Rabbit Sheriff

**SCSwitchback** · 04-29-2009, 12:33 PM

I went over to my sister's house yesterday evening to hang out a little. My 14 year old nephew has a 12 ft john boat that a neighbor gave him. He used to fish off the dock all the time. The neighbor, seeing this, got the old boat from behind his shed and just gave it to him. He has been going out after school and catching bream around the 4 or 5 docks that are on the same shoreline as my sisters. He tells me that he and a friend were out the afternoon before, and low a behold, old green jeans shows up, all bowed up like usual. He wrote my nephew two tickets.....one for not having his life jacket ON, and the other for the boat not being registered. Is it just me, or is this a bunch of BS? Why the hell do these "game wardens" not focus on catching people doing something a little more significat instead of making their boat payments off of 13 and 14 year old boys?

**jwilliams** · 04-29-2009, 12:40 PM

Lifejacket on? is that a new reg?

**SCSwitchback** · 04-29-2009, 12:43 PM

He was told something along the lines of, if you're under 16 and in a certain size boat, you must have a lifejacket on. Thats along the same lines as the seatbelt law, IMO.

**2thDoc** · 04-29-2009, 12:44 PM

maybe the game warden would've been better off educating the young men about the issues and writing them a warning?

I'm just sayin'.....

**dixiedeerslaya** · 04-29-2009, 12:44 PM

alot of kids their age are smokin pot for fun....atleast they are doing something productive in their free time.....

seems to me like a simple warning would have done the job.....

that game warden needs a swift kick in the nuts.... prick!

**Chuck the Duck Slayer** · 04-29-2009, 12:47 PM

S.C. Law prohibits the sale or purchase of watercraft without a valid title issued in the seller's name to assign over to the purchaser at the time of sale.
The following are required to have current title and registration:

All motorized boats and watercraft; except *exempted vessels;
All sailboats are required to be titled
All outboard motors five (5) horsepower and greater are required to be titled since July 1, 1974.

*Exempted Vessels - documented vessels, windsurfers, watercraft (canoes, kayak, etc.) propelled only by human power with oars, paddles or similar devices.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

All boats must have on board at least one Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device that is U.S. Coast Guard—approved, wearable, and of the proper size for each person on board. Sizing for PFDs is based on body weight and chest size.
South Carolina law requires all children under 12 years of age to wear a U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD while on board a Class A (less than 16 feet long) boat or PWC. The PFD must be fastened and of the proper size for the child.
One Type IV U.S. Coast Guard—approved PFD must be on board boats 16 feet or longer and readily accessible in addition to the above requirements.
One Type V personal flotation device may be substituted for any other type if it is specifically approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for the activity at hand. Type V PFDs may not be substituted on children weighing less than 90 pounds.
Each person riding on a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device.
Each person being towed behind a vessel must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD.
All PFDs must be in good and serviceable condition and must be readily accessible

A PFD in the boat should have suficed and if the boat is just an old john boat with no outboard motor and maybe a trolling motor GW is out of line. Head to court with tickets and tell GW to shove it. That is what I would do but hey I'm getting hungry and grouchy.

**cudexter** · 04-29-2009, 12:51 PM

at least they didnt get a ticket for not having their boater's license... No driver's license then you're suppose to have a boater's license. The test is taken online and is a joke.

**CAJUN LAB** · 04-29-2009, 12:52 PM

wouldn't it be bad if the game warden ruined this kid and he never wanted to fish again?!?!? Kinda goes against take one make one dont it.

**Murray** · 04-29-2009, 12:54 PM

They'll get you everytime for the registration...Is there a law about wearing a life jacket if your a under a certain age and operating the boat? I'm guessing there was a motor on the boat..If so, a 14 yr old should be wearing a life jacket. Situation could have been handled better if he got a ticket for not WEARING the life jacket...seems a warning would be enough unless he did'nt have them in the boat...two sides to every story, but if he was'nt doing anything stoopid then the GW needs to find better things to do IMO

**Murray** · 04-29-2009, 12:56 PM

nevermind...lots of responses while I was typing

**dixiedeerslaya** · 04-29-2009, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by cudexter

at least they didnt get a ticket for not having their boater's license... No driver's license then you're suppose to have a boater's license. The test is taken online and is a joke.

only to drive a boat with over 15horse power i think... there is a horsepower limit.. small jonboats with small motors you dont need one

**Murray** · 04-29-2009, 01:11 PM

This sounds like something Jimmy BoBo on lake Bowen would do...lol...that guy...if i had a dime for every time he said "my lake"

**raybird** · 04-29-2009, 01:12 PM

I don't even want to get started on this BS!!! Bobo has escorted me off the lake plenty of times back in the day!! Never once gave us a ticket!!!

**dixiedeerslaya** · 04-29-2009, 01:19 PM

i got so mad last summer at santee state park..... damn green jeans parked his boat on the sandbar and got out and was checkin three old ladys and what looked like their grandsons while they were fishin on the bank...... all the while there are jetskis jumping peoples wake within 60 yards of boats waiting to take out.... i loose alot of respect when i see stuff like that.... i respect DNR... and i respect what they do, but its just like all LEO...... sometimes you have to use common sense!

**cajunwannabe** · 04-29-2009, 01:31 PM

Boat must have had a motor on it for the registration violation and must have been on Lake Murray or another public body of water. Lifejacket violation sound highly questionable unless the other boy was 12 or under.

This "incident" could have been handled better but it sounds EXACTLY like something my boys would be tangled up in on Lake Murray. Unfortunately there are some peckerhead GW's out there and I usually am blessed with their presence at some point or another.

Switchback if you don't mind PM me the gamewardens info so I can get a heads up on this side of the pond. I know my time is coming for a visit from this one.

**Murray** · 04-29-2009, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by raybird

I don't even want to get started on this BS!!! Bobo has escorted me off the lake plenty of times back in the day!! Never once gave us a ticket!!!

Are you upset that I spoke ill of the king of bowen? just saying the guy is a character...neve been ticketed by him either..

**SCSwitchback** · 04-29-2009, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Chuck the Duck Slayer

S.C. Law prohibits the sale or purchase of watercraft without a valid title issued in the seller's name to assign over to the purchaser at the time of sale.
The following are required to have current title and registration:

All motorized boats and watercraft; except *exempted vessels;
All sailboats are required to be titled
All outboard motors five (5) horsepower and greater are required to be titled since July 1, 1974.

*Exempted Vessels - documented vessels, windsurfers, watercraft (canoes, kayak, etc.) propelled only by human power with oars, paddles or similar devices.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

All boats must have on board at least one Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device that is U.S. Coast Guard—approved, wearable, and of the proper size for each person on board. Sizing for PFDs is based on body weight and chest size.
South Carolina law requires all children under 12 years of age to wear a U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD while on board a Class A (less than 16 feet long) boat or PWC. The PFD must be fastened and of the proper size for the child.
One Type IV U.S. Coast Guard—approved PFD must be on board boats 16 feet or longer and readily accessible in addition to the above requirements.
One Type V personal flotation device may be substituted for any other type if it is specifically approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for the activity at hand. Type V PFDs may not be substituted on children weighing less than 90 pounds.
Each person riding on a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device.
Each person being towed behind a vessel must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD.
All PFDs must be in good and serviceable condition and must be readily accessible

A PFD in the boat should have suficed and if the boat is just an old john boat with no outboard motor and maybe a trolling motor GW is out of line. Head to court with tickets and tell GW to shove it. That is what I would do but hey I'm getting hungry and grouchy.

According to this, he shouldn't have had to wear the lifejacket unless he was under 12.

**CAJUN LAB** · 04-29-2009, 01:34 PM

Bobo is alot like a Chiwawa...lots of bark not to much bite...

**SCSwitchback** · 04-29-2009, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by CAJUN LAB

wouldn't it be bad if the game warden ruined this kid and he never wanted to fish again?!?!? Kinda goes against take one make one dont it.

That's exactly my point. He could've gotten a lesser fine if he'd been caught smoking dope.

And DNR wonders why hunting and fishing license sales decline every year? You need a freakin lawyer with you when you're hunting or fishing to make sure everything's legal.