Got lit up Sunday

[GETBOATS]

Against my better judgment my wife and I went for a boat ride Sunday around noon. Lots of traffic, really heavy up by the dam, had to be off plane and weave your way, must have been 80-100 floating like usual. ok enough of this, lets head south, cruising at 30, stopped to swim a couple of times. meet up with a buddy still headed south past Pirates still not more than 35 mph. Came across Sherriff with a boat stopped a little upriver from Emerald, blue light flashing, another Sherriff C/C hovering around, thought, dude must have been a problem for two LEO's to be there, Huh, kept going with everyone else, jets skis crossing , passing boats and getting passed, all good. Then, Wow that siren sounds close..........yep right on me, hadn't gone 1/8 mile past the stopped boat. shut it down, they idled up and informed me I made the pass to close on plane, off plane is ok, to the Sherriff boat with blue light flashing. not sure what the code says, but I was at least 100 ft to their port side if not more. They were very polite, asked for an I.D. didn't have it, should keep it with me. Didn't ask for reg., Didn't ask for safety gear, some was visible. All three of them spread out on their boat, so I'm sure they had a good look inside. BTW, I don't have even one beer before or during our adventures, save that for when the boat is back on the buoy. He did say that they were cracking down on close passes, mentioning wake board boats causing them some unneeded excitement and last thing they want to do is rub up against boats like mine. they did not tie up to me and stayed 3 ft back. So, lesson learned, give them space or take it off plane. anyway, watch out, especially on busy weekends, we were on our way in 5 minutes or so. Wave at these guys, good peple just doing their jobs.

 

[cofooter]

Is there a legal distance to pass by on plane or not allowed at all, and you have to idle, even if you are on the other side of the river? I get what they are trying to enforce, it gets rough as hell out there these days. Glad they were cool about it.

 

[sirbob]

There is another thread recently on this topic from another member - I think he may have been written up.

I seem to recall @BoatCop joining that thread to mention some of the legal / code issues around this topic...

Nice of them not to ticket you and just educate a bit

 

[HCP3]

There was a thread about it recently.

PSA Parker Strip Blue Light Violation $465 fine!

Code Violation HN 652. 5 /d/.... (d) A vessel approaching, overtaking, being approached, or being overtaken by a moving public safety vessel operating with a siren or an illuminated blue light, or a vessel approaching a stationary public safety vessel displaying an illuminated blue light, shall...

www.riverdavesplace.com

 

[LazyLavey]

Did I read somewhere 200' was the magic distance??

 

[Singleton]

100 yards is the magic number. That is impossible on the strip

 

[Todd Mohr]

I was at Canyon Lake on Sunday, lots of people getting pulled over, thanks to the earlier thread on this I went no wake when I passed by. Thanks RDP, I did not know that rule.

 

[LuauLounge]

We got stopped in the Sac Delta, the Sheriffs interpretation is if you can see their lights, you need to be at no wake.

 

[BoatCop]

I was at Canyon Lake on Sunday, lots of people getting pulled over, thanks to the earlier thread on this I went no wake when I passed by. Thanks RDP, I did not know that rule.

It's not a rule or law in Arizona. While giving them distance is common courtesy, it's not a violation.

As far as Parker and the Colorado River, they can "crack down" all they want. It's unenforceable unless the pass takes place, and the stopped Sheriff's boat is completely within California waters, and that fact is proven in court. They would have to prove the exact location of the violation and exact location of the California/Arizona border on the water.

 

[77charger]

It's not a rule or law in Arizona. While giving them distance is common courtesy, it's not a violation.

As far as Parker and the Colorado River, they can "crack down" all they want. It's unenforceable unless the pass takes place, and the stopped Sheriff's boat is completely within California waters, and that fact is proven in court. They would have to prove the exact location of the violation and exact location of the California/Arizona border on the water.

Thanks. Based on the last thread here I was at pleasant and slowed by sheriff boat as he had one pulled over.

 

[Todd Mohr]

It's not a rule or law in Arizona. While giving them distance is common courtesy, it's not a violation.

As far as Parker and the Colorado River, they can "crack down" all they want. It's unenforceable unless the pass takes place, and the stopped Sheriff's boat is completely within California waters, and that fact is proven in court. They would have to prove the exact location of the violation and exact location of the California/Arizona border on the water.

Thank you sir