up. To this, cop says its another $90 for negligence. That's when I jump in again and tell the cop he's being an ASS and to go easy on him. He's got to learn somehow! I walked away in frustration, he jumps out of the Durango and asks me to back the boat down into the water for him so that he could deal with the jerk cop. As I'm nearing the water's edge, he joins me and says the cop just gave him a warning. We unload, park the Durango, and head out for a quick trip discussing the operation of the boat (and mentally cussing out the bastard cop). It wasn't just that he started writing up the ticket, but his attitude and demeanor the moment he walks over to us. Our reaction was solely based of the cop. I don't make a habit of being confrontational with them, but this guy was rediculous. Anyone else experience something like this on the ramps?

 

[airdvr1227]

Never judge me until you've walked a mile in my shoes. I've said many times that I could never be a cop because I would enjoy tasering a**holes too much. Not saying you are that person. At least the cop let your friend off with a warning.

 

[redneck joe]

never

 

[Augoose]

There are always two sides to every story so its hard to say who's right and who's wrong. Did the Officer start with a bad attitude while trying to enforce the laws that keep everyone safe and sane at the ramp? Did the defendant(s) respond with a bad attitude and aggravate the situation, possibly with personal insults? Like others here, I've had numerous interactions with Officers, Game Wardens, etc and I've always been polite, respectful and courteous - even when the favor wasn't always returned.

Sounds like the Officer might have recognized his mistake and tried to remedy the situation with a warning ticket after making an incorrect assumption or two. I'd say that's a win both ways...

 

[jigngrub]

Part of me says I would be a boat launch cop for free and another part of me says I wouldn't do it for $1000 a day pay.

It sounds like your cops are just trying to keep some kind of order at the launch, this is a good thing and I'd like to see it at all busy launches. Maybe that cop wasn't the kindest cheeriest person you met that day, but you don't know what else he had to put up with before you got there.

I was confronted by a game warden one day at the ramp, he was checking peoples fish as they were taking their boats out of the water, he asked us if we had any fish and we told him no. We were pre-fishing for a bass tourney and that what we told him... we released them all.

He acted like he didn't believe us and started questioning us further about where we were from and where we were fishing and what were we using, stuff like that. We answered all his questions and he still didn't seem satisfied. I started getting the boat ready to travel on the trailer, tying it down and getting everything in order and Mr. Green Jeans just stood there leaning against the boat looking inside of it. I knew what he was doing, he was listening to see if he could hear a fish flop in the livewell or cooler. I told him to go ahead and climb in the boat and have a look around if he wanted to, we didn't have any fish. He just laughed a little bit and said "I was just looking at your rods and reels"... then he went away.

I don't have a problem with cops or wardens on the water, they're just doing their job... and some days I'm sure it's not an easy job.

 

[dingbat]

Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law. He's lucky he got away with a warning.

 

[H20Rat]

That's when I jump in again and tell the cop he's being an *** and to go easy on him. He's got to learn somehow! I walked away in frustration, he jumps out of the Durango and asks me to back the boat down into the water for him so that he could deal with the jerk cop.

So this is going to sound blunt, but... This story reminds me of my brother in law. Nicest guy ever, just keep him away from cops. He tends to get an attitude around cops and says things he shouldn't, and absolutely talks himself INTO a ticket. Your friend asked you to back down the boat for a reason, and it had nothing to do with boating. Miraculously the tickets turn into a warning, after you leave...

Sometimes dealing with police you just have to swallow your pride, say yes sir, sorry sir, won't happy again, and go about your day. Technically your friend WAS in the wrong and had broken laws, ignorance of the law is no excuse. And going up a one way on a very busy launch on a saturday can cause all kinds of havoc. Someone, or multiple people, might have to do a coordinated back up maneuver through a narrow road.

 

[oldjeep]

Sounds like your friend knew that sending you away to deal with the boat was going to make it easier for him to deal with the officer. Don't jump in when it is none of your business.

 

[agallant80]

At least he didn't put you in a choke hold for selling loose cigarettes. I would imagine being a cop is pretty frustrating. You decide to become a cop thinking that you will be kicking down doors and arresting drug dealers when your assignments really turn out to be more inline with generating revenue via speeding and boat safety tickets.

 

[midcarolina]

Oh man..........someone should have warned you not to post this on here......... you are about to be hung out to dry on this one, cause as we all know from past threads about the police........... they do nothing wrong, have the best customer service skills in the world and are totally beyond any reproach!

See in one breathe your attitude will be blamed....... then in the next breathe will say you just have no idea what all he ( the cop ) has had to deal with all day.

 

[oldjeep]

Seems like the problem went away when you did. Might want to think on that.

 

[slag]

Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law. He's lucky he got away with a warning.

Actually, if there ever was an excuse for breaking the law, ignorance would be #1. If you don't know you are breaking the law, I doubt you would willingly use an exit as an entrance.

 

[jbcurt00]

I like to think theres a cop forum somewhere and he just posted a: Almost got to use my taser today topic.... If I wanted to sell a 5speed car to someone who had never driven one, I don't think I'd pick a busy mall parking lot to do teach them how to safely operate it. And if he drove the wrong way into a parking garage ramp, and was stopped, I wouldn't give the cop any carp. How about I come to where you work, throw a monkey wrench in your system & give you attitude when you balk. Sound like fun to you? Doesn't to me. If people weren't in need of monitoring at that ramp, the cop likely wouldn't have been there. At some ramps, I'd bet your buddy should be glad he didn't get shot or his trailer tires flattened for screwing up the launch cue....

 

[lncoop]

Part of me says I would be a boat launch cop for free and another part of me says I wouldn't do it for $1000 a day pay.

LOL Jiggy. Quote of the month I think! Thanks for the Monday morning laugh!

 

[hungupthespikes]

Cop rule #1....get control of situation!!!!! (everybody goes home safe)
Wife jumps in.......2 vs 1
You jump in..........3 vs 1
now you have created a very bad situation for the cop.
and you have created an a-hole
Your buddy defused the situation and walked with a warning.
You have a smart buddy....... spend more time with this couple...besides THEY have a boat. :becky:
huts

 

[Texasmark]

Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law. He's lucky he got away with a warning.

Yeah that's what you hear. What you don't get to see is the 2" thick criminal code book describing all the things they can haul you in for. Butttt www to the rescue and at least in Texas you can pull up the code book and educate yourself as to the thousands of laws that are out there waiting to "getcha". And no I wouldn't be a law enforcement officer either.

However from what we got on this story, the sign was there so the responsibility was no doubt the drivers. Course with first time being at a ramp with all the commotion and all, it's easy to see that in the confusion the sign could be missed. I can imagine that the officer's job was quite frustrating in addition to it probably being very hot on the pavement especially if he was wearing the traditional blue, and being he was working on a weekend and on and on. Seems the guy got off lucky.

My 2c.

Mark

 

[lakegeorge]

Do you know how many times the cops have heard, " it was my first time, honest! "

 

[jc55]

I have mixed emotions. I have had lots of run-ins with police. I know how to handle them, and "handling" is the right term. 10 and 2, I ask permission to reach into my glove box, etc, etc. The last one came over on the water while we were fishing. I RAN to put out fenders, got the lines ready, etc. He never boarded, chit chatted, and went on.

I have found myself in a unique situation. I run a black and white Steiger Craft "patrol style" boat down the river. I have fishermen pick up and leave, jet skis turn around and disappear, and big block Bajas sit at idle until they figure out I'm civilian. Even scared the crap out of some folk dumping down at the river (I have pictures). That being said, being a cop would be difficult...every one acts completely paranoid. I actually get to experience it!

 

[garbageguy]

That's when I jump in again and tell the cop he's being an *** and to go easy on him.

To answer the OP's question, yes, I have encountered various law enforcement personnel at the ramp (and other places). Did you really think what you said to the cop was going to help your buddy?

 

[Ned L]

Wow. I've never even seen any sort of officials at a lauching ramp. (ok, other than the park rangers who come down to see and talk about my boat when they hear & see it ---- retired raceboat). I have never gotten anything but compliments.
You guys must live in the wrong part of the country. lol