speed limit on lake mi. ?????????
 

We were pulled over by the sheriff on sat. in south haven. It was all ok he just wanted to inform us that there is a speed limit of 55 within 1 mile of shore. Is this something new or did i miss something ????? Damb good thing when he asked us how fast we were goin i said 55 . just lettin everyone know !!!!!!!!!!!

It has been that way for as long as I can remember.

Yea, this is an old law that gets enforced sometimes and other times not. I have never been asked how fast I was going but have been reminded of the limit.

Fines equal revenue. anyone in an expensive loud spectral vomit colored resin bucket is an easy target. Watchyour backs this summer people.

I would like to see where it is posted or written on the Wisconsin side. USCG tells me nothing like that exists. Only laws I know of are posted speed zones and operating your boat at safe speeds around other boats. We were running 140 mph last week a 1/2 mile off shore.

I don't know if it is a MI only law that doesn't apply to Wis., but I have heard the same thing. After a mile off shore you can run as fast as you want, but 55mph is supposed to be the generally unenforced limit within a mile out.

I really don't know how they can possibly enforce it though, unless someone is doing 80+. I don't believe the boats are outfitted with radar guns, and its rare that a coast guard or sheriff boat is within a 1/2 mile of me.

For as long as I remember, the speed limit has been 55 mph on all Michigan inland lakes and up to 1 mile offshore on great lakes. I haven't seen the law in writing, but was informed as such in the Michigan Power Squadron's boating course in '89 & '09. I think the 1 mile offshore law has to do with at that point you are in Federal waters in which there isn't any speed limit. :cool-smiley-027:

I don't know what part of the law it is in, but I know I have read this. I don't run over 55 alot anyway, and I am more than a mile out most of the time as well.

Thing is there are probably more lake lice that are breaking that law everyday, compared to performance boats.

The Speed limit on the Detroit & St Clair river is 55mph. The DNR can be the biggest pain, they dont need probable cause to stop you. With all the resources now [Customs, Home Land, & all the latest high tec stuff] on the rivers & Lake St Clair if your out of line they will find you. If you stay at least 1 mile from shore on Lake St Clair, and use your head you should be ok. Speed limits are state law, but since 911, I have seen Gov agencies over ride & take over.:eek:

H20, it only makes sense that the speed limit on the rivers are 55mph, they're not 2 miles wide at any point (meaning you can't be more than a mile off shore at any given time).

If I boated in the rivers I may care more about it, but I generally stay in the lake. Occasionally I run in the N. and S. Channels, but I'm generally pretty cautious around those parts.

I've always heard that, just never knew it was actually enforced.

This is a Michigan law. I was pulled over several years ago by the Berrien County Sheriff who indicated that I was traveling in excess of 55 mph within 1 mile of the shore. He gave me a verbal warning and let me go. He picked me up as I was leaving the shoreline and heading up to St. Joe.

Coast Guard and Detroit Police boats are equipped with radar. I know this for a fact. Law applies to anywhere within Michigan's nautical waters unless you are 1 mile from shore. I've been stopped several times. Usually it's they're way to do safety check and see if I'm drinking.

Its the same "up here" in Ontario too, it was "stressed" to me by both the instructor for my operators card and my power squadron instructor. I usually just cruise near the shore at part throttle anyway, besides, my old resin bucket will only run low to mid 60's anyway, so, unless I am running "balls out" I have no worries, one of the FEW benefits of having a slow boat, LOL

I Do wish sometimes they would enforce this law a little more often on our "friends" in bass boats who seem to think running 80MPH 50 feet from shore [past docks, swimmers, cottages, etc] is a 'GOOD" idea

No Offense intended to anyone who reads this and owns a bass boat

Michael

My friend was just recently pulled over by coast guard. Long story short, the point of my story is..... He was told the Coast Guard can/will only enfource Federal Law. This came about becasue my friend was asking one of the CG agents why they didn't stop anyone for violating the no wake zones by Grosse Ile? Thats when the agent told him CG can only enfource federal laws and not local...... So this bring to question is the inland speed limit a state or federal law?

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7...8823--,00.html

It's a State law.

Makes sense that Wis. boaters know nothing of it then...

Michigan in general is really cracking down on everything, because of the ecnonmy, michigan is really cracking down on the recreation sports because its a extreme sport and flashy fast looking boats are easy looking money targets!