Name:   MartiniMan - Subject:   Stopped by Marine Police this weekend Date:   5/9/2016 9:52:33 AM

Interesting stop by Marine Police this weekend in the Sandy Creek area.  My son was sitting in the front but not all the way in the boat (but still below the gunwale) which is why he said he stopped us.  Asked for our boating license and registration and then asked to see the number of life jackets, our throwable flotation device and fire extinguisher.  He also quizzed the young men about their age as some of them were drinking a beer (all of them are around 25).

He was generally professional but not very pleasant or friendly but when he pressed on the issue of the Alabama boaters license I pointed out to him that we were not full time residents and did not operate a boat on the lake a sufficient number of days per year to require one.  He said that was debatable since the boat was registered in Alabama.  I politely stated out that the law doesn't mention anything about boat registration.  However, we only had color copies of our driver's license on the boat which is technically not sufficient but he did not raise that as an issue.  I hate the idea of having my actual driver's license on the boat but probably will do so in the future.  Did not give us a citation or a written warning and we went on our way.  

The others in the boat thought it was an unpleasant experience but I pointed out to them that he deals with idiots and drunk boaters all the time and he could have given us a citation but didn't.  All in all it was a good learning experience for my son to see that there is enforcement on the lake and if he is operating the boat he needs to be prepared and responsible.  He did ask me after that where we kept all the things the MP asked for and said he was going to have his license with him when he operates the boat.