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Random Quote: Everything on your boat is broken...you just don't know it yet.
It is becoming increasingly more difficult to spend even a half day on Lake Erie without being boarded by someone for a supposed safety inspection. Be it the Coast Guard, local sheriff or police depts, the Coast Guard aux, the DNR, or the new kids in town--the border patrol which is in process trying to set up a location in either Sandusky or Port Clinton. Most generally, of course, safety isn't the real issue causing boats to be checked by these agencies.
I have spoken with local boaters who have been boarded more than once and as many as three times in one day!
I thoroughly agree that we need to keep our borders secure; but at what point does all this checking by law enforcement become harassment?
Anyone else having the same problem?? If so where and when, and by whom?
The entire lake you are going to see increased enforcemnet. Spoke with a few of the PA guys last night who were talking about alot more vessel checks and even trailer checks for those with breaks. I guess they get some sort of jurisdiction when you bring a ratty uninspected trailer onto Fish and Boat Commission grounds.
I dont think its necessarily a bad thing...lots of guys go out there with boats not up to par...It just kinda makes the guys who work on their stuff and make sure they got what they need..
Yeah I think it is becoming a hassle, especially since all the agencies don't even recognize each others stickers that show you have already been inspected.
It is becoming increasingly more difficult to spend even a half day on Lake Erie without being boarded by someone for a supposed safety inspection. Be it the Coast Guard, local sheriff or police depts, the Coast Guard aux, the DNR, or the new kids in town--the border patrol which is in process trying to set up a location in either Sandusky or Port Clinton. Most generally, of course, safety isn't the real issue causing boats to be checked by these agencies.
I have spoken with local boaters who have been boarded more than once and as many as three times in one day!
I thoroughly agree that we need to keep our borders secure; but at what point does all this checking by law enforcement become harassment?
Anyone else having the same problem?? If so where and when, and by whom?
i have been oarded by the DNR from maumee bay a perrysburg police boat and a caost guard cutter.... i have a collection of yellow safty slips and what not... i got good with them.. they pull up i already have the regstriation out.. my drivers licences. flairs fire exstinguisher. throwable engine hatch open so they can see the damn flaim arrestor.. and life jackets out . i asked the coat guard last when when they stoped me if i could just go get a sticker or something from them so they can see i have already passed the safty thing.. it gets irritateing pullling into down town toledo and haveing 3 cop boats and a cutter sitting in the middle waiting for people
Went to lunch by boat on fathers day in Toledo. On the way back to the lake in the no wake zone the local leo's were working. They stopped two boats in front of me and one right behind me. They just waved as they went by me. The only difference I can tell is my whole family had there inflatable pfd's on. hmmmmmmmmmmm
So are we being kept safer by all this checking, or is it a convenient excuse for law enforcement to check for a dui conviction? At what point do we call it harassment?
I guess were a little safer but it is a convenient excuse to find a bigger problem like a DUI. I'm a Fire Fighter and have a lot of friends that are on the Police force. It's the same old thing, they pull someone over as a courtesy to let them know their license plate light is out and bam they find a bigger problem. One of the guys on are FD is also in the Coast Guard out of Lorain Ohio. He tells me the stories and the reasons they check boats for "safety" purposes. It's rarely anything the boater does and a lot of it depends on the crew working. A lot of them have power issues and they like to mess with others. But you are right at some point it becomes harassment and a inconvenience. My buddy did tell me that having a pre-safety inspection does help. A lot of times they have a "quota" on weekends and holidays to stop so many boats and do safety inspections and if you have a current safety sticker there is a good chance they will just wave you on. But he also told me that if you have a boat full of chicks with bikini's, they may just double check your inspection. I've really never been bothered much when I was in Lorain being that I boated a lot during the week. But I would say that being boarded more than once a day is just ridiculous and unnecessary. -Koz
I agree Koz with what you wrote. I, too, boat almost exclusively on week days and rarely see any active law enforcement going on at all. Weekends and after dark seem to be the times to avoid which I guess only makes good sense. I think this too will pass as we finish our involvement in the middle east issues, (assuming we ever are able), and if terrorism as we know it today ever ends.
i asked the coast guard ( the last tiem they stoped me) if i could get a sticker .. he said i had to make an appointment with the aux. and that they didnt have any stickers on board..
Ohio law places restrictions on boat and PWC operation for those born on or after January 1, 1982 AND on youth operators. Boaters born on or after January 1, 1982, must complete either a boating course or a proficiency exam in order to operate a boat powered by more than 10 horsepower. -Koz
The license is based on a 100 question, multiple choice test which can be taken at www.boatus.com or several other places that are easy to find with an online search. My youngest and I did the test together, discussing the answers and why they were correct. It was a fairly good review for me as well. You can do portions of the test at a time and go back later and finish it. You can print your completion certificate afterwards if memory serves...
We had a DNR guy at the public ramp by Anchor Point on Saturday and he simply asked us what we caught. He never check our fish or asked to see our fishing licenses.
I've only had one time when I was asked to see my fishing license. Maybe the law polices some areas more than others? I boat from the islands and west and I rarely even see the CG or any other law enforcement agency.
While putting around west harbor I saw a new go fast CC with flashing blue lights and vertical stripes on the side stopping people. Then I saw a trailer with a tiny round sticker saying homeland security on it in the harbor.
It must be providing us with security to stop the little tenders cruising around the harbor to check them..............Paul
Russ: My bet is you boat mostly on weekdays? Weekends are definitely way worse; and from sunset on is ridiculous; and yes some areas are worse than others
And Paul, homeland is trying to get an office here in port clinton or sandusky--so it will only get worse
You would think that if they were interested in "Homeland Security" they would patrol around davis bessie more because there aint a whole lot terrorists can do in freakin west harbor. I mean the terrorists could get lunch and gas here in the harbor. If a terrorist wanted to do any damage on a wide scale what the hell would west harbor have to do with it??
Let the damn coasties and the sheriff do the job. We don't need a 3rd agency cruising around buggin us.
Patrol davis bessie and leave us alone, hell were just fisherman!!!
It seems they think we have a crossing point from Canada for illegals and drugs. And maybe we do. But they should also be able to tell the difference with a pair of binoculars as to whom they need to stop and who not to stop. I do get a little suspicious acting after a few beers sometimes though........
Law enforcement on Lake Erie 
hmmmmmmmmmmm 
