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Name:   Marine Police - Email Member
Subject:   Memorial Day report
Date:   5/25/2009 11:53:20 PM

Hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend. The weather wasn't great but hey, the lake's full.

It was brought to my attention that there was some interest on the forum in our enforcement activity on the lake. We've been providing this info to local papers for the past few years. I don't see any reason to not include it here as well.

There were a total of 17 citations and 46 warnings written over the holiday weekend. The citations were for the following:

5 expired registration
5 no boat operator license
1 boating under the influence
1 minor consuming alcohol
1 idle speed zone violation
1 improper navigation lights
1 child under 8 yrs. of age not wearing PFD
1 towing skier without observer or mirror
1 failure to yield (rules of the road violation)

Also, we performed 3 boater assists (tow in). There were no accidents reported.

As a reminder, to report boating violations call your local sheriff's office OR the closest State Trooper Post. The Alex City post is (256)234-7311 and the Montgomery Post is (334) 242-4128.

Thanks.
Gary






URL: Alabama boating info

Name:   bulldogus - Email Member
Subject:   Memorial Day report
Date:   5/26/2009 12:02:44 AM

Thank you for all that you and your colleagues do to keep Lake Martin safe!



Name:   muddauber - Email Member
Subject:   Memorial Day report
Date:   5/26/2009 6:56:13 AM

Glad there were no accidents, and from the looks of this report not too much enforcement necessary. Hope we can keep that up all summer.



Name:   Smitty - Email Member
Subject:   Memorial Day report
Date:   5/26/2009 7:12:29 AM

Thanks for the Report.



Name:   Rooster - Email Member
Subject:   Memorial Day report
Date:   5/26/2009 9:27:51 AM

Appreciate the update and the job all you do! Makes it safe and enjoyable for all.



Name:   Maverick - Email Member
Subject:   Marine Patrol Question
Date:   5/26/2009 11:37:15 AM

Gary:

Thanks for the report, very informative and also you guys do a great job and provide a great service to all boaters in and around Lake Martin and Alabama.

My question is I have seen where others have posted they have the Marine Patrol check their boats and equipment for compliance at the beginning of each year. So my question is how do you go about doing such as I am 99+% sure I am in compliance, but never hurts to have somebody else recheck me. Sort of rather be safe than sorry. So Gary, how do you go about having the Marine Patrol do such, just wave you down while on the lake or is there a number to call for such a service.

Thank you in advance for your reply as I think such is a great service to all the folks just wanting to ensure they are in compliance and did not miss something by accident.

Also Gary, I have one other question, more so out of curiosity than not. Just recently purchased what the manufacture says is a 22.75 foot pontoon boat, but if you measure the middle pontoon it is actually 24" and the side pontoons are around 23' so with the middle pontoon being 24' is wearing the kill switch required. I actually always wear them, but just curious more so than anything in case one day I forget to put the kill switch on.



Name:   cstewa - Email Member
Subject:   Memorial Day report
Date:   5/26/2009 12:06:43 PM

Thanks for the report.



Name:   Pontoonfisher - Email Member
Subject:   Marine Patrol Question
Date:   5/26/2009 2:40:05 PM

It doesn't matter what the longest point of the boat is. Whatever length is printed on your registration is what the MPs will go buy. Your boat could be 26 feet long but if your registrations says 23.5 then you need to be wearing the kill switch. That way there is no gray area. Go by your registration.



Name:   Maverick - Email Member
Subject:   Marine Patrol Question
Date:   5/26/2009 3:35:20 PM

Oh but it does matter as the regulation specifically states --

"Length overall is measured from the tip of the bow in a straight line to the stern of the vessel. Bow sprits; rudders; outboard motors and motor brackets; handles; and other fittings, attachments, and extensions are not included in the measurement"

So if my middle toon is 24' does this make the boat a 24' boat for kill switch regulation purposes? As I stated I usually wear my kill switch lanyard even if the regs do not require such, just curious, as based reading the above reg it appears my tritoon could qualify as a 24' boat based on a technicality.




Name:   Summer Lover - Email Member
Subject:   Marine Patrol Question
Date:   5/26/2009 5:13:41 PM

You have a point there... actually you have THREE points there. Lucky dog...



Name:   Marine Police - Email Member
Subject:   Mav
Date:   5/26/2009 6:41:30 PM

Those safety checks are done informally as people flag us down. Some people confuse that with safety checks that the coast guard auxillary does in other places. The auxillary issues decals along with the inspection...we don't do that. Also, those courtesy inspections don't insure against being stopped while on the water. That's more info than you asked for but those questions usually come up.

As far as the pontoon boat goes, we would go by what the registration certificate said. There's no practical way to measure a boat like that while on the water. Going by the certificate is easier and safer.

Gary

URL: Alabama boating info

Name:   Maverick - Email Member
Subject:   Thanks Gary
Date:   5/26/2009 10:36:10 PM

Much appreciated.

Figured the registration might take presidence, but figured what the heck I will ask anyway. As was more of a technicality type question than anything and was wondering how such a technicality would be handled as compared to the specific boating regulations.

Also next time I see Mark and Johnny up around the house I will flag them down as I really want my son to have to go through a safety check on his boat, more so than mine. Think that would be the best experience now that he has is own boat, but has been boating for more than 5 years in a 25hp bass boat that stayed within about 3 miles of the house.







Name:   Tallyman - Email Member
Subject:   Thanks Gary
Date:   5/28/2009 10:52:33 AM

Should this become an issue in court, be sure to have a witness that can testify to the length as set forth in the statute.







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