Where do I go from here?

[jetskiking]

O.K. I woke up on a mission yesterday. Here's the story. Sunday we went to a local riding spot. For three years plus, we have been riding this spot. It is a cove off of the main lake. Also for those years we have been setting up buoys to practice on.Earlier in the morning the DNR came down to the park in his truck. He was a pretty cool guy and I had met him in the past. He gave the kids frisbees and balls promoting boating safety and told everybody to be safe. So we rode for a few hours then came the pricks in the boat. They come up to the beach screaming "Whos buoys are these?".The guy says "there mine". Well you need to pull them up or we are gonna take them. Then the cop puts his foot in his mouth. He says its not the DNR its the Corps of engineers. We just inforce the laws and they say you cant have a organized event without a permit. The guy says "this isnt an event". Then the cop says "well that isn't going to work you need to pull them". So the guy does the nice thing and agrees to pull them.:wink: Then the cops leave. Now I'm not a lawyer but I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night so I got to thinking. I did some research on the internet and what little I could find was vague. The law basically says that to have an organized Racing event, Fishing tournament, wedding , babtism, etc. or any event that disrupts normal usage of the lake you have to get a permit which is issued by the DNR. Now this is by far Organized or an event. Its not advertised, dates are not planned, nobody pays any money and there arn't races to speek of. Its basically a guy that sets up buoys to practice evey now and then and if you want to ride them you can. It dosn't disrupt the normal usage because its in a cove and PWC's are pretty much the normal usage. Like I said its been going on for years. Why is the Law so vague? The cops are giving us conflicting information. Whats been other peoples experience? Is there a way to get a Final say on exactly what the law says from a judge? Or is it best to just not press the issue? Now given I dont race, I'm a freestyle guy. I'm just tired of all the conflicting info on the law and it just seams like the cops can do what they want. Is it just better to have the loophole there in case we ever did get in trouble?

 

[SuperJETT]

Law is open to interpretation, and that sucks.

It's normal for one arm to say/do something completely different than the other. Unfortunately, they can still write a ticket because most laws are written open-ended so they can be applied to 'similar' circumstances.

 

[onesojourner]

but I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night so I got to thinking.

:biggthumpup:

 

[MADMAT]

I so f'ing hate water cops!!! I really really hate them. For me it has become personal. One of them told my finace she should get rid of me because I mocked him at the ramps one day. I hate them. If one of them is drowning I will walk away. You can take that to the bank. Sorry to any good officers out there but a few have riuned it for you and it is to late for me to change my mind.

Being a former Sheriff, I realize this is a bold statement but..OH F'ING WELL!!

What the hell were they even thinking coming over there and saying anything at all!!!!???!!!!! Let alone once you told them you were just practicing and that it was not organized.

This is why I beg people to not EVER EVER EVER vote for ANY more taxes EVER. These cities obviously have enough money to over staff and create more of a police presence than was ever needed to begin with. F em and F em hard!!!!

Thin the hurd and cut civil service jobs by voting NO on every stinking new tax that comes your way!!! I don't care if they say its for friggin orphans! Fire more people if you need money for orphans!!

We are becoming more and more of a policed state every day. I wonder if you can even own/operate a jetski in Isreal and that is where we are heading for no reason at all.

Out.

 

[SuperJETT]

Just for you: http://www.pwctoday.com/showthread.php?t=75582

I so f'ing hate water cops!!! I really really hate them. For me it has become personal. One of them told my finace she should get rid of me because I mocked him at the ramps one day. I hate them. If one of them is drowning I will walk away. You can take that to the bank. Sorry to any good officers out there but a few have riuned it for you and it is to late for me to change my mind.

Being a former Sheriff, I realize this is a bold statement but..OH F'ING WELL!!

What the hell were they even thinking coming over there and saying anything at all!!!!???!!!!! Let alone once you told them you were just practicing and that it was not organized.

This is why I beg people to not EVER EVER EVER vote for ANY more taxes EVER. These cities obviously have enough money to over staff and create more of a police presence than was ever needed to begin with. F em and F em hard!!!!

Thin the hurd and cut civil service jobs by voting NO on every stinking new tax that comes your way!!! I don't care if they say its for friggin orphans! Fire more people if you need money for orphans!!

We are becoming more and more of a policed state every day. I wonder if you can even own/operate a jetski in Isreal and that is where we are heading for no reason at all.

Out.

 

[MADMAT]

Awsome article!!! This friggin country still has a chance if THE PEOPLE stop allowing this crap!!! I can barely even take another story about bad/over zealous cops!

I can't even take them seriously around here anymore because they are such dork sockers!!

 

[MADMAT]

Oh I see now in that article that the great state of misery is trying to bypass the voters and just raise the fees so that they can have 5 million more a year!!

Missouri pepes need to be all over that!

 

[IceRocket1286]

Being a former Sheriff

your the devil! jk


cops are dicks, thats what it comes down too. cops go by my buoys all the time but never ever have said anything. even when some people on pwcs got hurt in the same bay, but not riding my course or even close, the cops didnt tell me a thing.

 

[jetskiking]

Ha Ha Ha, This happened on Georgias Lake Allatoona. I saw Half there force then. Im sure there were not any drunk boaters on the lake this weekend. Instead they have to Hassle the jetskiers. The Atlanta journal is so full of it. Not only does the DNR patrol but so do the regular police the Rangers and I think Ive even seen the Coastguard on Holiday weekends. Way to scew the facts. Its bull, we pay registration fees, trailer tags, property tax, gas taxes and ramp fees just to ride and they still want more money. I guess we could chip in and pay a permit fee but Arn't they getting enough.

 

[thrllskr]

I am not bothered by police presence as much as the way they conduct their business. I wish there were more cops on my local lake to catch all the weekend-warriors riding their cousin's friend's PWC without a license or any basic knowledge of what the hell they are doing. On the flipside, some cops take it too far and will ticket for ridiculous things (like not having a fire extinguisher when there is clearly no place to store one).

 

[Waste Land]

I love my local PD.....I was doing huge stabs behind a cruiser as they passed by...I waved upon landing and then took off.....WOOT!

 

[2nd nature]

******** park rangers for sure. me and 3 friends in 2001 went down a state trail to a local river maybe a little over a mile long. 4th july weekend to jump off the cliffs.oh yeah we were on mountain bikes.we didnt realize there was no bikes on the trail. we were in shorts with flipflops and towels around our necks.we were told to get off our bikes at gun point . searched like thiefs or drug dealers and took our bikes . mine happen to be my friends room mates fgirlfriends bike with a price tag of over $2000.00 dollars.they took our damn bikes because we didnt have a reciept . wtf i have no respect for cops or any of those under paid loosers. i know someone has to risk there life and be a dick for 22,000 a year but not me.it took just a few bad situations . every time i get pulled over they ask the same question.where are you heading so fast.i always say the same thing. is talking to you going to get me out of a ticket.just write it i got to go.soory if any of you guys are sherrifs or cops. thank all your fellow empoyess for my bad attitude.we did get all 3 bikes but it cost 1000.00 for a lawywer what kind of ******** is that.

john why were you in th holiday inn?

 

[jetskiking]

john why were you in th holiday inn?

It was a joke. Remember the old commercials. Also believe it or not the ranger was the cool one.

 

[Matt_E]

The place where I used to ride had cool watercops - never hassled me, even let me jump their wake.

This new place is different. I come back into the marina with Phill, we pull the skis out, and they start strolling over to my trailer.
They seemed nice enough, but obviously were looking for something, ANYTHING to give me a hard time over.
And he picks my registration letters. LOL...thanks Abe @ Northgraphics, now I am a cop irritant. :biggthumpup: :arms:
It's not in big f'n ugly block letters, so it's illegal. We'll see - he seemed to imply that he was cool with it, but others may not be.
He went on to explain that I needed my registration on board (DUH), and that he was pleased with how quiet my exhaust was (B-Pipe, front exhaust, screaming motor....WTF?). Good thing he's deaf I guess.
You shoulda seen the guy...Buford T. Justice in person hisself. :biggrin:
And his partner carries his 1911 cocked and locked. W T F ??? Do the sturgeon really get thaaaat big to be carrying that around like that? :biggrin:


I guess I better start putting my extinguisher and all that crap on the ski.

 

[Shrivel]

This is up at Tanyard, Jetskiking? I wouldn't worry about it too much - the water cops were out in full force this weekend. I saw four times as many as usual up at Red Top on Sunday and Monday - and they were actually hassling the pontoons and bass boats and never said a word to the jetskiers. You probably won't ever see those guys again.

 

[hangtime]

MOST of the time if you treat them with respect they will treat you with respect .
It is the few who ruin it for the rest ,just like us

 

[jetskiking]

This is up at Tanyard, Jetskiking? I wouldn't worry about it too much - the water cops were out in full force this weekend. I saw four times as many as usual up at Red Top on Sunday and Monday - and they were actually hassling the pontoons and bass boats and never said a word to the jetskiers. You probably won't ever see those guys again.

Yeah I know but it seams like they come in there about once or twice a year and hassle us about the buoys. Maybe its just some CYA so if someone gets hurt they can say we told them to pull them

 

[romack991]

Just for you: http://www.pwctoday.com/showthread.php?t=75582

WTF... (taken from the article)

Paying the price

In Missouri, a different kind of legislation is on the table - a bill that would dramatically increase boat registration fees to pay for what some would say is a good cause. The almost $5 million that would be generated annually if the bill passed would go to the Missouri State Water Patrol, which ultimately would benefit boaters, according to an Associated Press article on KansasCity.com today.

Boat owners currently pay $10 to $40 for registration every three years. Under the proposed legislation - passed by the legislature and awaiting the governor's signature - small boat owners' fees would increase to $25 and boats over 40 feet in length would pay $150, the AP reported.


Damn Indiana charges 50 bucks a yr per ski. :banghead:

 

[skinnyman]

Many years ago Ranger Bob had a mission to hassle us about setting up bouys.So after the 3 rd time of putting out bouys and takin them up,we had a sit down with him and his partner.OK more like your going to jail.

In talking to them we brought up the point that open the door to setting up bouys for the last 10 years, on a buisy lake in Dallas.it went like thisTake a parrking lot full of cars and 10 exits and tell every one to leave with no direction.It would be a mess wouldnt you agree.Then set up cones and you have direction and everyone leaves without a problem.Setting up bouys gives us direction and keeps people from runnimg in to each other.

We agreed to follow the 50ft rule and if we got caught no warnings only a big fine.Winter time we can now break the 50ft as long as you have helmet on they just wave and go on.We were asked to talk to some kids that got tickets for the 50ft rule.Made them ride bouys and gave a little class on proper operation of a pwc.

I guess were lucky that they all know us by name and we know them by name It makes life easy on the lake.

 

[jetskiking]

Really good approach. Kinda funny I've never seen an accident when this is going on. But I have on other parts of the lake.