I would think that if the police have a report of a stolen vehicle, boat or otherwise, and saw one fitting the general description, that would be considered probable cause. At least to stop and question ownership.
Hope all turns out well.

That is probable cause if the officer knows about it.

Here's a couple of theft stories - same boat company for both...

About 15 years ago in a tiny, remote town in Texas, the city water dept was working on sewer drains out behind our boat shop. The field behind our shop was muddy and remote - no cars could get back there. The rear gate hadn't been opened in over 10 years.

We had a crashed race boat with a 2.4 liter Mercury sitting on a trailer against that same back fence where the city crew had been working. Within a couple of days, someone had come through that back fence, used bolt cutters to get through the lock, and cut the motor off the boat - just like the pics in Scott B's post.

We are certain that one of those city workers spotted that motor while doing work back there, and returned late that night to get it. We told all of this to the police, but never saw that motor again.



A couple of years later, one of our AZ customers asked if he could pick up his new boat on an early morning weekend - around 2am - so that he could turn around and head home ASAP.

We weren't going to be in town that weekend, so we told him we'd leave his boat (w/no motor) outside, and then told him how to unbolt the main locked gate so that he could get in. He promised to bolt it back up when he left. The squad cars in our town numbered "two", so we knew he'd have no problem......

Wrong.

Sure enough, we get a phone call at our hotel at 2:AM.

The police caught him unbolting our fence gate. One of the two squad cars happened to pass at that same moment. LOL This guy was headed for jail unless someone could vouch for him. So he called us - but we were in Georgia!

My husband then called his father who lived 40 minutes away from the shop, and was able to convince the police that this guy was only picking up his boat.....

We still are good friends with the "would-be" thief, and laugh about this little incident often....LOL

His return trip home was a bit delayed...LOL

And it did make us feel a better about the police in our little town. They did good.

Unfortunately, most of the stolen boats in this area wind up stripped up in Newark or Torched.

Lots of stolen boats around here lately.... a few years ago there was a 33 Sutphen, then a 36 Baja Outlaw (That was recovered, but stripped), an Aluminum Trailer for a 45 Sonic, then the Top Gun and now the Spectre.

There was also a theft ring roaming around that was stealing outdrives from the local marinas about 6 yrs. ago but I think they were busted!

Sorry for the loss.

Thats not realistic and you surely know it... how do you prove you were stopped for no reason? Cops can offer a variety of excuses for pulling a single passenger vehicle over & they will recieve the benefit of doubt from any Judge.... Cops are also "supposedly" trained to "identify" excessive speed... and receive that benefit of doubt as well....so there is the likely excuse... or perhaps.... crossed the double yellow line.... 4th amendement.... doesn't exist in this country any longer.... not when you're dealing with Cops....

Gort. I have to dissagree with you on your last point. The 4th amendment is in fact alive and well in this country. Even when dealing with Cops as you put it. While I will admit that there are some cops who might sidestep the rules of criminal procedure to try and make a case, the majority do not. Yes. Cops are expected to get the benefit of doubt. But this is not always true. There is alot of media hype and sensationalism that has severly restricted how police do their jobs. As at100plus has stated, there are times that you can and can not run plates or driver's licenses of people. Even if you want to. You need some sort of cause. Usually, people will give you just cause. If I follow most motorists I will have PC to run their plates and stop them within 5 minutes. Doesnt mean that I am going to cite them. Could be to simply investigate a hunch further.

As for pulling a boat out of a business at Midnight on New Years Eve. Yes, that is very suspicious and would be investigated. If there happens to be a cop driving by as it occurs. Here you are talking about luck of the draw. But I can guarantee you this, on New Years, most cops are out looking for DUI's and dealing with Domestics, fights or Motor Vehicle Accidents. I've worked plenty of New Years and would never have thought to run the plate on a boat being towed through my jurisdiction. I would have been too busy with everything else. Also, even if this boat registration would have been run that night, until its reported stolen and entered into the system, it would come back as a clean registration.

Maybe you've had some bad dealings with the cops where you feel that you were slighted or had your rights violated. If thats true. I am sorry and you should have taken the proper steps to correct the problem. But dont generalize and scrutinize all the hard working Police Officers in this nation because of a few examples. I do hope that they find the POS Thiefs that took this boat. Too bad their rights cant get violated.

Guys, there's a good reason that LexLuther gets pulled over all the time for no reason.

She's a hot blonde and the Police all want to say hello!

I'd post a photo, but that would distract you from finding the boat.

What you call an EXCUSE = REASONABLE SUSPICION for a lawful stop. Why would you complain if you don't get the summons? If you get a summons solely for briefely crossing a double yellow line (for example), and you weren't driving half into oncoming traffic causing cars to veer out of the way, then either you wrote the summons with your mouth (attitude) or yes the cop was a J.O. (I'm not saying that's not possible) but I am telling you there are plenty of other violators out there and that, no cop needs to frame you unlawfully and put their job on the line for a mere ticket. Tickets mean nothing to a cop, we have 25 years to write them. Aholes who really deserve tickets or jail for that matter, are not hard to come by in that time. Believe it or not they tend to come to us.

If someone really had a case, they wouldn't have to prove they were stopped for no reason, the burden of proof is on the state as to the reasonable suspicion for the stop. Rollwithit is absolutely correct, in that almost everyone commits some traffic infraction within 5 minutes of driving. Throw a cigarrette out the window, that's a violation of Title 39, touch the double yellow or swerve back and fourth. A license plate frame that covers the Garden State portion of your plate...and yes, these minor infractions may very well be used as a reason for investigating 'hunch' further, when other articulable facts provoke an officer's suspicion but officers have the discretion on whether or not to issue the summons. Unfortunately whomever drove away with Lexluther's boat was 1) not seen by patrols and/or 2) if seen didn't provoke any suspicion.

There is no presumption that the police officer is a better witness. Perhaps more credible depending on the testimony. If you were wronged in municipal court you can appeal to a different venue where there is absolutely no relationship between the officer or agency and the judge. There is a system of checks and balances and believe it or not, the laws are designed specifically to protect citizens from government intrusion.

New Jersey is one of the most restrictive states in the nation with regard civil rights.

Mistakes are possible given the complexities of the laws, but purposely stopping a vehicle for absolutely no reason opens a police officer up for huge civil liability that can cost him his job, pension and monitary hardships. It would be ludicrous for any sane police officer to stop a blonde in a Corvette just because she's a pretty blonde or just because it's a Corvette.

Lastly, the doors and the welcoming committee are ready and waiting for you in internal affairs if you have a legitimate complaint.

I don't know what makes people think tickets are so important to cops. Quota laws by the way are also ILLEGAL in NJ.

Here is the legislation:

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2000/Bi...00/2261_I1.HTM

If I get stopped for "Briefly crossing a double yellow" fine... my point was its my word against the cops whether I really did cross the line... and please... don't tell me SOME cops don't "Embellish"(lie) about thier reason for pulling over what they "think" looks like a suspicious vehicle.... I have been driving 35 yrs & have NEVER received a moving violation(knock on wood)... that doesn't mean I haven't comitted any.... I've been lucky many times... but also responsible almost always.... I have no hidden agenda against cops in general.... I agree with you that your a "target" for many abuses... I have been stopped several time comming home from the lake with my wife & 2 kids at DWI checkpoints... my son (14) last year commented "Are they here again" same place every sunday night.... I replied "JP thier doing thier job & trying to protect us from drunk drivers... its a small inconvenience" The cops are usually the same each week & recognize us.... we are polite & respectful as are they... they speak to each of my kids every week.... but I don't really like the fact that they have the right to stop me when I've done nothing wrong.... wheres the "REASONABLE SUSPICION" in a DWI checkpoint? I'm not looking for a constitutional arguement here... my point was the reality of it is cops can come up with a "REASONABLE SUSPICION" to pull you over anytime they want.... I have several Law enforement clients.... I respect and admire what they do.... but even they will tell you that not all cops do it the right way.... your profession is no different then anyone elses.... one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.... appearance wise.... so if I was too general... I apologize.... We're better off with you guys then without you.... no question

I think that a few things need to be addressed since I have been reading the tangent that these posts have been going off on...
First on the list.. I just off the phone with the FBI and it seems that they may have some interest in the case provided that Brick and Miami work together. That will certainly be a big step for all of us...If you have any info to present to the Brick police please call Det. Bevacqua 732.262.1150 And again thank you for the posts letting me know that this has been a situation in Miami..

2nd- When I said that I get pulled over for nothing, let me go into further detail....I HAVE NOT been pulled over for speeding or any of the standard reasons.. I am 5'3" blonde driving a red corvette in the same two towns that I have circled in for 11 years driving the same red corvette for (7)years, pulled over by the same few police officers.. I guess I must look suspicious.. And you are right about my 4th amendment being violated, but unfortunatley I have much more pressing issues than to spend MY money in a justice system that would what.. Pay me back for the violation. Let us be real. That would be a futile attempt to waste more of my time... If this scenario or my 4th amendment violation were to be of greater magnitude maybe I would pursue it.

Just remember one thing when it comes to suspicion or pursuit....If the efforts of any authority such as police, airport security and such are wasted on non-sense, well it is safe to say that the bad guy has that much more time to get away..

It does appear that the forced entry took place late in the evening, so one would think that it would be much more suspicious at that time..But again those same police officers who have been puling me over......Well ....need I say more.

***Bernie this is just for you, there are 2 birds now.And they love the car.. HAHAHA