Wake surfing legal or illegal?

[Domsz06]

So, bought a new surf board this weekend, and went out to try it out. A Police pulled me over and told me to get my rope to regulation length, or get my boat out of the water. Has anyone heard of this? I can't find the rules anywhere in the rule book from the lake, or from the state rules. I asked him where it said that and he just said get it longer or get out, he was very very rude!!

Thanks anyone.

Dom

Oh yeah, it's in Oklahoma.

[Gschmidt1]

uh oh. Not this thing again. Just got done battleing the same thing on my lake. Totally ridiculous. You need to call your patrol, have a talk with them. Set up a time to go ride, so he can see and witness the correct riding distance.

Makes me sick.

[Domsz06]

See I figured it was something like this. This lake I went to is a lake I normally do not go to, but since my lake is so low, we went to this controlled lake. The problem is it's not a Lake patrolled lake, rather an OKC police controlled lake, needless to say, the guy was completly rude and not very nice or informative. Yes I realize he has a tough job, and yes I realize he deals with jerks all the time, but he didn't even pull up close, he just yelled at us, and left. It's a good thing I guess that we didn't have my speakers on at all, or else I never would have seen him. You know the other thing was that he wouldn't even let me pick up my downed skiier, he cut me off, that's not very safe now is it?

I'm in the process of calling lake patrol, and then going to call the city, and see what I can find out. I'm sure I'll get the run around. I think what it is about, after talking with other surfers, is he thinks my prop is right at the end of my platform, but has no clue where it really is.

Wish me luck.

Dom

[Tequilasun]

The problems people seem to be running into are:

1) Mis-informed authorites
2) Wakesurfing looks dangerous


I think we need education. Wakesurfing when done properly is not very dangerous. But is sure looks so to the "man" Most of who don't participate in water sports anyway.

[chpthril]

Sometimes I hate the h2'5'o (water cops) all i ever see them do is harass boaters trying to have a safe & fun day on the water. Thay never stop the over-loaded boat, jetski out after dark, the bassboat that wants to fallow in my wake 20 feet behind my boarder, or the guy that lets his kids tubing with the orange life-jackets on. JMO!

[Domsz06]

Oh they do stop the overloaded boat. I had 17 people in my boat, and I mis counted life jackets. I was one short. Now I have 19 jackets so I'm good to go

[chpthril]

Not on my lake, they camp out under the bridge and stop boaters for a 'safety check' When they can't find any violations, they write you a warning for too fast in a no wake zone.

[yllw20]

I wish they would give no wake zone tickets, there are sooo many idiots on the lake here they dont seem to get what no wake means.
I think we all have the prob w/someone driving too close to your rider.

I think surfing should only be legal for vdrives and inboards only.

BTW DOM how did you get 17 people in a 21foot boat?

[raythompson]

Originally posted by yllw20
how did you get 17 people in a 21foot boat?

Silly you. Why one at a time of course.

[rushin]

My guess is because they are police, maybe off the street or from behind a desk and not as familiar with boating as say the normal water cops. And by the way what is "regulation length" They need some training from the regular water cops.

[NICKYPOO]

That's just stupid. He obviously has no idea what he's talking about. So is barefooting off of a boom illegal also?

[MOTLEY CREW]

NEXT TIME THROW HIM A DEL RANCHO AND HE WILL BE YOUR BEST FRIEND!

[kirk]

Unfortunately, although there is not a law specifically banning wake surfing, some law enforcement have ticketed people with other infractions, such as "operating a vessel in an unsafe manner". This falls along the same line as getting ticketed for running the boat at speed with people hanging off the side. It's all in the interpetation of the officer on what they determine to be "safe". I think that if you were ticketed and challenged it in court, it wouldnt stand up... but most people just don't want the hassle. However, if this officer lost, he might be more reluctant to issue more tickets for this activity.

[dogbert]

We may want to get Surfdad to respond to this thread. He's probably got some useful pointers on dealing with authorities.

BTW, if you're gonna surf, get the FAE. I had a water patrol guy watch us for a bit while wakesurfing this past week and he ended up driving off giving us a wave and a thumbs up. If you look like you know what you're doing I think they'll tend to leave you alone.

[kirk]

FAE???

???