Local Laws at the Launch

[firechildc]

I spent the morning reading through the forum about some of the stupid things people do at the launch, Lord knows I've witnessed plenty of stupidity, but something happened to me a couple weekends back that simply made my blood boil.


I live in Nueces County in South Texas. We were launching our 17' fish and ski boat at the public ramp on the Nueces River. This is the ONLY public ramp for many many miles along the river, so it tends to get a bit crowded on weekends. This particular weekend was no exception. Oh? and it's a small ramp. Only big enough for one boat at a time.

While we are waiting our turn I notice something. There is a large family set up right next to the ramp? tents? BBQ pit? everything. They have no less than 5 children, all of them under the age of about 7. These kids are playing and swimming ON THE DOCK AND IN THE LAUNCH AREA!!!!.

When our turn came we backed up to the ramp slowly. When I stopped to remove the straps off the transom, I warned the kids that we were about to launch the boat, so they needed to get out of the way. This is when all hell broke loose.

One of the adults of the group walks over, beer in hand (of course) and lectures me not to talk to her children and to mind my business. Real calm, I tell her, "Your children can get hurt swimming in the boat launch. They need to move." Finally the kids climb out of the water and up on the dock. I back the trailer into the water, drop the prop and go to start the motor. The SECOND my finger turns the key, I hear several splashes. THE CHILDREN JUMPED IN THE WATER DIRECTLY BEHIND MY PROP, LESS THAN TWO FEET AWAY FROM IT!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say I shut the engine down as quick as I could and completely lost my cool. I started screaming at the kids to get the hell out of the water. I probably blew up a little more than needed, but dangit? those kids could have been seriously injured.

Needless to say a screaming match ensued between me and the parents. The mother's reply was priceless, "We were here first." That doesn't change the fact that they shouldn't have been there in the first place. Unfortunately, in our county there doesn't seem to be any laws on the books prohibiting swimming or fishing from the boat launch. Something I have been hounding the city and county to change. It seems they would rather wait till some kid gets maimed by a boat prop before taking that issue seriously.

What are the laws where you come from? Any of you had to deal with stupidity of this magnitude? I'm looking for more ammunition in my fight to get some no swimming signs posted at our local ramps. We have enough to worry about at the ramp.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

It all depends on the launch ramp here in Washington, firechildc. I've seen signs posted at state parks that limit doc access and define swimming areas but on many other public launches, nothing. In the salt water, most people are not even wading, much less swimming as the water is too darn cold but on the lakes and rivers, it's usually wide open and un-posted. I have had kids run behind my boat while backing down the ramp which was scary enough but never had any close calls with the prop.
Common sense it not all that common?

 

[briangcc]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Most of the launches I use are state ramps. They are posted "No Swimming". Doesn't stop the idiot parent(s)/kid(s) from swimming there but it is posted that way. Usually they move out of the way once they see a very large object bearing down on them.

I usually have a large group with me and they pretty much police the ramp before I start backing up to launch. Something to be said about taking a group out boating.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

'round here the rules vary by who owns the ramp. The state ramps are monitored by the TWRA and those guys really do a good job. But they can't be everywhere at once, so it can get a little loose. But in 15 years, I've had very few problems at a public launch.

Most of the private ramps are no problem at all. Monitored a little more closely.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Most all of the launch ramp docks around here are marked, "No Swimming, No Fishing", to which most people abide, but then there is that 1% that think they are special and don't have to follow the rules.

I do agree with you, that the launch needs to be marked so people are kept out of harms way.

 

[firechildc]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Nice to see some states take it seriously. I know there will always be those individuals who just don't give a flip about the law… or have any common sense what so ever… just be nice to have something as simple as a sign saying "NO SWIMMING" at least then we would have a little better argument when someone let's their kids jump in the water right behind a moving prop.

After a few minutes of arguing with the woman she finally said, "I don't see no sign that says my kids can't swim here, so…. expletive, expletive , expletive…" That meant I had to resort to the common sense argument. And we all know THAT went no where.

I had my buddy go grab a park official who tried to reason with the family, he got told off and eventually just told me there is no park rule against it, so I'd just have to be careful. We ended up just pulling the boat out and leaving. I can deal with having to wait longer to launch my boat because people ignored etiquette… but it just drives me nuts when someone knowingly puts their children in harms way simply because "there ain't no law that says we can't"

 

[robert graham]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

It's very difficult to fight total ignorance!....and there's plenty of it around, at the ramp, on the highways....I mean these folks are clueless!!

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

I wouldn't waste my breath with ignorance, I would let a public servant deal with, well, the public. It's a sad day when a sub species like this interferes with human life happening all around them. Imagine what this child will end up like as a adult?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

I had my buddy go grab a park official who tried to reason with the family, he got told off and eventually just told me there is no park rule against it, so I'd just have to be careful.

Maybe no park rule, but what about that sign I posted, looks like there is a Texas law against swimming close to launch ramps. Probably something to look into as it seems even the park official didn't know about the law.

Bring this up to the city/county and tell them there needs to be a sign, to avoid people from breaking the law and causing confrontations with law-biding citizens. (Not that a sign would do any good with the 1%ers...)

 

[firechildc]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Maybe no park rule, but what about that sign I posted, looks like there is a Texas law against swimming close to launch ramps. Probably something to look into as it seems even the park official didn't know about the law.

Bring this up to the city/county and tell them there needs to be a sign, to avoid people from breaking the law and causing confrontations with law-biding citizens. (Not that a sign would do any good with the 1%ers...)

You're absolutely right… I didn't notice that was a Texas sign! That's what I get for reading the forum on my phone's tiny screen. haha. I wonder if that applies only to State parks… might be why the park official just gave up. The boat ramp is in Labonte Park, which is a city park and part of Corpus Christi. Something I will have to dig a little deeper into. Thanks for the tip!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Wait till you run across a baptism in progress, and yes i have several times at my local, or as i like to call them a chunky dunking.

 

[79Merc80]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Video cameras / Cell phones that have that ability is the BEST way to let law enforcement / city council / County Seat, whatever as to what is going on and that you let them know that it's a BAD IDEA. Then if/when one of their brats get's hurt and they sue, they'll have the video. Also makes them nervous and will generally go away from ANYONE videoing

 

[Maclin]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Wait till you run across a baptism in progress, and yes i have several times at my local, or as i like to call them a chunky dunking.

Whole new meaning to WWJD

Where Would Jesus Dunk

 

[southkogs]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Wait till you run across a baptism in progress, and yes i have several times at my local, or as i like to call them a chunky dunking.

<<Little RANT>>

Y'know Hawker - that's kinda' sad actually. I'm not 100% sure about WV, but after the state sign that Dan posted I checked TN's laws: it's prohibited to swim at or near ramps here.

As a guy who performs Baptisms (and who enthusiastically encourages them), I don't really feel it's appropriate to break one law to fulfill another. And, really I think that the Originator of the command "to Baptize" would agree with me.

Hawker, I'm sorry that you get stuck with that impression of something that should be better done. I hope it's not the only impression you have gotten of Baptism.

<<End RANT>>

Carry on y'all.

 

[gm280]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

firechildc, can't say I ever had anything like that happen to me. But I'm a fairly easy going individual myself. However, I would seriously think before entertaining a shouting match at a boat ramp because as YOU crank up your boat and drive off, who knows what those folks can do to your trailer and or your vehicle? Would be terrible to come back and find a few flat tires... People will do most anything these days. JMHO! :facepalm:

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

<<Little RANT>>

Y'know Hawker - that's kinda' sad actually. I'm not 100% sure about WV, but after the state sign that Dan posted I checked TN's laws: it's prohibited to swim at or near ramps here.

As a guy who performs Baptisms (and who enthusiastically encourages them), I don't really feel it's appropriate to break one law to fulfill another. And, really I think that the Originator of the command "to Baptize" would agree with me.

Hawker, I'm sorry that you get stuck with that impression of something that should be better done. I hope it's not the only impression you have gotten of Baptism.

<<End RANT>>

Carry on y'all.

O no not at all. I fully understand the why of it. and I understand why they do it there, its a safer way if the church dosnt have the facility's, and a lot here believe it should be done out in the open in natural waters and a lot of the creeks and streams are to polluted.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Many of the "swimmer's" at the ramps are normally very courteous and will move.

The primary reason people disobey the No Swimming signs around here is due to money and time. I have seen adults bring kids who dunk in and play for a short time at the ramp and I believe the primary reason is money. It cost a daily per person fee at the "tiny beach" on the lake and when an adult has 3 or 4 kids that could add up. I don't mind for that primary reason and the few swimmers here have always been respectful.

 

[firechildc]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Most all of the launch ramp docks around here are marked, "No Swimming, No Fishing", to which most people abide, but then there is that 1% that think they are special and don't have to follow the rules.

I do agree with you, that the launch needs to be marked so people are kept out of harms way.

Did a little digging into the state law you posted in your picture. Section 31.092 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife code just says, basically, that it's up to the city or county, whichever holds jurisdiction over the waterway/ramp to create their own usage rules. In my case, the City of Corpus Christi holds jurisdiction over this city park, so it's the city that gets to decide what is, and isn't, allowed. Unfortunately.

 

[firechildc]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

Many of the "swimmer's" at the ramps are normally very courteous and will move.

The primary reason people disobey the No Swimming signs around here is due to money and time. I have seen adults bring kids who dunk in and play for a short time at the ramp and I believe the primary reason is money. It cost a daily per person fee at the "tiny beach" on the lake and when an adult has 3 or 4 kids that could add up. I don't mind for that primary reason and the few swimmers here have always been respectful.

I could totally understand it if it was temporary…. or if they just got out of the way when they saw a boat coming…. or if money was an issue. In my case, this is a city park. Free to all.

@gm280… you are absolutely right. I'm a very laid back person too. I didn't lose my cool till it became pretty clear that we weren't going to launch the boat. I try never to make enemies anywhere i go, especially if I'm leaving something as valuable as my truck and trailer unattended for several hours. haha!

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Local Laws at the Launch

I spent the morning reading through the forum about some of the stupid things people do at the launch, Lord knows I've witnessed plenty of stupidity, but something happened to me a couple weekends back that simply made my blood boil.


I live in Nueces County in South Texas. We were launching our 17' fish and ski boat at the public ramp on the Nueces River. This is the ONLY public ramp for many many miles along the river, so it tends to get a bit crowded on weekends. This particular weekend was no exception. Oh? and it's a small ramp. Only big enough for one boat at a time.

While we are waiting our turn I notice something. There is a large family set up right next to the ramp? tents? BBQ pit? everything. They have no less than 5 children, all of them under the age of about 7. These kids are playing and swimming ON THE DOCK AND IN THE LAUNCH AREA!!!!.

When our turn came we backed up to the ramp slowly. When I stopped to remove the straps off the transom, I warned the kids that we were about to launch the boat, so they needed to get out of the way. This is when all hell broke loose.

One of the adults of the group walks over, beer in hand (of course) and lectures me not to talk to her children and to mind my business. Real calm, I tell her, "Your children can get hurt swimming in the boat launch. They need to move." Finally the kids climb out of the water and up on the dock. I back the trailer into the water, drop the prop and go to start the motor. The SECOND my finger turns the key, I hear several splashes. THE CHILDREN JUMPED IN THE WATER DIRECTLY BEHIND MY PROP, LESS THAN TWO FEET AWAY FROM IT!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say I shut the engine down as quick as I could and completely lost my cool. I started screaming at the kids to get the hell out of the water. I probably blew up a little more than needed, but dangit? those kids could have been seriously injured.

Needless to say a screaming match ensued between me and the parents. The mother's reply was priceless, "We were here first." That doesn't change the fact that they shouldn't have been there in the first place. Unfortunately, in our county there doesn't seem to be any laws on the books prohibiting swimming or fishing from the boat launch. Something I have been hounding the city and county to change. It seems they would rather wait till some kid gets maimed by a boat prop before taking that issue seriously.

What are the laws where you come from? Any of you had to deal with stupidity of this magnitude? I'm looking for more ammunition in my fight to get some no swimming signs posted at our local ramps. We have enough to worry about at the ramp.

firechildc,

I've dealt with similar situations.

You're right, you learned that there is no point in arguing with an idiot.

I think it is well within your ability and right to bring this up to a City Council or County Board, whichever is appropriate.

Simply get on their agenda and simply state your case. Too few take the time to do this. The folks that do are mostly those that want to stop ALL activitiy, especially boating. They seem to be able to find the time.

Just plead the case that this is a safety issue. A sign stating that no swimming or recreating, on or near the ramp, is allowed. In a court case, and there will be one-sadly, allows the County or City to defend itself.

Most Councils and Boards will listen to reason like that and see your point.

The whole point is to take this on as a personal cause. I've been succesful in endeavors like that. But, I took the time (usually an evening) to go before a Board or Council and reason with them. They can be surprisingly open to good ideas.

Good Luck. We'd like to hear back that you were succesful!