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Name:	Broke Point -	Reply
Subject:	Water Patrol Activity
Date:	5/21/2007 9:23:52 AM

This weekend has been the most highly enforced weekend I have ever seen at Lake Martin. For absolutely no reason, you will get checked. I saw three Marine Patrol boats covering the Chimney Rock area and countless times boat patrols covering the lake up river from there.

Not complaining but actually glad to see more coverage. However, if you drink and boat, better have a designated driver. If you have one too few life jackets, better go buy more. If your lights don't work, better get them fixed. If you don't meet any other requirements such as fire extinguishers, registrations, licenses, etc., your days are numbered before you will get caught. And if you go to Chucks and leave, prepare to get stopped at dusk/dark.

Again, not complaining but it does kind of change the atmosphere of the lake. What I really would like to add to their list of things to check is the noise of some boats. I bet that one is coming one day too.

Does anyone know if there is a reason for the increased patrol activity?

Name:	sagetek -	Reply
Subject:	Water Patrol Activity
Date:	5/21/2007 9:42:42 AM

Think they might be trying to "unofficially" stop the activities / jumping at the Chimney Rock area? People will get tired of being hassled and find somewhere else to go.

Name:	Feb -	Reply
Subject:	Good News
Date:	5/21/2007 9:49:29 AM

It seems as though we on the Forum are getting one thing we have been begging for, and it is additional water patrol enforcement.

I also think greater attention to heavily traffic areas is the intelligent course since this is where they are needed. It is nice to have the water patrol near the scene for assistance to boaters either in their (water patrol) enforcement role or in the event of an accident.

Generally enforcement will help preclude some accidents/incidents or at least better prepare folks in the event of an accident

Name:	ALSCN -	Reply
Subject:	Water Patrol Activity
Date:	5/21/2007 10:01:40 AM

Not sure if the rest of you remember, but every weekend we were at the rock last year there were two marine patrol boats and also a sheriff's boat there. I don't think this is an increase now, it was there last summer as well.

As long as you are doing what you are suppose to do then you have nothing to worry about.

Name:	Smitty -	Reply
Subject:	Water Patrol Activity
Date:	5/21/2007 10:14:58 AM

Just as a refresher.....driver of boat cannot be drinking at all. Occupants can drink. Is this correct?

Name:	Bamaonthelake -	Reply
Subject:	Water Patrol Activity
Date:	5/21/2007 11:24:44 AM

Could it be that there are fewer boats due to the water level. Seems this year with the water being down there are fewer boats in the water. I did see two patrol boats had two pontoon boats pulled over near Blue Creek marina. Looks like the boats had just pulled out of the marina.

Weekend before last I saw a patrol boat at chimney rock and saw them check three boats while we were there.

Name:	waterbug -	Reply
Subject:	Water Patrol Activity
Date:	5/21/2007 1:13:07 PM

Glad to hear they were out. It seems like it is always like that, the first few really warm weekends, especially around Memorial Day or any other holiday in fact, there are many patrols and boats being checked. Possibly because this is the first time a lot of folks put their boats in the water after winter storage and they want to make the boaters are safe and have all the required items. Easy to forget something over a several month period. Thanks for the head up and for those that reminded all of us of the things to check.

Name:	rock -	Reply
Subject:	Water Patrol Activity
Date:	5/21/2007 1:51:10 PM

They are cracking down state wide coworker lives on Dog river said the same about this weekend.

Name:	PikeSki -	Reply
Subject:	Blue CreeWater Patrol Activity
Date:	5/21/2007 2:30:19 PM

Bama,

I have it on good authority (a little birdy told me) that the Marine Police in the Blue Creek area were playing a game of "Hide and Wait". They were hiding very close to the 49 bridge in a great hiding spot. (I can't tell you exactly where or I would comprimise their spot !). They were specifically looking for boaters that were blowing under the bridge and creating a Wake (this bridge is a no wake zone). They were there most of the afternoon and pulled over lots and lots of boats, jet skis, and even a nuclear powered russion submarine. Most of the boats they pulled over were kids on Jet Skis that didn't slow down enough under the bridge.

The reason I know this is that they were hiding right next to our lake property. Glad to see they are doing their jobs well and they are out and about !

Name:	Tallyman -	Reply
Subject:	BUI
Date:	5/21/2007 3:36:26 PM

Just drink cautiously.

§ 32-5A-191.3. Boating under the influence.

(a) A person shall not operate or be in actual physical control of any vessel, or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane, or any other marine transportation device on the waters of this state, as the waters are defined in Section 33-5-3, under any condition in which a person would be guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs pursuant to Section 32-5A-191 if the person was driving or controlling a motor vehicle.

(b) In the case of a vessel or other marine device described in subsection (a), where a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the operator of the vessel or other marine device is operating in violation of this section, the law enforcement officer is authorized to administer and may test the operator, at the scene, by using a field breathalyzer or other approved device, as a screening device, to determine if the operator may be operating a vessel or device in violation of subsection (a). Refusal to submit to a field breathalyzer test or other approved testing device shall result in the same punishment as provided in subsection (c) of Section 32-5-192 for operators of motor vehicles on the state highways.

(c) The fact that any person charged with violating this section is or has been legally entitled to use alcohol or a controlled substance shall not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this section.

(d) Upon a first or subsequent conviction, a person violating this section shall be punished in the same manner and under the same conditions as a person convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs pursuant to Section 32-5A-191 or any successor section or sections providing for the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, except that in any case where reference is made to the Director of Public Safety and the driving privilege or driver's license of the person, the reference shall be deemed to refer to the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources and the vessel operating privilege or boater safety certification of the person convicted under this section.

(e) Neither reckless or careless operation of a vessel, nor any other boating or water safety infraction, is a lesser included offense under a charge of operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.

(f) All fines collected for violation of this section as to vessels or other marine devices on the waters of this state shall be paid into the State Water Safety Fund.

(g) A person who has been arrested for violating this section shall not be released from jail under bond or otherwise, until there is less than the same percent by weight of alcohol in the person's blood as specified in subdivision (1) of subsection (a).

(h) Upon verification that a defendant arrested pursuant to this section is currently on probation from another court of this state as a result of a conviction for any criminal offense, the prosecutor shall provide written or oral notification of the defendant's subsequent arrest and pending prosecution to the court in which the prior conviction occurred.

(i) When any person over the age of 21 years is convicted pursuant to this section and a child under the age of 14 years was present on the vessel or other marine device described in subsection (a) at the time of the offense, the defendant shall be sentenced to double the minimum punishment that the person would have received if the child had not been present.

(j) "Vessel," for the purposes of this section, shall mean any vessel as defined in Section 33-5-3, operated on the waters of this state, as defined in Section 33-5-3.

(k) No provision of this section shall be construed to assess points for DUI convictions under motor vehicle convictions for driving under the influence.

Name:	roswellric -	Reply
Subject:	What's BUI
Date:	5/21/2007 9:46:53 PM

I'm glazing over....

Name:	Smitty -	Reply
Subject:	BUI
Date:	5/22/2007 7:09:54 AM

Thanks Tallyman.......

Name:	Tallyman -	Reply
Subject:	Open containers
Date:	5/22/2007 11:24:31 AM

There is no law against an open container in a boat operator's hand while he is operating the boat. The open container law applies only to motor vehicles.

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	paragraph (i) VERY relevant
Date:	5/22/2007 2:43:20 PM

I suggest any that didn't read it go back and do so.

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