"Safety Checks"??

[CP3]

I was on the lake yesterday. We just got done pulling a wakeboarder and were picking her up when out of no where the DNR officers pulled us over for a "Safety check". First off let me say that we were not doing anything wrong what so ever.

I had no clue that the police could pull you over for no reason and just for a saftey check. To me that is an invasion of my rights

They were not very nice like most officers around. Asked us to all grab our life jackets that we were going to wear, so we all grab them and even pull out my throwable because I know that is coming next. All is good right??? Wrong. Apparently I am not allowed to keep the lifevests in my rear lockers or any locker for that matter. I told the officer I had never heard such a thing. He said that this is a federal lake and it is federal law that you have to have the life jackets out and ready to grab. its not like they were burried in the locker, they were in the top of the locker on top of my ballast sacs

I have never been pulled over for any reason what so ever while on my boat. I have my boaters safety lisence. I never read anywhere that I had to have my life jackets out cluttering up my boat. There were only 5 of us on the boat and it was really annoying having the life jackets laying around in the boat for the rest of the day.
Another birdy also told me that the core here is MS is trying to pass a law that says if you are on a boat you have to wear a life jacket no matter what.

Other than my little run in I had a great day on the lake. rant off. thanks for allowing me to vent. just think somethings are getting a little rediculous

Are cops really allowed to pull me over for no reason and check my boat?
Do I really have to keep my jackets out all the time or is there another solution?

[mhpf15]

what part of MS do you live in?

this is the law in Mississippi. i have not had any one here (north MS) say anything about being scolded for not having them out. just as long as there are enough for the amount of people in the boat. this is from www.mscode.com



SEC. 59-21-81. Requirements as to lights, personal flotation devices and other safety equipment; children required to wear personal flotation devices; vessels to be seaworthy; safety requirements for operation of personal watercraft.

(1) Every vessel shall have on board a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device for each person aboard such vessel, and every person twelve (12) years or younger on board a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel which measures less than twenty-six (26) feet in length shall wear a type I, II, or III Coast Guard approved personal flotation device while such motorboat, sailboat, or vessel is underway. For the purpose of this section "underway" shall mean at all times except when a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel is anchored, moored, or aground. Every vessel shall have lights during the hours of darkness, which comply with all federal regulations applicable to vessels of its classification. Such vessel shall not be operated unless in a safe and seaworthy condition; the owner and operator shall employ such safety devices as may be necessary for the safe operation of such vessel, including an efficient natural or mechanical ventilating system when necessary for safe operation. In addition to the requirements imposed by this section, all vessels shall comply with all federal regulations applicable to vessels of such classification.

(2) For purposes of this subsection, "personal watercraft" means a vessel which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing or kneeling on the vessel, rather than the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft unless each person on board or being towed behind is wearing a type I, type II or type III, personal flotation device approved by the United States Coast Guard.

SOURCES: Codes, 1942, § 8496-19; Laws, 1960, ch. 165, § 19; Laws, 1973, ch. 397, § 1; Laws, 1988, ch. 434; Laws, 2001, ch. 496, § 1, SB 2659, eff from and after passage (approved Mar. 24, 2001.)

[spharis]

It actually is the law, however it is very open to interpretation (define what makes a compartment "closed"; our particular state law which supersedes federal, says they must be readily accessible....define that). Usually they want kids to have them on for sure. We have an under 13 law here. Otherwise they figure you take the risk. Sounds like you had a pull over on a busy weekend or something.

Accessibility

* Wearable PFDs must be readily accessible.
* You must be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.).
* They should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them.
* The best PFD is the one you will wear.
* Though not required, a PFD should be worn at all times when the vessel is underway. A wearable PFD can save your life, but only if you wear it.
* Throwable devices must be immediately available for use.

I rolled by the a game warden crew yesterday with some Slipknot blasting and they waved and smiled as my passengers gave them a beer can nod.

[spharis]

Well I just checked and the state regs are like ours,
* In good and serviceable condition.
* Readily accessible, which means you are able to put the PFD on quickly in an emergency.
* Of the proper size for the intended wearer. Sizing for PFDs is based on body weight and chest size.


But you were on a federal lake, so you have to follow those rules which says something about closed compartments.

[Tanner]

That's how they get 98% of their BUI's. Random safety checks. Yes they are allowed to stop you and board you anytime they want for those "random safety checks" in almost all but like 10 states. Not sure which one your from since you go to Mead, but neither AZ or NV are one of those of states that don't allow it anyways.

Pretty Crappy, I know. When I go to Texoma here and cross into the TX side, the TX police loveeeee to stop the OK boats. And they are usually extremely rude about it as well.

As far as the lifevests in the hatches.... that's totally legal according to the HIPO here. BUT each state is different. Personally I say he was full of crap and wanting to bust your balls!

Here's a good breakdown of all the laws.

http://www.uscgboating.org/regulatio...ef_Guide_6.pdf

Look at pg. 55

[CP3]

looks like I found one good reason to live in cali they cant do anything without probable cause

Im actually in Mississippi right now on sardis like which I assume if federal since they said so

[da.bell]

Well, I got kicked off the lake yesterday because I had a dog.

Signs were posted but not going to turn around after a 1 hour drive just to take a dog back. We were done for the day anyways but I am sure I could have gotten a ticket. Won't be doing that again.

[CP3]

Well, I got kicked off the lake yesterday because I had a dog.

Signs were posted but not going to turn around after a 1 hour drive just to take a dog back. We were done for the day anyways but I am sure I could have gotten a ticket. Won't be doing that again.

they dont allow dogs on the lake

[mhpf15]

yes they can stop you to check your equipment. everytime i go out the game wardens are on the water where i go. they see me so much they just shoot the breeze with all of us. but you can be stopped just for being on the water in MS. they have a lot of enforcement powers here. most of them are cool though. but as always, there are some that make a bad name for them.

[Guest]

Well, I got kicked off the lake yesterday because I had a dog.

Signs were posted but not going to turn around after a 1 hour drive just to take a dog back. We were done for the day anyways but I am sure I could have gotten a ticket. Won't be doing that again.

What no dog allowed on boat or freaking state park? Did the dog have its flotation device?

[Greg Mallek]

Hey da, where were you? hopefully not Rollins (?)

[dogbert]

Yes, they can perform a safety check at any time. I make sure I have everything ready to show them and usually they are cool about it.

That said, they do come in kinda hot and I've had them almost swamp my boat more than once.

[scoot18]

I actually wanted to start a thread about almost this very thing. Asking how often all of you keep regular tabs on your gear and it's placement on the boat. I have been stopped many times for these routine safety checks and have always checked ok. I have been advised more than once that the throw cushion must be out and at the ready, and I usually keep it stowed in the front locker under my heater with the other goofy orange wally jackets (still wraped in plastic).

I checked my fire extenquisher the other day and found that it needs to be replaced. It is barely a year old and the needle is in the red below the ok mark. So I will be off to buy a new one of those. I think I may just keep two on the boat just in case, I am sure even though that one shows low it can still be used. In my safety checks so far they have always asked to see the extenquisher, if I got pulled now I am sure I would get a ticket.

[Guest]

I too used to get checked a lot especially after we were done skiing and made a run across the lake to do something else.

One year while at a Marina on Tablerock an auxilary coast guard member said he would like to do a free safety check on our boat. We allowed him to and got dinked on the registration number but that was no big deal.

He gave us a Marine safety sticker and had us display it in our port passenger window. Once that sticker was on the Window we never were pulled over again for a safety check!! The amazing thing was we got that sticker in 1997.

I am hoping the aux coast guard is on the lake when we head down with the new boat this year. If so I will have another courtesy check done.

[outkastz_kerry]

here in Louisiana the wild life and fishers can stop you when ever and board the boat ive been stopped 3 times already but the last time the officer stopped me was to give me his personal cell phone number and told me i can call him when ever i want if i need anything (got lucky) the officer was cool and we stopped and talked to him for a good while seemed to pay off but yeah its aggravating when your trying to wake-board and u get stopped but what part of ms u in we have/had a camp on the jordan river