Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

Got Stripers · 04-13-2008, 07:27 PM

I'm venting, because on a past cold Sunday afternoon, nobody fishing, not a boat in the water yet; I get singled out at the ramp by an EP officer who decides on a blustery 38 degrees day I need a safety check. So he writes me a $50 fine for no nav lights, which pisses me off because legally I NEVER have to display them unless at night or in low visibility due to heavy fog or rain. Well MR. EP MAN because of safety reasons (which is the intent of the regs to begin with), I NEVER fish in the winter at night or in crappy weather, so my battery operated nav lights live in storage. I could see the need if I even enter a navagable channel, but I'm inland and fishing in 3-5 feet of water for Gods sake.

With all the poching, idiot young kids who might need a safety lesson, drinking and driving so on and so on; just burns my butt that this guy can't give me a warning and say better have them next time. I've been operating boats safely since before he was born.

I'm tempted to appeal it on principle, but I'm sure legally I need them ready, but the reality is I'll never use them.

Venting over.

04-13-2008, 07:27 PM	#1
Got Stripers Ledge Runner Baits iTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: I live in a house, but my soul is at sea. Posts: 8,616	EP Officer with nothing better to do I'm venting, because on a past cold Sunday afternoon, nobody fishing, not a boat in the water yet; I get singled out at the ramp by an EP officer who decides on a blustery 38 degrees day I need a safety check. So he writes me a $50 fine for no nav lights, which pisses me off because legally I NEVER have to display them unless at night or in low visibility due to heavy fog or rain. Well MR. EP MAN because of safety reasons (which is the intent of the regs to begin with), I NEVER fish in the winter at night or in crappy weather, so my battery operated nav lights live in storage. I could see the need if I even enter a navagable channel, but I'm inland and fishing in 3-5 feet of water for Gods sake. With all the poching, idiot young kids who might need a safety lesson, drinking and driving so on and so on; just burns my butt that this guy can't give me a warning and say better have them next time. I've been operating boats safely since before he was born. I'm tempted to appeal it on principle, but I'm sure legally I need them ready, but the reality is I'll never use them. Venting over.