Rabbit Sheriff

[SCSwitchback]

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.

The boat only had a small trolling motor on it. They were literally 200 yards from their house. I can't remember his name. I'll call my nephew tonight and get it for you though. I'll also be checking on the 12 year old/life jacket law.

[Catdaddy]

Unfortunetly, we hire these guys to enforce the laws. We can't later pick and choose which ones we want them to enforce.

Maybe a warning ticket would have been a better option. Maybe he thought it wasn't.

[BigBrother]

Unfortunetly, we hire these guys to enforce the laws. We can't later pick and choose which ones we want them to enforce.

Maybe a warning ticket would have been a better option. Maybe he thought it wasn't.

x 2 We werent there. Dont know what was said. Perhaps his intent was to give him a warning ticket, but got lip service. I dont know, just interjecting a little devils advocate.

I have had my share of tense moments with a gw. Always thought I was in the right...until I gave it some thought...

[SCSwitchback]

x 2 We werent there. Dont know what was said. Perhaps his intent was to give him a warning ticket, but got lip service. I dont know, just interjecting a little devils advocate.

I have had my share of tense moments with a gw. Always thought I was in the right...until I gave it some thought...

You could possibly be right, but there aren't many young guys who'd talk shit to a game warden. Truth be known, they were scared to death to have broken the law.

Also, it depends how you define right. I once asked a game warden that was checking me on Parr why I needed a whistle in the boat. He said if my boat sank I could blow the whistle. I told him it would take an idiot to stand there and blow a whistle.

In addition, it should be a parents decision whether or not their kids wear a life jacket. My dad made me wear one anytime I was in a boat by myself up until I was 16. But that wasn't because any law said so (there was no such law at the time).

[wskinner]

does the boat have a motor on it, and did he have life jackets in the boat

[Take em']

I know a guy that took his mother fishing for mother's day and she got fined for not having a fishing license. (She was more just riding than fishing). I know this is legitimate, but damn, give the man a break and give his mom a warning. Just thought I would add a little fuel to the fire!

[buckshot1224]

This sounds like a bunch of BS!!

Maybe Trad could shed some light..........

[WNM]

You have to have the boat registered even if it only has a trolling motor on it. I don't know about the life jacket situation..

[SCSwitchback]

does the boat have a motor on it, and did he have life jackets in the boat

It has an electric trolling motor and they did have lifejackets in the boat.

[SCSwitchback]

I know a guy that took his mother fishing for mother's day and she got fined for not having a fishing license. (She was more just riding than fishing). I know this is legitimate, but damn, give the man a break and give his mom a warning. Just thought I would add a little fuel to the fire!

EXACTLY, you'd think they could use a little discretion from time to time. Nearly every game warden I've ever met has that "I'm being friendly, but deep down I'm ecstatic to be able to give you a ticket" attitude.

[wskinner]

Unless a trolling motor qualifies as an outboard I dont see where he was justified at all. Even if it does qualify, i don't see how issuing a ticket is the proper action. He's 14 years old and fishing a couple houses down from his cut him some slack.

[CAJUN LAB]

Maybe a rookie GW?

[raybird]

Bwagz, I wasn't saying anything about Bobo. He has never done anything other than escort me off Blalock like 10 times when I was a kid and one time it was for being in a john boat with a trolling motor and not having it registered. My cuz lived on the lake and everytime we tried to go out we got in trouble for something. We didn't know we were breaking the law we were just young and dumb. Great guy though always informative. Wish they were all that way.
There are so many rules on the water they can always find something to get you for!!! Know Dat!!

[SCSwitchback]

Unless a trolling motor qualifies as an outboard I dont see where he was justified at all. Even if it does qualify, i don't see how issuing a ticket is the proper action. He's 14 years old and fishing a couple houses down from his cut him some slack.

That's what I was thinking and it seems like most folks here agree with me. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't letting my emotion of being pissed off cloud my judgement. The law is the law, but that doesn't necessarily make it right.

I'll be contacting Frampton and my local state representative about the issue. It won't do any good, but I think they should hear about what I think are problems with how DNR is run, and game wardens in particular.

[HARV]

Judge'll figger it all out and I'd let him.

[Glenn]

The law is the law, but that doesn't necessarily make it right.

No but it makes it the law.

Every LEO/Game Warden I have ever know would have written his OWN mother a ticket for fishing without a license. And rightly so. They are the ENFORCERS of the law. Not the INTERPRETERS of it.

If you disagree with the citations then be at court and challenge them. Like Harv said, the judge will sort it out.

[Tater]

The following are required to have current title and registration:

• All motorized boats and watercraft; except *exempted vessels;

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

It's called a Trolling MOTOR for a reason....

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

• 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. e.

Take a Birth Certificate to court with ya.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

• Each person being towed behind a vessel must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD.

I would recommend that ALL Poker Run attendees become well versed in this one...

Nobody knows how the kid acted OR how the GW acted except they themselves. Maybe the GW had to help search for a drowned kid and it strikes home to him. Maybe the kid was scared shitless and clammed up giving the GW no wiggle room. Who the hell knows? Let the Judge speak, then comment.

[SCTIMBER]

You have to have the boat registered even if it only has a trolling motor on it.

Bingo...


If he is over the age limit, you could probably get the life jacket ticket dismissed. Would be hard to fight having no registration on the boat though.

I would have probably written a warning ticket but I'm not the GW. There are assholes in every profession even the SCDNR but maybe the guy was trying to teach the young man a lesson that he would take to heart when he chooses to get out on the water. Heck I dunno, and most of this is speculation on my part

[Swamp Rat]

Glenn and Catdaddy summed up my response.

[btduckcall]

Glenn and Catdaddy summed up my response.

x2. i know you said the other young man was 13 maybe he was just getting ready to have a b-day and not yet turned 13 so he is still 12 the operator of the boat is responsible for his or hers passengers. this might not be the case but just something to throw in. they will have their day in court , or you just might call the warden him self and talk to him. this should be a learning for the boys, that there are laws that have to be learned and followed. just my .02