Name:	krtracker -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	5/31/2017 1:39:43 PM

 after 30 plus years on this lake and watching it grow in boat traffic the marine police still operate the way they always have. you only see them at the rock and main river channel and always daytime only. anyone who travels this lake at dusk or night knows about the idiots running with no lights or illegal lights. in sandy creek last weekend we counted over 12 jet skis running wide open at 8 pm with no lights. it was very hard to see them! many boats out at night with illeagal light bars (new fad) or no lights. seems like the police forgets where their paycheck comes from. they certainly are not doing anyone a favor by turning a blind eye to  the most accident prone time on the lake. these people are more prone to cause an accident than the family stopped in the afternoon for a life jacket check. they also seem to think the rock is the only trouble spot on the lake or should l say its the only spot on the lake where the police can see bikini clad butts shaking and dancing. l have called the state trooper office at wind creek and was told budget restrictions and lack of officers are why this happens. TOTAL BS. call me out marine police, l would love for you to check me at night on the water!!!!

Name:	ALDUCK -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	5/31/2017 3:13:01 PM

I personally saw the marine police pull over 3 boats Friday night for having the light bars on. One boat had such a dim anchor light that you could not see it for the other boat backlighting them.  All of this was around Chucks and the Ridge.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	5/31/2017 4:08:31 PM

My experience with the MP has been hit or miss.  Have been stopped several times over the years for one thing or another but never got a citation.  My only beef with them was when the officer took the position that because my boat was registered in Alabama I needed a boaters license.  I politely explained that I do not operate a water craft in Alabama more than 45 days per year so I do not need a license. Other than that one semi-unpleasant exchange I have found them to be professional and reasonably courteous given the boneheads they have to deal with every day.

I have also noticed the newest fad of light bars and saw one while on a night cruise in the Sandy Creek area Saturday night.  Very visible but much worse even than docking lights which are also a nuisance, not to mention illegal to use at night when running.  As for the jet skis, they were out in force last weekend.  Saw one with two people on the jet ski, both facing forward, pulling a tube with 3 kids.  Not only illegal but dangerous.  I have reduced my jet skis down to one and would like to get down to none but they are very popular with the young adults.  

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	5/31/2017 4:54:13 PM

MM, don't know if you are aware or not but a new law was passed last year that makes the 45 day exclusion moot in your case. The lW now is if a non-resident operates a vessel on the waterways of the state you must, at a minimum, comply with applicable laws of you drivers license issuing state. Since Georgia requires a boater certification now you must have that in your possession, or an Alabama vessel license. I am not certain of the requirements to receive the certification and you may qualify for an age exemption which is typical when new restrictions are placed into law. Technically I am exempt from a vessel license, but I have one anyway. Just a heads up for all you Georgia folks who have used the 45 day exclusion to get by.

Name:	GC -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	5/31/2017 6:49:44 PM

Kr, if you look at the state budgets, you will see the problem.  I've heard there is one full time officer assigned to Lake Martin.  No bs here.  Alabama now has 1/2 the number state troopers that it had and is recommended minimally.  How long will citizens demand solutions to dying budgets.  General fund is shrinking and will continue as tax collections shrink due to an obsolete tax basis.  

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/1/2017 8:04:23 AM

Lifer, true for many out of state residents but Georgia currently does not require a boating license to operate a boat.  You only need to be over age 16 and have proper identification.  So at least for GA residents, the 45-day exemption still applies.  

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/1/2017 8:15:55 AM

  I looked it up and it is only required if you are born after January 1, 1998 from what I saw with a 30 second fact check but you might want to confirm. I knew that it was passed in GA but had never looked up requirements. CYA and check it out further because I just skimmed what I found and it was talking about a 3 step process to obtaining a license.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Now I am getting nervous.....
Date:	6/1/2017 9:45:07 AM

Well I am confused.  This is what I found.  The 1998 date refers to the need for boater education and not a license.  What am I missing?  I have taken the Alabama Boater Education course and have my certificate.  But I was still under the impression I don't need a license to operate a boat in GA and am therefore exempt unless I operate more than 45 days per year in Alabama....something by the way I would love to do......but sadly life and work gets in the way.  :-)

Do you need Georgia Boating education?

Georgia

You need education if you were born after Jan. 1, 1998, and will be operating a motorized vessel in Georgia.

There is no minimum age requirement to take this online course.

You do not have to be a resident of Georgia to take this online course.

Age and Operator Restrictions

Persons under 12 years of age:

• May not legally operate a PWC or any vessel 16 feet in length or longer.
• May legally operate a boat less than 16 feet in length and powered by a motor of 30 horsepower or less only if they are accompanied by a competent adult.

Persons 12 to 15 years of age:

• May not legally operate any vessel 16 feet in length or longer.
• May legally operate a PWC or vessel less than 16 feet in length if they:
• Have passed a boating education course approved by the DNR or…
• Are accompanied by a competent adult.

Persons 16 years of age or older may legally operate any boat or PWC on Georgia state waters if they have proper identification on board.

Name:	Oak A Choy -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/1/2017 10:02:00 AM

I'll post this again, just to make sure you see it.  Based on this list in The Outlook, they do work at night.  I guess you don't know what you're talking about.  http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/2017/05/31/marine-patrol-issues-30-citations-over-holiday-period/ 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Now I am getting nervous.....
Date:	6/1/2017 10:18:53 AM

The only thing I know for sure is Alabama law now requires vessels operators to come with the laws of their home state.. It appears you are exempt in GA but I would recommend getting an AL vessel license anyway. One reason is it does away with any debate if stopped and your insurance may go down if you do get licensed. It depends on the company of course but worth checking. It's cheap and easy to do. Of course if you take the discount your young adult children who operate the boats would most likely need to get licensed also.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Now I am getting nervous.....
Date:	6/1/2017 10:58:24 AM (updated 6/1/2017 11:00:50 AM)

Since I don't have an Alabama DL do I still go to the DMV to get it?  Oh, and while it is relatively inexpensive the boaters course was a painful experience filled with a multitude of bouy markings that apply to coastal waters and not lakes.  Did learn quite a few things that ended up costing me money (flare kit, etc.).  Anyhoo.....I am not opposed to getting one and will probably do so.

Name:	sleep4 -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/1/2017 11:15:01 AM

Just checked with AMP office in Alexander City. The blue light bars on pontoon boats are LEGAL as long as they do not ocillate or interfere with required navigation lights. They aid in night visibility in my opinion.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Now I am getting nervous.....
Date:	6/1/2017 12:23:32 PM

  It has changed since I did it 20 years or so ago. You can still do ti online and they mail you a certificate that you take to any DL location and take your pic and mail you a hard copy. When I did it you could the practice exam as many times as you wanted for free. When you felt comfortable you could pass you paid the fee and took the test. Pass or fail they kept your money, but you could do the process again immediately. The test is the same here in so much as it focuses on safety than "rules of the road". It is just a database of questions and each test just randomly selects x number of questions, be it the practice or the real test.

  I believe the process is pretty much the same now but administered by a third party that contracts across multiple states and jurisdictions if you decide to do it you can take your certificate to the courthouse here in dadeville to finalize the process. Pretty simple really. I am a strong advocate for requiring all operators to have one but also a realist and understand folks vacationing from out of state for a short term would be unduly burdened by having to have one. But then again we require those same folks to get a temporary license to fish or hunt. Maybe something similar could be developed for vessel licenses. At the very least it could provide additional revenue to a desperately underfunded department. But an overhaul of our antiquated state bearacracy could do the same thing.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/1/2017 1:09:36 PM

I actually don't think they were referring to the blue light bars.  These are a series of what look to me like white LED lights on a bar that are very bright.  Not the blue light bars that you see on some boats.  Those are not a problem in my view.  The bright ones and docking lights are a hazard at night as they blind other boaters.

Name:	krtracker -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/1/2017 1:40:10 PM

that averages 7 citations a day. wow lwonder how may hundreds of boaters were out. 30 citations in 4 days is a joke. maybe you do not know what your talking about friend.

Name:	krtracker -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/1/2017 1:50:54 PM

your right on spot with what l said about the location. where is chucks and the ridge near? you got it, the rock.

Name:	krtracker -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/1/2017 1:55:21 PM

the light bars mount in front on the bow and are white lights just like a flood light! these are worse than docking lights. the blue led runing lights on the pontoon are fine. l run them on my boat. they do help at night.

Name:	Oak A Choy -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/1/2017 4:21:36 PM

So when it's proven that your assertion that Marine Police don't work at night is wrong, your response is to criticize the number of tickets written?  I doubt the 30 people that got the tickets thought it was a joke.  I wonder how many warnings were written to go along with those 30 tickets.  I don't think anybody wants police anywhere to be ticket writing machines.

How exactly, should the one Marine Police officer on Lake Martin conduct his patrol?  Obviously, you don't think it's a good idea to be in the area where most of the traffic goes by.  By your posts, The Ridge, Chuck's Marina, and Chimney Rock are off limits.  Where should this one guy spend his time? 

Name:	Mack -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/1/2017 8:39:50 PM

 And look like a floating truck stop coming down the lake...just really cool??

Name:	mark fuller -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/2/2017 3:41:15 PM

The Marine Patrol were in Sandy Creek this past weekend on at least two seperate occasions.  A BUI was made there as well.

Name:	LakeWatcher2012 -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/3/2017 11:34:49 PM

Mr. KrTracker,

     I figured I would give you a little information about Lake Martin and its enforcement. There is only one, I repeate one Trooper asisgned to Lake Martin. That is one man to cover 44,000 acres and over 800 miles of shoreline. Lake Martin is the third largest lake in the state, but one of the busiest for recreational traffic. Over 95 percent of lake traffic travels through Youngs Basin, The Ridge, Blue Creek, Chimney Rock, Kowaliga Bay, Little Kowaliga Creek and Big Kowaliga Creek. Based on that percentage, where do you think most violations or accidents are going to occur? As Mark Fuller stated there was a BUI arrest made in Sandy Creek during the night time. There was two other BUI arrest made in Blue Creek and Kowaliga Bay. Both of those arrest were made after 10 P.M. Also, There was over 60 warnings issued over the holiday weekend. I would say 30 Citations, Three BUI arrests and over 60 warnings is a very busy weekend for a lake that is as short staffed as Lake Martin.

Name:	mariah1 -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/4/2017 10:12:51 AM

Thank you for your service 

Name:	DSCR -	Reply
Subject:	Hard Copy of Boating License
Date:	6/5/2017 3:44:07 PM

Back in 07 or 08, maybe 09 I went online and passed the test. I called the Marine police number at the time and was told there was no hard copy, just an endorsement on a DL. They told me to present the doc when I finally got moved back and got my DL and the endorsement would be applied. 

If there is now a hard copy of the license, I will take the docs to the courthouse and see if they will take them or if I have to redo the test sinc it has been so long. 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Hard Copy of Boating License
Date:	6/5/2017 4:53:59 PM

IF you have/had an out of state license you would get a hard copy of vessel only license. If you held an Alabama license it is just an endorsement on it. When I got mine I simply paid for a replacement license that came with the 'V' endorsement.

Name:	KowaligaKid -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/6/2017 10:29:05 AM

http://m.alexcityoutlook.com/2017/06/06/lmra-hears-of-new-marine-police-officers/

Name:	Blue Creek -	Reply
Subject:	where are the marine police
Date:	6/11/2017 2:49:04 AM

The problem with the budget is not so much the tax system we have but if you notice these days the Alabama State Troopers have been begging for an increase in their budget by about 80 or 90%.  My problem is the fact that they say they need more money or they'll have to lay off troopers.  Then when I drive around the state and notice they are driving $60,000+ SUVs that probably get around 10 MPG I get the idea they may be in need of some valid financial advice.  The marine police have always gotten the drippings of the budget and they're still using the same type of boats they used in the 60s.