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

I got 2 tickets in successive weekends when I first got the 'GUN. I got one for going less than 50ft. from a seawall, the second because I didn't come off plane BEFORE the sign.

Cops were okay, said no license pts., no record, just $50 bucks before 30 days.

I mail both tickets off separately with the $. Now 32 days after he second ticket I get a letter from the county stating that by pleading guilty(paying) the second offense I have to take(at my expense)a safe boating course. The reasoning is that I received two convictions in a 12 month period.

If I had been aware I would have fought 1 or both tickets. I think it's BS that they can wait 'til you pay to tell you.

Any ideas would be great.

Oh, d-hlaw, phknlwyr, thedonz, a little help?

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

Actually.......taking a course wouldn't be a bad idea if you got two tickets like those within a week of each other. It could only help you to not get more tickets and run safer. Just a thought....and not meant in a bad way.

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

WHAT THE F$%^

Never heard of that, although I have my safe boating cert. from CT, its the law to operate up there.

Will they let you do it online??

Here is a link to the FL safe boatiing online course.

http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/

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

Phantom, I'm not against the course. I just don't care for the strong-arm tactics of the county.
I've talked to the first officer many time(he loves the 'gun) and I think I've gotten used to the water here again.
I don't think I have a problem with my operation. I just was used to running on a big lake with no real hassles for navigation.

I had thought about a course to reduce my Ins. anyway.

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

This is true, I was with Greg when he got the 2nd ticket. He isn't a safe boater :rolleyes:. Just kidding Greg...That's ridiculous!!! So anyone up for boating this weekend :D :D :D.

LS JR.

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

Our countries are forced into this program because of to many deaths from to many stupid people. Our insurance is the same.

For example, if two people die at a traffic intersection, that only had stop signs, then the next thing you know, there is a set of lights there.

Our governments have to show they are doing there job in trying to reduce incidents! What better way to increase safe boating than with a separate license program, thats next!!

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

here is a little florida law for ya


2)(a) Application for marking inland lakes and state waters and any navigable waters under concurrent jurisdiction of the Coast Guard and the division shall be made to the division, accompanied by a map locating the approximate placement of markers, a list of the markers to be placed, a statement of the specification of the markers, a statement of the purpose of marking, and the names of persons responsible for the placement and upkeep of such markers. The division will assist the applicant to secure the proper permission from the Coast Guard where required, make such investigations as needed, and issue a permit. The division shall furnish the applicant with the information concerning the system adopted and the rules existing for placing and maintaining the markers. The division shall keep records of all approvals given and counsel with individuals, counties, municipalities, motorboat clubs, or other groups desiring to mark waterways for safety and navigation purposes in Florida.

(b) No person or municipality, county, or other governmental entity shall place any safety or navigation markers in, on, or over the waters or shores of the state without a permit from the division.

one thing you may want to do is request a copy of all permits filed for the markers to see if they are all correct and up to date, if not it may be grounds for dissmissal.

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

It may cut your insurance rate when you finish the course too. It did mine.

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

Greg,
When you got the first, 50' from shore, you should of had them mearsure it with a tape measure to "prove" it. Distances are SO misleading while on the water. Unless you were really close to the seawall. As far as the second, you are SUPPOSE to slow down BEFORE the sign. can't tell you how many times the SeaRay has been rocked at Delray Harbor with people running at "minium wake". Sorry buddy, I'll give you the first, but the second, I agree with. Call me sometime.

Robert

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

I still say both offences are CHICKIN CHIT....It appears the law in your area is gunning for you.....The dont worry about it approach cause it wont give you the points, and yada yadda yadda is so you'll swallow it easier...What he doesn't tell you is that your insurance co could pull this information prior to a renewal. Most of the signs that warn you to come off plane are placed well away of the point were they want to make sure you are off plane and your wake wont be an issue,provided you shut down at the sign and not 100 yards inn. The seawall issue,well I wont even go there. Sounds like someone is using you to show(the brass) their getting some activity on the water.

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.

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

Hey Donz, I'll send it over.
The problem I have is I already PAID the ticket, there-by pleading guilty, so I don't think I can fight the ticket itself. I am mainly concerned with the fact they deliberately waited 'til the 30 day period to pay or fight was expired.

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

Dude, your screwed like a manatee caught at the beginning of a poker run!!

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

Rchevelle71. Your right about the placement of signs. Sometimes the signs are on land way out of your line of sight,faded too. How about a blinking light with the color of the info. Red (idle or stop) Yellow (slow) Green (resume safe speed). I even see the ones that tell you to slow down and or idle and then you never see another one telling you its ok to resume your speed.

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

With that I guess we can retire the phrase between a rock and a hard place :D:D

Woby

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

Ummmm.....aren't red and green lights used for navigation? I seem to have heard red right returning somewhere before... :D

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

check and see if you can take the test online, that is what I did in Texas, they even had 7 or 8 chapters of study material in color showing markers, flags, running at night who has right of way ect. then when you are ready take the test online, I think mine was 20bucks, I had to take it to join the TOPPS club for a poker run

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

Thanks H2, I'll check it out.

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

Boating anyone??? :D :D.

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

Yeah
I'm going to put this in the water for the new owner here in a couple hours...right there at 14th....
You guys wanna untie that boat and come out for a rip???

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

Greg,
Why don't you carry your trophy from Marathon with you? Tell them you just won a big professional Offshore race and you don't need no stink'in boat driving classes. I saw you in action you don't classes, glasses maybe. SQ

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

Thanks SQ, see you in Sarasota!

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

I didn't see this post untill now. I did see Tim leaving the ramp with the boat. Did they buy it??

LS JR.