Lake Cops

(rickykamberra)

Has anyone had any problems with the sheriff patrols on the lake? I ride on Canyon Lake in Texas, and we were pulled over on Friday and Saturday for safety checks while boarding? Don't these guys have to have some sort of motive or something to just pull boats over all the time if they're not doing anything wrong but boarding. I don't see them pulling over family boats, etc..

(xbones) · (xbones) **Join Date: Mar 2007** 05-07-2007, 12:12 PM

I had my first summer "talking to" last weekend when we went out. It was myself and my buddy and 5 blondes :-)

...I think the guy just wanted to look as some chicks, but he was alright...checked some jackets, registration, and fire extinguisher and left us alone.

(bftskir) · (bftskir) **Join Date: Jan 2004** 05-07-2007, 12:15 PM

profiling

bocephus 05-07-2007, 12:18 PM

www.boatcop.com

(jpshaff01) · (jpshaff01) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 05-07-2007, 12:49 PM

I usually don't get profiled, the only times i have been pulled over was for having no spotter and we got a ticket for that once. The other time he pulled up and was laughing because we had been waiting for him to go on break all day and knew we were gonna ride without a spotter.

(wake1823) · (wake1823) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 05-07-2007, 1:05 PM

pulled over idling in a no wake zone for a saftey check....arrested and taken to jail for refusing to take sobriety tests. saftey checks are necessary evils. a couple of years and about $4k in lawyers fees, chrages were dropped.

(Message edited by wake1823 on May 07, 2007)

(dlwsrider) · (dlwsrider) **Join Date: Apr 2007** 05-07-2007, 1:10 PM

the ones on our lake arnt that smart.

they checked our jackets once and not a single one was USCGA approved and they still passed us

(rson) · (rson) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 05-07-2007, 1:31 PM

They are just doing their job.

Next week stop by their boat and say hi...offer a boat check and offer some water.

Next week they will remember you and leave you alone. We love our warden chick here in dallas. We always stop and shoot the bull, offer beverages and roll on. No drama.

(sloshake) · (sloshake) **Join Date: Mar 2003** 05-07-2007, 1:36 PM

If you take Rich's advice, just dont offer alcohol beverages or you wont roll on!

(pickle311) · (pickle311) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 05-07-2007, 1:36 PM

We got stopped once last year on Lake Austin because a chick was sitting up on the side of the boat. The cop did a quick safety check and gave us a warning. He was really cool about it. I can't knock someone for doing their job.

(psudy) · (psudy) **Join Date: Dec 2003** 05-07-2007, 1:36 PM

It differs state to state. I know in Missouri, they have to have probable cause to pull you over, but here they do not.

(mobv) · (mobv) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 05-07-2007, 1:58 PM

They can do a safety or license (fishing or operator if under 16) check in TN without any cause. I've never been stopped while pulling a wakeboarder but have been approached when sitting still or idiling. I have seen them stop boats or PWC's for cause when they are operating to close to other vessels or in unsafe manners.

(poser007) · (poser007) **Join Date: Nov 2004** 05-07-2007, 2:05 PM

I ahve had my share of run ins but if you are nice to them they are ussually nice back. Dont get an attitutde becasue then you are just asking for it. Believe me, I know what Im talking about

(dizzyg) · (dizzyg) **Join Date: May 2005** 05-07-2007, 2:12 PM

We aren't bothered much by them. Whenever they're within sight we are a little more careful how close we get to things but otherwise they're cool with us and leave us alone. They're more after the jet skis, they'll sit and watch and wait for them to do anything wrong.

Last spring, slightly before the memorial day weekend rush we were idling around with one guy sitting on the side and one standing on the platform "using the facilities" and a DNR boat came flying over. He pulled up and said, "You guys know better right?" we all hung our heads and said "Yes sir we do"...there was a long pause of us thinking it was the most expensive break on record when he said "Yup, won't get too many more quiet mornings out here, enjoy" and took off.

We have the occasional power tripping jerk who has to come yell at you for something that is legal or rides right up behind your rider to tell you something. But otherwise we leave them alone, they leave us alone

(jusstty) · (jusstty) **Join Date: Dec 2006** 05-07-2007, 2:34 PM

We ride on Lake Elsinore a lot and all they seem to bother us with is wakesurfing and going the wrong way. Normally if they approach us if were nice then there normally nice.

(rson) · (rson) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 05-07-2007, 2:54 PM

You can drink on the lakes here in Texas...just not 50 feet from shore.

(srh00z) · (srh00z) **Join Date: Jun 2003** 05-07-2007, 4:57 PM

We have had a few alcohol related boat accidents over the last few years, one or two were fatal, so I don't mind them pulling us over, it has only happened once in about 6 years. They were very nice to us and checked life jackets and fire extinguisher and registration.

(mcwakerider) · (mcwakerider) **Join Date: Dec 2006** 05-07-2007, 6:24 PM

I can see Rich up there saw the article in wakeboarding mag about how to not get a ticket. lol

Everyone should check it out. Might save you some tickets

(melanie) · (melanie) **Join Date: Apr 2001** 05-07-2007, 6:40 PM

It was an interesting evening out on the lake already when my friend decided to put a little icing on the cake and out run the law.

(wake1823) · (wake1823) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 05-08-2007, 8:21 AM

^^^speakign of, wanna hear some good stories, ask them about being out run by jetskis, from what I've been told happens more than you think.

elicitwake 05-08-2007, 9:26 AM

I haven't read all the post so sorry if i am repeating what someone else has said... Read this months "how to do everything" article in Wakeboard Mag. They talk about Cops and what to do to avoid being made an example of.

(gimp990) · (gimp990) **Join Date: Mar 2007** 05-08-2007, 11:18 AM

The only time they have pulled me over is when someone is sitting on the sundeck while the boat is moving. Normally they just ride up to us while we are taking a break and just sitting still in the water or they will check us before or after we launch or take up at the landing.

(jgrunow) · (jgrunow) **Join Date: May 2004** 05-08-2007, 6:39 PM

I'm proud to say I got a warning last weekend for having the music to loud. He told me he could write me a ticket. Yep I was pretty proud of it. It took me everything I had not to ask him to put the warning in writing....

(desertcajun) · (desertcajun) **Join Date: Feb 2007** 05-09-2007, 2:34 PM

I used to get pulled over a couple of times a week last month, but now they know the boat so they really don't bother me. Just make sure if you are driving the boat you don't drink, and have all your safety stuff and you will be fine. When you are on the street getting pulled over means a ticket most of the time. Getting pulled over on the water does not usually end up with a ticket...They just want to make sure you are being safe..

(priorlakemn) · (priorlakemn) **Join Date: Dec 2004** 05-10-2007, 6:03 AM

Cops are just trying to protect, serve and take in the sites......

Upload

(jhertz27) · (jhertz27) **Join Date: Jul 2005** 05-10-2007, 9:42 AM

Last summer there was a cop towing in a drunken fisherman on the river we ride in. Meanwhile, my buddy was done with his run, so I drove by his dock while he cut towards it and let go of the rope gliding onto his dock. Sure enough the cop cruised over with the fisherman in tow saying how dangerous that was. There were about eight of us on the boat and we had eight vests. However, 4 of them were NCA (stupid on our part). He said if he didn't have the boat in tow he would have given us a ticket, $200.00 for each NCA vest. I'm not sure if he would have ticketed us either way, but I'm glad we did not get an $800.00 ticket!!