| Name: |
Capt M Brooks
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| Subject: |
3 Lakes Law Information
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Date:
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6/12/2013 12:45:03 AM
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When someone asks us a question and does so in a civil manner, we will go above and beyond to answer that question. It's important to us that information flows quickly and correctly to the public. Sometimes there is an issue that arises where no matter what we do or say, half the people with a stake in that issue are going to be unhappy. This is the case with this particular law, except that at one time or another it seems that everyone involved has been unhappy.
We do our best to apply the law fairly and equally. No one has received undue consideration or special favor on this or any other matter that we deal with on Lake Martin or on any other lake in the District. From shut-off switch enforcement to registration requirements to BUI activities to the enforcement of the 3 Lakes Law, no one is above the law and to us it doesn't matter what a person does for a living, how big a house he has or how much money he makes. By writing this here I'm not defending our activities or our stance on this or any other subject, I am stating a FACT. We apply the law in good faith and we apply it equally to all involved.
One of the major issues we had in attempting to apply this law dealt with the measurement of a boat's length. From Day 1 everyone with an interest in the law was confused about how length was determined, what was and was not included in that measurement and how we were going to possibly attempt to measure all of the affected boats. There was a lot of misinformation spread around, at times it seemed deliberately. In order to clarify the measurement of a vessel for the purposes of enforcing this law, the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promulgated a regulation that spelled the measurement process out. We as officers are bound by that regulation and it's how we determine a boat's length when applying this law.
In a nutshell, we measure a boat in a straight line from the tip of the bow to the lowest point of the transom, excluding sheer, bowsprits, swim platforms, motor mounts and outdrives. We will drop a plumb bob from the bow and a plumb bob from the lowest point of the transom and measure the straight line distance between the two.
If there is a boat in question the owner can contact us at the District 3 office. We will come out and measure that boat according to the regulation. By this regulated method of measurement, some boats that are sold as X-feet in length will come in at a shorter length. If the boat is found to be less than the 30'6" maximum, then it is allowable. This has nothing to do with the Grandfathering process.
Needless to say, this process is a headache for the boat dealer, boat owner and Marine Police. A great number of people have chosen to trade down to a smaller boat rather than deal with the process. Over the years that I have been here the law has had consequences: there are not as many of the "go-fast" types of boats on Lake Martin, the really large "off-shore" boat types have gone and as the grandfathered cabin cruisers age there will be less and less of them.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if we do stop a boat that we determine is prohibited, by law we must issue a written warning on a first offense and in some situations the boat owner has 90-days to attempt to bring his boat into compliance with the law.
If you see a boat that you think is outside of the law, it doesn't mean we aren't doing what we can to enforce the law. Even as diligent as we are with BUI enforcement, there are still plenty of BUIs made on Lake Martin. There will never be 100% compliance with any law. If there was, there would be no need for any law enforcement anywhere.
I hope this answers some of your questions. If any of you have any follow-up questions you can feel free to E-mail me at:
matt.brooks@dcnr.alabama.gov
Or call me at:
(256) 329-2268
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| Name: |
GoneFishin
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| Subject: |
3 Lakes Law Information
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Date:
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6/12/2013 12:55:04 AM
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Over the past 4 years, Capt Brooks has posted 73 times. I can't imagine anyother lake that has a more responsive Marine Police. Thanks for taking the time to respond to the various questions that have been posted over the years.
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| Name: |
HP HQ
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| Subject: |
3 Lakes Law Information
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Date:
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6/12/2013 12:56:11 AM
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God bless you Matt for writing that at nearly midnight! You and your crew do an excellent job at all duties you do! I hate your wrapped up with this cf. If I could leave I would, but no one will buy me out!!
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| Name: |
NautiqueFrk
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| Subject: |
3 Lakes Law Information
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Date:
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6/12/2013 6:36:30 AM
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Just thought you would like some help from the neighbor hood watch. But I guess the boat in question has meet someone's criteria. I guess it is like no wake buoy's in areas where there are no boat ramps and gas pumps.
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| Name: |
head
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| Subject: |
3 Lakes Law Information
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Date:
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6/12/2013 8:14:27 AM
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Thanks for your service Capt Brooks. You have always been very helpful and are a pro at what you do! That being said I don't plan to bring my 30' boat back to the lake along with friends that have boats. I bet my last dollar that if and when the LAKE GODS want to change to law they will. Hate you have to try to follow these crazy laws that put in place to please the LAKE GODS
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| Name: |
CenturyCC
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| Subject: |
3 Lakes Law Information
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Date:
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6/12/2013 9:48:56 AM
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Any particular reason? Because 30' boats are allowed under the law.
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| Name: |
4thelake
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| Subject: |
3 Lakes Law Information
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Date:
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6/12/2013 10:08:36 AM
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Well done Matt. As an owner of a boat which is very recognizable, I want to thank you for posting this. 30' 6" is the limit! I'm sorta glad in a stupid way because it prevents my juvenile brain from the thought that bigger is always better. My boat complies, and I operate it is a very safe considerate manor. Wish all go fast owners did the lake community the same service. If folks would just realize that 30' is a very large boat, this debate might go away. Until then, thanks for your post and keep your sunscreen on.
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| Name: |
head
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| Subject: |
3 Lakes Law Information
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Date:
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6/12/2013 10:10:32 AM
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A boat of my size can not run any faster than 59mph on the 3 lakes but a boat 27' can run 200mph. A pwc by law can run faster than my boat This law was passed to the pleasure of the LAKE GODS
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| Name: |
Summer Lover
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/12/2013 10:38:16 AM
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"A boat of my size can not run any faster than 59 mph on the 3 lakes" is not correct. the Lake Gods have spoken - there is no speed limit on the three lakes, but if your boat "is capable" of going more than 60 mph, it is verboten, does not matter if all you do is idle... It would seem that legislation like this that is clearly bought and paid for would be thrown out. No speed limit on Lake Martin, but if yours is too big, it cannot be able to go over 60, does not matter what you do with the throttle. This law is nothing more than an Assault Boat Ban - does nothing about criminal or dangerous behavior, and forces the MP to enforce what is essentially a homeowners association rule.
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| Name: |
NautiqueFrk
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/12/2013 1:33:48 PM
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| Name: |
bamaboater
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/12/2013 2:55:58 PM
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Let me give everyone their "simple" answer since this is a popular subject. The boat in question is the new Sea Ray 370 Venture (Not Sundancer). If you are familiar with this boat you would know that this is a dual outboard propelled cruiser. Capt. Brooks' response is right on the mark and verbatim with the law. Due to the Venture's design, and by Capt. Brooks' definition this boat is 30' once you subtract the swim platform and outboard engine lengths. This was verified by the dealer and state conservation office prior to delivery and launch
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| Name: |
Osms
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| Subject: |
Cool idea.
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Date:
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6/12/2013 3:44:23 PM
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Leave it to Sea Ray to come up with a new idea. I've owned a hand full of Sea Rays, but never a big dual outboard with motors hidden under cover. Notice it have 220 gallon fuel tanks, bet it needs that much. Spec sheet link is below.
URL: Sea Ray 370 Venture outboard power.
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| Name: |
NautiqueFrk
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/12/2013 3:53:15 PM
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I know all about the boat as well. And by the way the question, was not addressed to you, it was to Captain Brooks.
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| Name: |
CenturyCC
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/12/2013 3:55:27 PM
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You didn't ask a question in this thread.
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| Name: |
Lifer
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/12/2013 4:22:25 PM
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If you "know all about the boat" then why ask Cpt. Brooks why it is allowed on the lake? If you knew all about the boat you would know how it qualifies and wouldn't need Cpt Brooks to explain it to you. He posted a very concise summary of the law and how it is interpreted in the thread below. It is obvious you are looking for a p!ssing contest and not genuine information. In all the years he has been kind enough to post here with information I have never seen him behave any way but with the utmost of professionalism. If you are unhappy and/or dissatisfied with the law you need to take it up with the authors of the law, not the enforcers.
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| Name: |
head
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/12/2013 4:46:31 PM
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We need a state law to limit the speed on al waters to 35 mph on all watercraft that would be much safer
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| Name: |
Summer Lover
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/12/2013 4:58:20 PM
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Lake Tuscaloosa has a daytime speed limit of 50 and a nighttime limit of 35, do you think we could follow that model and still increase safety?
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| Name: |
Summer Lover
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/12/2013 5:07:15 PM
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Interesting idea, looks about like they are using outboards kind of like a limited pod - mounted inset from the rear of the boat. Also looks like the wetted rear of the boat extends well past the outboard mounts, so the call was apparently that the "transom" is where the outboards are mounted, and not the rearmost wetted surface. Makes you wonder what kind of boat you could come up with that would meet this interpretation of the law...
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| Name: |
Osms
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/12/2013 5:31:39 PM
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Look at the photo of the outboard on the last page of the brochure I linked above and you'll see water to the rear of the outboards which means that everything aft of the motors is above waterline. Seems like you can fully tilt the motors up with the hood down. The motors are not inset like the old pod drives, they're on a transom.
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| Name: |
mariah1
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| Subject: |
3 Lakes Law Information
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Date:
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6/12/2013 7:06:08 PM
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Thank you Captain Brooks for all that you do for us.
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| Name: |
CenturyCC
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| Subject: |
Lake Gods have spoken
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Date:
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6/13/2013 9:11:08 AM
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Hell, as of Memorial Day weekend, I can think of very few boats I saw up there that could comfortably even get to 35. If you ask me, the scourge of the lake is the big cabin cruisers that don't plane, but that's just me.
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| Name: |
CenturyCC
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| Subject: |
3 Lakes Law Information
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Date:
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6/13/2013 9:11:47 AM
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Yea, with all the bitching going on about things out of your control, Cpt. Brooks, I want to echo this sentiment.
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