Re: County is trying to force me to take a boating course...WTF?
 

Besides, there are so many signs with different rules, that ALL look alike, and are so faded, you cant read them 'til your 10 feet from them, Are we supposed to slow down, pull over, and read them all????????????

Re: County is trying to force me to take a boating course...WTF?
 

Rick, you would have to slow down???????????????? Just how slow do you read?????????????? :D :drink:

Re: County is trying to force me to take a boating course...WTF?
 

I gusee I have to be on my best behavior for another year..
I got a speeding ticket last weekend...39 in a 25 on the ICW in Hallandale...
Yes, right in front of my place.. All of my neighbors were watching as we floated by with the Broward Sheriff tied to the side....

Same thing. He let me go for $50, and no points on the DL. (And he let me go on the no fire ext, no flares things too...)-(not my boat- I was bringing it north for a customer that traded it in)

Now- How am I supposed to make it through July 4th weekend without a ticket? Doesn't everyone get one that weekend???

Re: County is trying to force me to take a boating course...WTF?
 

The 50 feet thing is BS.

Telling you that the fine is the only repercussion is serious BS.

The no wake sign means no wake beyond this point. Not "start thinking about not making a wake when you reach this sign."
You need to go no more than 5 or 6 mph in a no wake zone. The no wake zone starts at the sign. Do whatever you need to do to not be going faster than 5 or 6 mph when you pass the sign. You will get used to how long it takes to get off plane before you reach the sign.
You can argue about the validity of the placement of the sign if you want.... but a no wake is a NO wake.

I still think they lied to you about the repercussions.

Re: County is trying to force me to take a boating course...WTF?
 

I got 2 speeding tickets in a year a few years back.. I also got the same letter. I never took it... nothing happened.

Re: County is trying to force me to take a boating course...WTF?
 

Actually, I can pretty much stay WOT, and not break any laws.....LOL, Just Joking.

Actually I am usually following someone so I have plenty of time to see them pull back on the throttles, and use the no-wake to catch up...... a little.

Well, yeah, I read pretty slow, and I have figured out the places where I run the most, but they screwed me all up with that Nov. 15- April 15 Manatee zone crap last fall, the spots I was used to running all of a sudden were no-wake!!!!

Re: County is trying to force me to take a boating course...WTF?
 

I agree with you here. You should take the course when you're ready and not the county. I don't know what the specifics of your case is but sometimes the state will make you take a course that is approved by them. I was told by a friend that the states course was 95% alchohol & drugs and 5% boating. Total BS. :mad:

Roby

Re: County is trying to force me to take a boating course...WTF?
 

If you are in unfamiliar territory then YES ! and err on the side of caution until you are familiar with the area its rules, saftey hazzards etc.

Our sewall says stay out 30 feet, What BS huh, of course theres big friggen boulders ( like the size of a Pickup) just under water against it so if new to the area and you didn't know this you might have wanted to read the sign, your choice I guess.

Re: County is trying to force me to take a boating course...WTF?
 

I agree, and do personally err on the side of caution,

I just wish they had a more logical way of saying what they mean, kinda like red means no-wake, yellow means 25 MPH, and green means push the sticks into the dash, and try to break them off..........

NOT, every sign white with orange writing, so small, and faded, that we have to pull up to the sign to figure out if it is a true no-wake,

or a 25MPH unless its between Nov. 15 and April 15th. or

No-Wake, unless you are in a 21 foot or smaller boat engaged in watersports activities, or................

you get the idea

Why Not colored backgrounds with more info on them, and then if we decide we want detail we can stop, and read further.

Re: County is trying to force me to take a boating course...WTF?
 

Hi Greg,

Sorry to hear this bro. Fax me the notice, I'll look at the statutes and see if there is a way out.......... Just a little info here for all. In my experience, the water guys rarely show up to court. It is a hassle, but worth it to fight the ticket, especially if there is a valid two ticket rule. I've never heard of this rule, but again, I mainly do civil law, not criminal law. I'll see what I can find. But, Marine Patrol ticketed me during Memorial Day weekend for being on plane before the sign as I'm coming out of my neighborhood. Nice guy, told me they had complaints about boaters from owners in the neighborhood and they had to act upon them. But, winked at me and told me they never show up to court. I fought it, at trial, they didn't show, in fact the State Attorney stated they called and said they were going to a seminar and couldn't be present. Just a thought.