i find it hard to belive
KJ bath,
As I'm sure you read in my post, I was stopped the following day and had all of my appropriate equiptment on board. The concern I have is that some obsure rule or a new ordinance, or whatever costs me a couple of hundred dollars that i would rather not spend for the MP college fund. I'm pretty good about trying to upkeep the boat, but it is by far not my largest priority in life. I am in the midst of rehabbing a house in Alton, so some things get missed.
I don't have anywhere near the faith that you do in our MP's intentions. They are having a slow year, so they are more likly to pull over boats. This is a quote of an MP officer to my fiend who got stopped sat on his way from rattlesnake to west alton marina because of speed in a pontoon boat whose max speed is 35 mph. Ironically he also had out of state registration. My concern is not that I'm doing anything wrong, but that I missed something by accident etc. and it costs me hard earned money.
Would you feel the same if a cop pulled you over randomly to check to see if your registration was up to date without just cause. I don't think you would, but I don't know you personally. I can only speak for myself and my response to that is, leve me alone unless I'm doing something illegal or dangerous or both.
As you recall the stop was justified (my nav lites were out), so I certaintly don't have a problem with it. I do have a problem with harrassing stops, to accomplish quotas or to justify the mp time spent on the water. I think the only justification needed is that all stay safe. I will rarely chastise the MP, because I do appreciate their efforts and think there job in most case is thankless.
Hope you all had a great weekend on the lake, I certaintly did and looking foreward to nice weather next weeknd. see you all out there,
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