FFWCC is using Planes to BUZZ POWER BOATERS in FL!!!!
 

THIS IS PHKN CRAZY!! I saw this on the Standing Watch website.

www.standing-watch.org


"To: Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
From: John L. Hollinger

Sub: A Huge Case of Overkill by F1orida Fish and Wildlife Commission

Memorial Day afternoon, I found out that my unintentional error of speeding in a manatee zone was more important to the FFWC than my life and the life of my family.

While returning from a picnic in my boat from the Spoil Islands, we decided to fish a little. We traveled south to within 1/2 mile of the rt. 405 bridge, turning left at a 45-degree angle; we cut across to the channel along the hwy. As I was not familiar with this area, we went slowly to the

end. There, out of the wind, we stopped and fished an hour or so. The manatees came to the boat to check us out. After catching nothing, but enjoying the peace and quite, we left the area very slowly. About a mile from that spot, I increased my speed to about 10 MPH. As we approached the river, an airplane began to circle us, (maybe to admire my new boat?) or maybe we were in a slow zone but never saw any signs. I slowed to slow speed again. The p1ane continued to circle as we approached the ICW, there was a sign that said to resume normal speed again; we had been in a slow speed zone.

Once in the ICW, I went to 25 MPH. The plane left and we continued north for about 15 minutes, the plane came up on us from the south and buzzed us very closely. The plane circled again and buzzed us even closer. At that time, we stopped. No other boats were in sight. We

waited a few minutes and then saw a boat coming up from the south. Sure enough it was a patrol boat, but not Marine Patrol. It was FFWC.

The boat approached, the two men on the boat had their guns out. What in Hell, huge crime did I commit? An airplane to stop me and an armed boat along side. I didn't remember killing anyone. As the boat came along side and observed a boatload of older folks, they then put away their guns.

The wind was very strong and it took two of my male passengers and one of your officers to hold the boats apart the 1/2 hour it took to write the ticket for speeding in a manatee zone. Holding the boat in this manner was very dangerous, easy to break an arm.

I told the officer we saw no signs upon entering the area, which was very poorly marked if there was any. The Mi1lion-dollar airplane buzzing us at a very low altitude in a Strong crosswind was dangerous and foolish. The officers' approaching us with drawn guns is also another insult. I will pay the fine of $65.00 as we were over the speed limit, but the manner of this citation is a reminder of Storm Troopers.

The FFWC needs to be reigned in over this manatee issue. It is way out of proportion.

A Million-dollar airplane and armed officers to write a $65.00 ticket over this infraction is the height of stupidity.

The pilot of the plane had my boat number and could have easily had a letter with the ticket enclosed mailed to me and would have been much safer.

John L. Hollinger"


I personally, feel that the Airplane flight hours would be MUCH BETTER spent patroling our coastline looking for TERRORISTS!!!!
MD:mad:

Holy ****...Sounds like the Manatee Gestapo!

Seriously, what are they thinking?:confused: Where's the justification for this kind of behavior? Plane patrols, armed boat enforcers?...

That agency is completely out of control. Someone told me that the FFWC even has more power than Real law enforcement = police/sherrif and can override what they do and say. WTF :mad: :mad:

Talk about overkill!
The cops must've thought they were smugglers or something to come up with their guns drawn. Unless Mantee protection is just cause for shooting some one. :confused:

That reminds me...

The harbor that houses our marina is also the home of a large CG base and also has a large deep water basin used by many LARGE yachts, ships and other miscellaneous big ships...Well, recently a 100 foot or so(by my best estimates) FFWC cutter has made the basin its home.

Sure enough, there are always men in black, fully armed keeping 24 hour watch on their ship...You don't even see this on the CG cutters and ships.

The coast guard will let you get reasonably close to their vessels with no problems, but try getting close to the FFWC cutter and they start repremanding on their loudspeakers and shouting orders with guns drawn.....:mad: :confused:

Since when does the FFWC have armed guards?
Sounds like they're running their own little army or navy in this case.

"...Sworn members may resort to the use of control, including the use of force likely to cause death or great bodily harm..."


This from an agency dedicated to fish and wildlife:rolleyes:

Policy

Home

BD,
Thanks for the Data digging!! Pretty scary stuff, all in the name of FISH!!
MD

Check this out:

"WILDLIFE ALERT EXPANDS TO COVER BUI CASES..."

Fine, drinking and boating is not a good thing. I'll agree to that, but why put a FISH and WILDLIFE agency in charge of this kind of thing...

Can anyone say "Out of Scope" :rolleyes:

http://floridaconservation.org/whats...ealert-st.html

This mans unfortunate encounter with the FFWC may not be the only time we'll hear about this kind of excessive force.

I see, a boat load of older people out fishing presented an "imminent threat" and that was justification for having their guns drawn as they approached. Yeah, right.

Not only are they looking for BUI cases but they offer a bounty to those who turn them in.

I wonder where this money is coming from and why is it not going to local law enforcement? :confused: :rolleyes:

good thing buffet wasn't flying the plane....or was he:D

WTF,
That's the 1st I've heard of this "Reward" Program! Just to make sure I understand this, the CONCENRED Fl. Citizen makes a call, the FFWC officer makes an arrest from the call, and the CONCERNED Fl. Citiizen gets $$? I wonder how many calls come from SMC Members or their little Video camera SPY teams?
Thanks,
MD

That incedent need to be brought to the attention of the FFWCC's Office of the Inspector General. The IG's Office does investigations in all incedents such as like this.

That letter should be directed to:

James T. Knight III, Inspector General
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
Phone: (850) 488-6068
Fax: (850) 410-5265
E-mail: [email protected]

Yeah Dean, there's lots of room for abuse there by "concerned citizens".

Euby, Buffet was at the controls when the mishap occured.

Now that is some crazy stuff...why don't those pricks use helicopters to patrol those zones if anything at all....?....instead they have the Red Baron doing flybys..:rolleyes: ...And just cause they can draw their weapons doesn't mean they have to on every call...sounds like a dangerous power trip..:( ...Actions like these are hurting everybody fighting the Manatee battle...I will send my E-mail to the Inspector General...(like they read em)..I'm sure they are getting a flood of em....But there is a leason here...Don't speed in the zones..It just gives them a chance to find something wrong with your boat....or worse...something in your boat...Somebody get some video of this behavior and it will blow up for sure....good luck

Got to love it!!!! Team tax dollars at work!!!:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Dean, that's exactly what I was eluding to in my previous post...Sounds like a mutually beneficial co-existance between special interest groups(smc, enviros) and the FFWC.....Hmmmmm


Crash,
I'm tellin' ya man...the FWCC is the last thing you want to see on the water...They are far more agressive, rude and ego-driven that anyone other body of law enforcement.

Now, don't get me wrong here, I fully appreciate what the local sherriff's department and the Coast guard does and I appreciate their presence on the water. I don't mind being pulled over by them...I show them what they want, I pass with flying colors and I get a nice little sticker. I know most of those guys by name and they're great....

But the FWCC scares the **** out of most people....I heard some nasty stories, very abusive. :mad:

BD,
It was/is the same approach the SMC, other ECO-radicals took when they sue the FFWCC for MORE Mantaee protection! It is a mutual agreement, "If SMC sues me and I, (FFWCC) settle the lawsuit out of court and behind closed doors, we can write the settlement to require more funding, more officers, more boats, (IE the FFWCC just got alot BIGGER) for the FFWCC, then it's a win/win settlement for both parites involved. And whenever gov't gets BIGGER, it's a good thing for that agency!!
It's called a "Wink" lawsuit!
MD

That's what you get when you give a gun and a badge to someone who isn't even smart enough to pass the Police Officers exam.

That kind of authority to protect a SEA COW! That is so way out of whack!

a friend of mine used to "hunt" manatees down in belize. It was legal there till the mid 80's. He says it tastes like chicken.


FYI .50 calibur anti-aircraft guns available at www.puder.com :D

Dean Ferry;
Austin,Texas has a strong group of tree huggers that may have met have met their match. It seems that the concept that the environment must be saved at all costs is under scrutiny. The Office of Management and Budget is asking for economic justification as part of the evaluation of environmental issues.
Call me 512 657 1104 or give me a fax number and I will send this article I saved for you.
Sometimes, the least likely party to these impasses will come in to be the deciding factor and it seems this may be the answer. Really, it comes down to the simple question, "What is a manatee worth, and are the current costs to enforce these new policies worth the expense to the society?"

This waste of resources is ridiculous .Especially in these times when there are threats to the United States from the terrorist Filth! They should be watching the nuclear plants or Sea Ports. I wonder what the outcome would be for these Pseudo protection programs would be if we all were to vote on it??:mad:

Another instance of leglislation without representation. :( :mad:

Thank God I am reasonalble and Republican
 

Lube 42....HAHAHAHA. Well, you guys already covered the bases, just speaking up and putting my .02 in the bucket. We have only seen the beginning of this radical, marxist behavior by people who operate under the horribly misguided perception that as individuals we want/should live assymetrical without seperate tempermants, talents and convictions. Lord help us, the liberal nazi left is alive and kicking. The time to cage this 3% of the population is now. It's just a matter of time before we get to squirrels and automobiles......Mean Dean, my hats off to you and your efforts. If I can be of any help in battling the radical goofball tyranisits, let me know. Later.

Boaters Rally last night
 

Here's the article from the local tree-hugger newspaper.

http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/localstoryA21089A.htm

We wrote a check for $150 for the legal defense fund.
MD

"If we keep putting the pressure on, we can put the power back in the hands of the many and out of the hands of the few. What it's all about is simple common sense, and you're all standing up for it and I applaud you for it."


Thanks Dean, Good Stuff! Looks like you had a nice turnout of 600. Excellent! Too bad it's such a long drive and on a Thursday, I would like to attend one of these rallies.

BD,
You are always welcome to stay with us @ and hang out @ the "Gunship Saloon"!

Thanks again Dean!
I really appreciate it. Maybe one of these days, I'll take you up on that offer, I'll being the beverages and gas money and we can storm them in that Velocity of yours!! :D :cool: