Boating Declared Illegal in the US

Frequent readers of this blog know what an avid boater I am. Yesterday, we got some rather disturbing news. A Federal judge declares boating illegal in all US navigable waters.

In a rather bizarre ruling that has marine industry
officials worried, Judge Robert G. James of the United States District
Court, Western Division of Louisiana, has said that it is criminal
trespass for the American boating public to boat, fish, or hunt on the
Mississippi River and other navigable waters in the US.

Let me be frank. This is a stupid ruling. It’s virtually unenforceable. If you consider all the canoes, kayaks, rubber rafts, small motor boats, jet skis, sailboats and yachts, there are millions of boats to consider. Are we going to take cops off the street to make sure that you don’t put your canoe in the water?

It reminds me of one of those dumb laws on the books that are never enforced but we laugh about – like:

• Persons may not be drunk on trains.
• Persons may not appear in public clothed in liquid latex.
• Persons may not wear a life jacket near the Spokane River.
• Fish may not be contained in fishbowls while on a public bus.

But for argument’s sake, let’s just say this law is enforced. That renders almost all of the mainland boats unusable. Nobody is going to want to buy a boat they can’t use, so what will happen to it? You got it…boats will become one of the biggest garbage hauls in all of US history. Just imagine all those yachts and ski boats being buried in some landfill. If you thought plastic packaging was a landfill nightmare, just imagine having to bury a few dozen Whalers, Bass boats and family yachts up the street from your house.

If garbage isn’t enough of an argument. What about our court system? Isn’t it clogged enough without something like this? Imagine all the people being hauled in on a federal kayak violation. “Honest officer, I didn’t know I was breaking the law – it was a graduation gift from my grandparents!”

“Son, ignorance of the law is no excuse – we’re going down town!”

Imagine the forensic evidence…”Inspector, note the water dripping from the bow. Yes, I believe this boat has been in the water in the last 1-2 hours…evaporation hasn’t quite set in.”

And what will the penalty be for boating? A fine? Jail time? “John B. Sailor you stand accused of 5 counts of boating in Lake Erie. Since you refused to take the plea bargain of aggravated murder in the second degree, you face 25 years to life if you are convicted. How do you plead?”

Sorry for the rant folks, but this is simply amazing. I am sure many of you have boats or have been boating. What’s your opinion about this ruling?

Technorati Tags: boating, dumb laws, skiing

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