US Coast Guard

[boatradioman]

why is it that the coast guard can pull you over for no reason and the police department has to have a reason?[police on roads]

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: US Coast Guard

Federal vs. Local But here in VT the State Police can pull you over on any body of water w/o cause. The Game Warden has the higest search authority and can search your home w/o a warrant

Any police officer from a VT town (and we have elected constables in many) can enforce VT laws anywhere in VT.

 

[Don S]

Re: US Coast Guard

Call em and ask.

 

[angus63]

Re: US Coast Guard

Police set up random check points on roads in my county all the time. Coast Guard never boards a vessel for fun. The bay constable and harbor patrol, however, love their little blue lights a little too much around here if you ask me.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: US Coast Guard

This authority actually goes back to the days of the USCG before it was called that. In 1791 Treasury Secretary Hamilton authorized officers of the Revenue Marine, aka Revenue Cutter Service, to board vessels with or without probable cause.

At present, the USCG has boarding authority by virtue of "14 USC, 89, Law Enforcement." The following link provides the text in regard to the law.

http://vlex.com/vid/19228706

 

[sunaj]

Re: US Coast Guard

I have always objected to the government's boarding authority, I hope the next Ron Paul includes legislation to correct this privacy violation in his platform

 

[dave11]

Re: US Coast Guard

The Florida State Highway Patrol pulled me over one day while I was paddling my 10ft Porta-Bote. He couldn't get too close because I was in about 1 1/2 ft of water. He checked that I had all safety equipment and current registration. Seem a little like overkill when I was probably 25 feet from the shore. However, I don't have any intention of arguing a mute point with someone with a gun and a badge.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: US Coast Guard

If everything is legit on your watercraft and or vehicle,,,,,,,,,whats the worry? If they didn't have the authority, just how much would that benefit the smugglers? Now with a greater threat of terrorists,,,,,I still think its a good idea for our national security.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: US Coast Guard

if you have your boat inspected by the coast guard auxiliary, they give you a sticker for your windshield. the man usually does not hassle you, unless they see something blatantly wrong.

 

[jennis9]

Re: US Coast Guard

after watching some of the stupid, irresponsible and inconsiderate things that happen at the ramp, I'm glad there's a presence out there to remind everyone to behave. I know they're not after me...

 

[tommays]

Re: US Coast Guard

Need more as when Sailing in northport bay on sunday i am not sure if more Power Or Sailboats were not aware of basic right of way rules


I just kept getting out of there way as i try NOT to stress on the water

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: US Coast Guard

you would really be surprized, how many are out there that have no idea of the rules of the water. especially jet fleas.

 

[eeboater]

Re: US Coast Guard

As a former Auxiliarist... I welcome the USCG to pull me over. Only because I know I'm not doing anything wrong.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: US Coast Guard

Coast Guard boarding officers are also federal Customs officers and they board with the same authority. Same as if you were coming across the border from Mexico or wherever.

 

[bekosh]

Re: US Coast Guard

you would really be surprized, how many are out there that have no idea of the rules of the water. especially jet fleas.

Around here it's the fisherman who seem to think that the rules don't apply to them.

Gee, let's anchor broadside in the river channel then flip off the powerboat that almost runs them over.
ID-10-T's

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: US Coast Guard

Federal vs. Local But here in VT the State Police can pull you over on any body of water w/o cause. The Game Warden has the higest search authority and can search your home w/o a warrant

So can the police... but they both still have to have probable cause in order for any evidence collected to be used against you.

Game wardens often accompany police searches of suspected drug houses because it's easier for them to establish probable cause if there are guns registered to the tenants, but no hunting liscenses issued to them, that's probable cause of hunting without a liscense. If guns are registered to tenants and there are hunting liscenses issued to them, the warden still has probable cause of hunting out of season. Still, the game warden has to prove that he had probable cause as the basis for the search if challenged in court.

 

[External Combustion]

Re: US Coast Guard

There are two types of courts in our nation. Admiralty Courts and Common Courts. If you have any vioaltion while using a vessel then you would want it tried in Admiralty court as there are far fewer precidents and the maximum dollar amount you can lose is the price of your vessel. Many don't understand this and allow their cases to be tried in Common court and the penalties can be much higher there.

The reason that the two court systems were created was that they are a carryover from English law. English law recognized that it was far easier for a vessel flying the English colors to cause a war than just a citizen visiting another country. In my lifetime the Tonken Gulf Affair, the Pueblo Affair, the Mia Guez, the Bay Of Pigs, The Achiellie Lauro, the USS Cole and a few private tankers of Somalia has created massive actions by our nations millitary brought on by private citizens of our or another country.

The right to board and inspect not only cuts down on crime, health issues, and tax evasion, it cuts down on frivolus wars.

I like to do Civil War renacting with my steam launch. I have been boarded and inspected when I have had the 12 pounder howitzer on the bow. This was to make sure I was not classified as an armed merchantman which could be seen as a privateer by another nation. Privateers are now banned in most nations by treaty.

It basicaly is the last vestages of old law, but still appropriate.

 

[sunaj]

Re: US Coast Guard

I can see no reason why any law enfarcement should be able to board my boat, which is licensed and displays ID, unless they have probable cause, anymore than I can accept a CHP pulling me over and searching my car, without probable cause-that's just common sense in a free society

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: US Coast Guard

I can see no reason why any law enfarcement should be able to board my boat, which is licensed and displays ID, unless they have probable cause, anymore than I can accept a CHP pulling me over and searching my car, without probable cause-that's just common sense in a free society

How about letting you board a commercial jet without searching your luggage?

Alright, so I was just throwing that out there as a strawman... the difference is that you don't own the commercial jet... and you ARE free to board a private plane without them searching your luggage unless they have probable cause.

Still, in my opinion, since you're using public facilities to boat and drive, they should be able to search your vehicle on the road or lake without probable cause. Just my opinion on the matter, and it's probably biased.

 

[boatradioman]

Re: US Coast Guard

that is not the same thing you are going on your own personal vehicle not a public transportation. You can't crash a boat into the a skyscraper.