Tickets??

[G-MONEY]

I was out this weekend at Cottonwood Cove NV and I saw a group of 11 collage kids get in a about 20-21 foot eliminator style boat get stopped by the ranger in the marina at the ramp. It appeared to me after they were franticly looking for lifejackets they only came up with about five. Also they were over the capacity of the boat with people and the boat still had 05 tags on it. That bought up the discussion of how much the ticket was for not having enough lifejackets for people in the boat, being over capacity and having old tags?

[wrangler]

While I never wish for something unfortunate to happen to someone else, it sounds like that was a good ticket to have handed out... If they were that sloppy with registration and life jackets, it's not hard to imagine that there could have been some hard drinking going on or any other unsafe practice that you can think of in a boat...

On one hand I hate to see it...but when you hear about little things like this, it almost makes you think that getting a license or at least a mandatory safety class wouldn't be the worst idea in the world...

Just a thought...

[wrangler]

Btw...Boatcop.com might be a good place to check out the price of an infraction at the river... Great source or info... wrangler...

[lee]

I know first hand in TN it is $125 for not having a fire extinguisher. I hope it would not be $125 per offense.

[G-MONEY]

Originally posted by wrangler
If they were that sloppy with registration and life jackets, it's not hard to imagine that there could have been some hard drinking going on or any other unsafe practice that you can think of in a boat...

Yes they made some mistakes and they were not thinking and there is no excuse for not having new registration but who hasn't had a few extra people in their boat or not enough lifejackets at one point. Most of us are way over the boat capacity all the time with amount ballast we put in our boats, it's hard to imagine us doing this sober!..... I hate when people judge others of that age of being sloppy drunks. I know for a fact they were not drinking or doing anything stooped/unsafe. Not every collage kid needs to drink at the river to have a good time. They got stopped because of registration and then the ranger hit them with every ticket he could passably hand out.

[talltigeguy]

I think the fine is double if you have an Eliminator (kind of like speeding in a construction zone). I think they call it an 'enhancement penalty'.

My only boating ticket came when 2 of my wakeboarding buddies could not make it, but didn't give me notice. That left only 2 of us. It was October 8th at 8:00 a.m. The water was glass and it was a beautiful fall day. There was no one on the lake but us. We couldn't resist so we boarded. The lake cop came and gave me a ticket for not having an observer (Utah law). $175.00
I called to ask how I might be able to plead that an observer wasn't necessary since there was no one to run over a fallen rider and I had a good mirror; (I know that sounds stupid) the secretary said 'I'll talk to the judge' and held the phone away from her ear for a full second and came back and said 'Send us $50 and we'll call it good'. I couldn't argue with that.

[wrangler]

Alright...there is the angry G-Money that I have missed... First off, I didn't say they were sloppy drunk...I said they got sloppy with registration and life jackets...and from what you have described, they did. I also stated that it's not hard to imagine that there could have been drinking going on as well... Let's see, overloaded eliminator, not enough life jackets, expired registration...oh and let's not forget that it's spring break time at the river... Let's be honest with each other, it's not that hard a leap to make and be clear, I'm not judging them...the officer did that and it sounds like he made some good decissions.

In your first statement you said that "they were not thinking." To me, this pretty much sums it up. I'm trying to teach my kids safe boating... Not overloading the boat, always having the proper flotation devices on board etc... We often have the opportunity to talk about another boater who has darn near killed us or run right up close to a downed boarder etc... You just see too much stupid behaviour to not be a little jaded about the way many boaters approach our mutual passion.

We got to see first hand the devastation to a family when people do stupid things like getting hammered and driving a boat drunk when several Santa Fe employees were injured and killed last year near Topock. Especially after that, I just don't have much patience for people that think it's ok to be out on the water and put others in danger...

Just some thoughts...

[G-MONEY]

Look they were not doing anything unsafe or putting anyone in any danger there was no drinking no loud music no wild behavior it was 9:00am cold and windy they went out to get their stuff of the beach and go home I know this because I did the same thing and they were next to us on the beach and so what if it was spring break. I agree with you I have no patience for drunken boaters that is why I never take my boat to havasu. If you want to keep your family safe why do you go to havasu where beer is the #1 ballast in most of the boats and don't say its not because I been there just not in my boat that is why "people" (not just college kids) go to havasu, to party. You said your self you have had many close calls, no patience for drunks, and the rv park won't let you stay any more so I have an idea try a new lake. Maybe this will give you a new perspective on spring break college and the river and it might keep drunken idiots away from you and your family.

Just lookin' out.....

[wrangler]

We are actually going to be trying a several new spots this year... We'll see how that goes.

We have been at Havasu for years because we have friends and family that retired or have places there and we really liked the Islander... You are so right...Havasu has many party spots...and as such, we stay away from those. It's a big lake, so there is usually room to get away from the proverbial Sand Bars of the world and into more quiet areas...

G-Money, the only thing I will call you on is that you keep defending that they didn't do anything unsafe... If they got a ticket for not having enough vests and overloading the boat, then by defintion that was an unsafe practice...not to mention against the law... Whether it is common practice or not doesn't make it right...yes/no??? You don't have to be engaged in wild behaviour to do something unsafe. You don't have to be drinking to be unsafe... Don't misconstrue what I said...

Be well and stay safe...

[gman]

wrangler, the discussion is about college students getting a fine the word sloppy was used regarding lifejackets and registration and then you went on to further suggest that
it was not hard to imagine that there could have been some hard drinking going on or other unsafe.... Then you go on to suggest that its spring break! How do you want one to interpret this?
It appears to me that you already had a pretty good imagination and were suggesting as to what was going on. Looks like no drinking or acting stupid. I agree going out without a registration is not good, but not really a safety issue. Not having lifejackets, if that was the case is a safety issue. What you appear to be suggesting in your statements about college kids is also wrong. Not all college kids drink to stupidity or because its spring break. Not all adults do that either, though plenty do and take the boat out as you have suggested. I'm happy to see that both of you agree on the drinking issue. This is where the problem starts and then you have serious wreks. I'm happy that I will not have to worry when either one of you is out on the water. Have fun boat and do not let your imagination pre judge college students. Many of them are examples to society.

[wrangler]

Easy boys...

Wow...were these kids from your or G-Money's family... I stand corrected. The kids in the eliminator boat that are reported to have received citations for multiple infractions including not having enough vests, expired registration and overloading the boat were reportedly not drinking. That's great.

That being said and whether you like it or not, it's not hard to imagine that other unsafe practices could have been going on. Doesn't matter if it is adults or kids... You are also right, many college kids are great examples of to society. Again, not the issue... This isn't a rage against college kids... As I said in my earlier post, if they got a ticket for not having enough vests and overloading the boat, then by defintion that was an unsafe practice...not to mention against the law... Kids or adults don't have to be engaged in wild behaviour to do something unsafe.

With all of that in mind, we need to be examples and practice safety when boating etc... Have fun and enjoy... Thanks...wrangler

[xpjim1]

Wow G-Money
You are harping on Wrangler for generalizing and you do even a bigger generalization. Beer is the # 1 ballast in most of the boats and that is why they go to Havasu to party. I am glad you have informed me of your opinion, which is no where close to being fact. How many boats did you search to make such a bold statement? Big stretch, I have been going to Havasu and other lakes for 40 years. There are drinkers and non drinkers on every lake I have been to. Mead, Mohave; powell, nacimiento, Orville etc I can guarantee you my boat and all my friends who we boat with have no alcohol on our boats. We believe water is the best ballast.

You need to remember times of higher instances are spring break weeks, Which last about 6 weeks in Havasu and Holiday Weekends.

Know your surroundings and tow and boat safe!!

Remember if you are an unsafe boater, please stay up by copper canyon, the channel or the sandbar.

[Wake Havasu]

Remember if you are an unsafe boater, please stay up by copper canyon, the channel or the sandbar. - XPJIM

No Kidding!

Its great that they park!

[gman]

Wrangler,
THEY WERE NOT MY KIDS. I DO NOT HAVE COLLEGE KIDS AND I WAS NOT THERE! o.k.?

[gman]

Now that we all took a long ride on a tangent, lets now get back to the original question I believe that G-MONEY asked. Does anyone have an idea of how much a ticket is for no registration, lack of lifevests etc. ???