Odnr
 

Odnr ( post 1 of 1)
I've been running offshore boats for over 12 years and I truly believe that those of us that do operate these high performance boats are some the most knowledgeable, safety minded, conscientious boaters out there. Are boats usually outfitted with far more safety equipment than any federal, state or local laws call for. Yet we seem to be singled out for harassment. This is my story, after a rotten Spring we finally get out on the boat, for a sunny afternoon. I get safety checked every year by the Coast Guard and go by the Coast Guard station on my way out of the river to Lake Erie. By the way this happened in Lorain Oh. I've never had a problem, always run on one motor to make sure of no wake, When I do run hard it's off shore clear of other boats. About three years ago the state passed a noise limit of 90 dcb. which is truly on passable. But the Ohio Department of Natural resources is in charge of enforcing the law, but they have no meters available. Well the ODNR pulls me over, boards my boat with his BLACK shoes and marks my engine cover up, puts me through a safety check, when he finds nothing, puts me through a sobriety check, everything ok, but inform me that my vessel is much louder then 90 dcb. Getting aggravated my wife tries to calm me down, but I ask him to go to the dock a perform his sound check, he informs me he has no means to perform test, but informs me if he did he would surely ticket me. When I questioned him as to how he can put a citizen though this and not have the equipment to perform test anyway, he says, just get that boat back to the dock and we'll be watching for you and it better have a muffler system next time. He also inform me to not try to put silent choice system on because that's illegal to. I will put the muffler system on, but as we know next time it will be something else. how about some comments, I just want to see if anyone else has a run in with these jerks. Thanks, more than anything I just needed to vent. John

YOu have not been found guilty of anything. If he continues to harass you, have your attorney write a letter to his boss professionally stating your concerns. I would not put the mufflers on until I was found guilty of something. On the other hand, it might be nice just to "buy some time" by putting on mufflers. That's a personal choice.

I think it is a total crock and it is borderline harrassment. They have a job to do, but it seems this guy had a hard on for you way before he stopped you. Is he new?

Good luck, this is only the beginning of this garbage. I agree...all in all, we typically take better care of the waterways than the avg recreational boaters....BY FAR!!!!

i've pretty much come to the conclusion that there are tons of dickheads involved with boating.

You get these idiots that are convinced they are gods of the sea.

Or better yet the harbour constable that thinks he's some kind of old salty sea dog who spent his life on the ocean when in reality he put putted around in a 14' whaler.

A coupel years ago the attendant at the town operated pump out station (floating **** tanker) threatened to ticket me for noise violations (i had stock exhaust and mufflers) and a 5mph zone violation.

I was idling at about 800 rpms. my baot couldn't go any slower. and it was by no means a rocket ship with a 10mph idle. Single 330 on a 4500 lbs boat.

The big issue is there are some bad apples taht spoil it for trh rest of us. This is genarelly true of most sports but in boating its kind of exagerated. DUe to eth fact a 47 fountain with triple 1000hp engine runing aground and killing everyone or a waerunner being driven over or (thi sas a persoanl experience of mine) the jackass driving the boat gos 90 through a 5mph zone and refuses to close the muffler around the docks on a sea trial (he was ellign his boat, i was along as an impartial observer)

one jackass like that make us all look really bad

I see I'm not alone, mufflers are coming, but I know it will be something else the next time. Beware, the 4th is coming and the jackasses will be out in force. I think most of us don't try to antagonize them but like you said, the power of the badge gets the best of some of these losers.

Like allan said, fook them until they can prove it in court, if they want to get nasty with you then get nasty right back, only with legal papers We had a run in a rew years back with ODNR in my friends cabin cruiser, He was driving on plane through a no wake zone @3 in the morning (which I admit was wrong) but when the guys stopped us they were total d!ckheads and did not seem to care about the fact that we were driving to fast . They insisted that we were all drunk and were toting a lot of drugs on the boat:eek: :mad: I had one drink hours before and my friends do not drink, and none of us use any drugs of any kind....Anyway theese a$$holes searched the boat not once but 3 times and searched us 3 times:rolleyes: you could tell that they were getting mad as hell because they were not finding anything. In the end my freind got a ticket for wreckless op, and a warning stating "we will be watching you so you better not have anything illegal(sp) on board next time":confused: :mad:

My frend called the ODNR office the next day and talked to the head officer and he was trying to back his officers (go figure) but when my friend did not let up with his gripe about harassment the officer told him to just forget about the ticket and drive slower next time:D

They are really cracking down on that this year in Toledo. I got stopped a couple of weeks ago. Tizbad got stopped TWICE this weekend and glassdave got stopped stutrday nite. Same story, black shoes, no meter an don't run it till you fix it. I'm just going to go the silent choice route and try to keep my head down and not ask for trouble. They may not have a meter but my experince with cops has always been "We're not harasing you, we're enforcing the law".:mad: :( :mad:

And I like when you get a ticket from one of those NY "constables" you need to appear in court to pay the fine.

The mufflers go on in the morning, so I'll keep you posted, but they will not board again with shoes on.

Thing is.. They will board again with shoes on. Those guys won't take off their shoes. It sucks that you have to have mufflers. Someone should make silent choice type system that they can't detect. Cout out type .Maybe a niche... ? I see alot of guys complaining about this. It's just not the same without the sound.

The water cops in Texas are great. They don't harass people, but they do keep the waters safe. They don't care about noise. They only care about safety. If you are being unsafe, they will pull you over. Otherwise, they leave you alone.

God bless Texas! :D

I've tried and experienced the " YOUR MORE THEN WELCOME TO COME ABOARD IF YOU TAKE YOUR BOOTS OFF " and it will not work. The response I got was " TRUST ME, I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE OFF MY BOOTS. Another incident on a buddys boat when he asked them the same thing. This guy was really pissed that he was asked that and made the rest of the boarding a real pain. Even went as far as calling one of his comrades to bring the dog out. Dog went through the boat, found nothing and put marks all over the cabin and cockpit.

I would like to give Kudos to the local marine Patrols here in Palm Beach County as well. I have been boating for 18 years in this area 10 of wich have been in loud boats. I have never been pulled over in all my years. I have chatted a # of times with officers and they just ask questions about my boat. I used to race Jersey skiffs and had one with no registration or FL #,s and I asked a sherrif where I could test. He said come out to the Loxahatchee river after 5 pm on Tues and he would be there to keep on eye on me while I tested. Mind you, the speed limit in the river is 25mph. I feel for you guys who get harrassed out there but the are still some good spots to boat left out there.
Nowadays if I test offshore in equipment, they just hang around the inlet and watch and give me a friendly wave.

A DOG!!:eek: :mad: :mad: I would at least offer to put a towel or rug over my upholstry for the officer to walk on, If they dont have enough respect to wait for you to do so, then I think it would clearly be a case of harassment:mad:

Thrill,

Yep right up in the islands, last year. You notice they have dogs at the bay for the last couple of years. Now the coasties got them too. It wasn't because he suspected anything either it was just to say don't F*$k with me.

Just close your cabin door as they pull up. They have NO right to enter your cabin unless they have a damn good reason to suspect something illegal.
NO one boards my boat with black shoes -- period.
Any damage done WILL be paid for out of the citys pocket.
I will make the officers life hell if he damages my boat.
I have stood my ground and they backed down. Mind you I wasn't drinking or doing ANYTHING wrong. They just pulled me over for a safty check.

I would say it is certainly harrassment. What really bothers me as well is the fact that he claimed to know how many decibels your exhaust was without any scientific data. I also wonder if stopping you and searching your "second home" is considered unlawful without a search warrant and no probable cause?

This is getting very interesting, I'm contacting my state rep, give him the story and see what gives. I installed the mufflers and it will be interesting to see what happens this time. As he said "They will be watching for me" The really sad part of this bull**** is we only have 3 1/2 months to boat if we're lucky so this harrassment and unnecessary down time takes alot of the pleasure out of it.

I'm thinking a video camera on board would curtail alot of this. They video tape us on the road so how about we video them on the boat ???

Just an idea. I'm sure the outcome would be different.

I think about a year ago there was a thread about someones boat being tested for loud exhaust. If I remember story correct. They were doing it wrong & they were being harassed. Second time he took video camera along & wife videotaped complete stop. He took video to the head office, got an apology & that officer no longer was on the water.

The thing I hate that since your boat is flashy & noisy they come after you. They miss the small boats with 50 people on board that do not have enough live jackets, or bad jackets.

As Clay saids "God Bless Texas" I have been stoped but I think they stop me more for them to look at my boat then to give me a hard time. The last time I was stoped on Cannon Lake the officer said "I am assuming you have an automatic fire extingisher" I said yes & that was the end of his questions. After that, everytime I saw him we would wave at each other.

I would love to have seen that if it actualy happened. They DON'T take there shoes off. Period. Some people have said they are all a bunch of power mad pricks. I have never seen that. You guys have to remember, these guys are doing a ****ty job, in the full heat of the day wearing a full uniform AND body armor. The shoe marks wipe up, and they are not stopping people for noise because they feel like it. They are doing what they wher told to do. You don't like the laws write you congresman, but don't hassle the people who are out there to protect you. Just my $.02.

I think the whole point here is "ATTITUDES" . If I get stopped by
an officer with an attitude, then that is exactly what I am going to try to diffuse. C'Mon people--if you're doing something wrong and get caught, be adult about it and face the fire. But don't do it with an "ATTITUDE" and it won't be so bad.


Remember--- Life is all about your attitude. If yours stinks then so will your life and vice/versa.

ROCK ON !!!!


Dave

We were stopped in OC maryland a few years back in my brother in laws 25 Outlaw. We had just left a bar, lunch stop, and we pulled into the channel. Right away they pulled along side of us and asked us if we had been drinking. The driver had not been drinking, the other 2 had a couple of Mike's hard Lemonades. They appreciated our honesty. We started to stop and they told us to just keep it at approx. 6mph and they proceeded to give us the safety check while under way. No hassle, nice guys! I have my AT Coast Gaurd cked and get alot of $hit from other go -fasters about the sticker, but it helps when you do screw around or go a little to fast in a no wake. Give 'em a break they are part of our armed forces keepin' us safe!!!:)

I can see the frustration over the ones with the attitudes. I guess I should consider myself fortunate that the times they fave stopped me they have never boarded nor acted in a harrassing way.

I could not agree with you guys more. I am alwasy courteous with the officers, always wave and b.s. with them if I see them standing on the dock.....yada yada

But, I think the issue here is that JV seems to have a guy who is leaning in him...I mean, come on....the officer says he has no means of testing, but it he boat is too loud and he will be watched and better have mufflers next time. What is that? I think most coasties would even frown at that. You can't pass judgement as an officer without proof. Period. That is why they use radar guns and not "guess" how fast you were driving. This sounds wrong too me. I would write his boss and proffessionlly explain your position.

I appreciate greatly the coasties, and they are great here in Cincy, never harrass us, always very cool and professional. If you need someone to save you, they will be there without hestitaion. That's pretty dang cool. They have a hard job, but from the way JV is describing this, it sounds like this guy stepped over the line quite a bit. That's were the gripe in this thread is. Maybe he is that "bad apple"

My .02 or 3 or 4.....:D ;)

ODNR... F*CK YOU... they suck told me i was close to being to loud.... well was i close or was i over?... oh i passed they just like to mess w/ you

the saftey sticker helps in a big way

The mufflers are on and I'll see what happens when I run in to them this weekend. Maybe he was having a bad day but I doubt it.Bad day or not he's still a professional, and in my opinion just a wannabe Coastie. I gave him all the respect he was due but he could have done the same to my wife and I. Have a safe 4th, God Bless our troops. It's because of them that I can pitch my b---h.

Guys, I have the Mother-of-all stories about the ODNR.

Two years ago I left kelly's en route home. I had my wife 3 children (1,2, and 6 at the time) and my dad with 2 crushed vertebrae and 2 bad knees. I was running home as slowly as possible (about 40). A sail boat was aiming for the channel for dead on. A fishing boat was in front of me and passes the sail boat. I went to the left of both boats came in the channel and was immediately off plane.

Next thing this fishing boat passes me on plane in a no wake zone and tries to edge me out the channel. I had to take the boat in reverse in order to avoid hitting him. He also had kids on board so I just yelled "you're being unsafe" THEN the big words were used.

He actually takes his boat out of gear just to yell at me. He just about ran a ground doing so. The big words flying the entire time.

Now it twighlight, I let him go way ahead of me because I do not want a loose cannon knowing where I dock.

I see the familiar mast of the ODNR While still in front of me I wave him down. He said where to pull over and we would sort this out.

I'll cut this story here. He gave ME a reckless ops stating I admitted to being on plane within 300 ft outside the channel. He said I failed a sobriety test (I had 3 beers about 2 hours before). I said if you think I'm drunk them get your meter.

They did not try to question any other boats in the ares not anyone on by boat.

They saw nothing and gave me a reckless ops.

I've always been in respect of law enforcement up until that day.

I plead to a minor misdemeanor. They had not case but got me on the technicality. 90% of boats entering west harbor are on plane within 300 feet of the mouth.

Ruined an entire season for me even with my new engines. Boat sat for the rest of the summer and has been for sale ever since.

Thanks ODNR for being so fair. Ohio Division of Natural Resources are not cops but want to be.

Do you guys think they do not have computers? I did too until last weekend...

Hyper,

I have no problem stating the facts. If they read this they will know who it is and I'm right. As a matter of fact I hope they read this thread and improve their procedures and FAIRNESS.

I use a DD if I drink or I do not drink. I one of the most safest and courtious drivers out there and know the rules of boating.

I do not mind getting pulled over for a safety check as I know this is part of the job and a good idea.

If they want to enfore the law it must be done for everyone. If they want to apply reckless ops for being on plane within 300 ft of the channel then sit on the breakwall and ticket each person coming in. They'll run out of paper in 1 hour.

If they want to enforce the muffer laws then every fishing boat with through hulls must be muffled according to the law.

I got royally hosed in 2001. If they want to hassas me for speaking my mind then I will think that much less of them.

If the ODNR does read this then maybe you should think about being more fair. Why they let the charter captians get away with the BS they do in the channel I'll never know.

Note nobody complains about USCG who does the same thing but are FAIR about it.

If they are going to have noise level laws for us, it should apply to everything, motorcycles, lawnmowers, stereos, cars, trucks, planes, construction equipment, kids, wives, sporting events, you name it. How can they get away with picking on powerboaters only. Isnt that discrimination? Maybe we should get the ACLU in on this.

Hahaha!!!

I guess I'm still on my soap box on this one.

I have had contact with various boating law enforcement in MI, FL, and PA. I have had good experiences in each case. The sheriff in Algonac was so helpful that he lead us to the marina we wanted to go to. We were glad cause the currents made us crab at a 45 degree angle.

F31 I like the ACLU idea:D :D :D