Harassment - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Swimmer · 09-20-2005, 01:19 PM

Just in case some of you don't know some fishermen drink and drive, ya its the truth. Some fishermen even have a cold beer on public property, bad boys that we can be sometimes. Some fishermen even smoke dope in these parking lots as I have seen alluded to here in rap verse.

More to the point and I have some experience in this. Running plates especially with the new mobile data terminals is an extraordinarily non intrusive way of checking someone out. "Like one of the guys said I heard him run my plate on my scanner as he left," cops find more bad guys do vehicle stops than doing any other kind of enforcement. Stopping cars gets the b & e boys and girls off the streets. Besides fishermen who else is out at 3 a.m. with the price of gas as it is. Stopping in and asking someone what thier up to at 3 a.m. anywhere is a fair question. Think of the balls it takes to do that day in and day out. Thier is no such thing as a routine traffic stop or routine interaction of any kind with the public. Every time a cop stops someone could be his last. Nothing irks me more when the news broadcast at 6 P.M. starts out, "Breaking News, a routine traffic stop turn deadly today for the father of three and twenty year veteran of the blank police department." Tell what is routine about a traffic stop. Or what is routine about stopping and asking one of us and asking, what's up?"

I don't have any saltwater areas in my town but many times I have stopped and chatted guys fresh water fishing and I could see some disliked me talking to them and I left. If anyone takes offense at meaningless banter with an on-duty officer then the problem is closer to you than it is with the officer. Do you have any idea how much an officer likes to come upon someone who'll talk to them in a decent tone of voice and not one of suspicion or outright dislike any time of the day or night. I am not trying to disparage anyones opinon or hurt anyones feeling, but next time offer the guy a coke and say hello. If he gets to know you he'll be less suspect of you and your buddies. One more thing, does anyone here know just how afraid the officer is of you? Think about it.

The Dad Fisherman · 09-20-2005, 01:28 PM

Well Said....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swimmer

Just in case some of you don't know some fishermen drink and drive, ya its the truth. Some fishermen even have a cold beer on public property, bad boys that we can be sometimes. Some fishermen even smoke dope in these parking lots as I have seen alluded to here in rap verse.

More to the point and I have some experience in this. Running plates especially with the new mobile data terminals is an extraordinarily non intrusive way of checking someone out. "Like one of the guys said I heard him run my plate on my scanner as he left," cops find more bad guys do vehicle stops than doing any other kind of enforcement. Stopping cars gets the b & e boys and girls off the streets. Besides fishermen who else is out at 3 a.m. with the price of gas as it is. Stopping in and asking someone what thier up to at 3 a.m. anywhere is a fair question. Think of the balls it takes to do that day in and day out. Thier is no such thing as a routine traffic stop or routine interaction of any kind with the public. Every time a cop stops someone could be his last. Nothing irks me more when the news broadcast at 6 P.M. starts out, "Breaking News, a routine traffic stop turn deadly today for the father of three and twenty year veteran of the blank police department." Tell what is routine about a traffic stop. Or what is routine about stopping and asking one of us and asking, what's up?"

I don't have any saltwater areas in my town but many times I have stopped and chatted guys fresh water fishing and I could see some disliked me talking to them and I left. If anyone takes offense at meaningless banter with an on-duty officer then the problem is closer to you than it is with the officer. Do you have any idea how much an officer likes to come upon someone who'll talk to them in a decent tone of voice and not one of suspicion or outright dislike any time of the day or night. I am not trying to disparage anyones opinon or hurt anyones feeling, but next time offer the guy a coke and say hello. If he gets to know you he'll be less suspect of you and your buddies. One more thing, does anyone here know just how afraid the officer is of you? Think about it.

Slingah · 09-20-2005, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swimmer

Just in case some of you don't know some fishermen drink and drive, ya its the truth. Some fishermen even have a cold beer on public property, bad boys that we can be sometimes. Some fishermen even smoke dope in these parking lots as I have seen alluded to here in rap verse.

More to the point and I have some experience in this. Running plates especially with the new mobile data terminals is an extraordinarily non intrusive way of checking someone out. "Like one of the guys said I heard him run my plate on my scanner as he left," cops find more bad guys do vehicle stops than doing any other kind of enforcement. Stopping cars gets the b & e boys and girls off the streets. Besides fishermen who else is out at 3 a.m. with the price of gas as it is. Stopping in and asking someone what thier up to at 3 a.m. anywhere is a fair question. Think of the balls it takes to do that day in and day out. Thier is no such thing as a routine traffic stop or routine interaction of any kind with the public. Every time a cop stops someone could be his last. Nothing irks me more when the news broadcast at 6 P.M. starts out, "Breaking News, a routine traffic stop turn deadly today for the father of three and twenty year veteran of the blank police department." Tell what is routine about a traffic stop. Or what is routine about stopping and asking one of us and asking, what's up?"

I don't have any saltwater areas in my town but many times I have stopped and chatted guys fresh water fishing and I could see some disliked me talking to them and I left. If anyone takes offense at meaningless banter with an on-duty officer then the problem is closer to you than it is with the officer. Do you have any idea how much an officer likes to come upon someone who'll talk to them in a decent tone of voice and not one of suspicion or outright dislike any time of the day or night. I am not trying to disparage anyones opinon or hurt anyones feeling, but next time offer the guy a coke and say hello. If he gets to know you he'll be less suspect of you and your buddies. One more thing, does anyone here know just how afraid the officer is of you? Think about it.

ya, well said swimmer......

outfished · 09-20-2005, 01:37 PM

Do you have any idea how much an officer likes to come upon someone who'll talk to them in a decent tone of voice and not one of suspicion or outright dislike any time of the day or night.

Do you have any idea how much a regular guy who calls an officer "sir" would like to be spoken back too in a decent tone of voice? Goes both ways.

Swimmer · 09-20-2005, 04:58 PM

That was my point and you made it for me again, thank-you. Goes both ways, yes "sir"ee.

Diamond Tackle · 09-20-2005, 09:24 PM

A good cop, or should I say experienced cop can assess a situation in seconds, 30 seconds tops. He can also tell who needs to be questioned further, and who is obviously just relaxing and fishing. This is just such an easy one its rediculous to entertain other possibilities . Anyone of us then are suspect in any given situation and life as we know it will cease to exist.
This is just nuts, were not talking about the airport here, or a highway stop in a known drug trafficing area. Or a vehicle desciption tip on an Amber alert or something. Thats completely different.
Run the plates ,fine. but dont ENFORCE something that does not EXIST, that is called hassling a guy that works a regular job and is sacrificing sleep to enjoy the one true thing that gives him pleasure. A cop like that is wasting your tax $ and alienating the public he comes into contact with.
Please re read the begin of the thread. I dont think anyone here dislikes cops. I personally rather enjoy talking with them, hope others feel the same way. But this is just a very specific problem with inexperienced Rookies misinterpreting the law either out of ingnorance or just for their convenience, or just busting balls . Thats the way I understood the problem, and no I would not tolerate it.

kippy · 09-21-2005, 06:05 AM

And you wonder why cops get a bad rap..

Raven · 09-21-2005, 07:19 AM

the Sign is the real.... problem.... IMHO....because it is misleading or double speaking...

Anyone: can order a metal sign that says absolutely anything....

they can be fully custom or standard: it could read designated surf fishing area 24/7 365 days a year - anything you want it to say -> and they can be posted at the parking lot edge -> and NOT just on a stupid gate...

of course having the town's permission to post the sign is necessary too.

that is the Avenue of research to take with town officials for those that want change and or are seeking to protect the surf fishing at night...
fisherman's right to be there.

Bass Babe · 09-21-2005, 08:24 AM

One could say I've been hassled by cops before, although not while fishing. I was followed down a back road and cornered by a police car. But -- the officer asked, "Is everything okay? The Jehovah's Witness Hall isn't open this time of night, and I noticed you have a man in your passenger seat." Now, how nice is that? I was lost, took a random turn, and here was this guy, making sure I wasn't getting carjacked and raped or something. Even if some police officers or state troopers have crap attitudes, it makes me feel secure to know that when the chips are down, they'll save my butt, no matter if they're jerks or not. And plus, everybody has bad days, and I'm sure cops do, too. Who knows, maybe you're the first person he's spoken with since he got spit on, since he discovered a dead body, or since someone insulted his mother.