| Name: |
Bob
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 7:40:45 AM
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It appears we will have only two Marine Police officers on the water this summer on Lake Martin due to budget cuts. I have thought about it and while I can see a downside I think the upside is more from not having to worry as much about being harrassed. If you are like me you have dealt with a less than polite officer who was more in love with his "power" than he was with doing anything meaningful on the lake. I get tired of watching the harrassing "boat checks" at chimney rock anyway. Perhaps now they can sit and watch for truly dangerous boting operations that happen all the time rather than random "boat checks".
My brother is a local Cop. I really like cops. But...I also like the fact that unless you are on a body of water there must be probable cause to pull somebody over and check them out. It has always been my beef...get the real bad guys and do the hard work. Going boat to boat at the Rock to ask for License and registration seems like a pretty stupid waste of time with all of the true issues we have on the water...use the time well Marine Police, plenty of real bad guys out there...
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| Name: |
Rooster
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 8:23:36 AM
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the one great thing about this country--- is anyone can say anything--- so having said that -- let me say " stuff it Bob". Marine police do a great job with the obstacles they have to face -
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| Name: |
alabound
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 8:39:55 AM
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Bob... are you for real with that post. You really think boat checks are harassment? I hope you were kidding about just about everything you said, and I hope I am no where near you on the lake this summer. I love the lake but I have never seen such poor knowledge of rules of boating and common courtesy on the water. It's ALL about everybody staying safe while having fun.
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| Name: |
BayPineYankee
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 9:29:17 AM
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You really must be kidding. Our marine police do a great job - and having reduced patrols will present opportunities for all kinds of bad behavior to go unchecked.
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| Name: |
ecstasypoint
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 9:38:21 AM
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I do wonder if announcing that there will be a shortage of MP coverage is the best strategy. I know they want the public to empathize with their staffing issues, but I hope that knowing the MP can't be there won't exacerbate our problems.
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| Name: |
Summer Lover
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| Subject: |
Hey Bob
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Date:
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3/30/2011 10:07:57 AM
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What are you afraid of? Although I do not like being pulled over, if I am anchored - no big deal - unless you are running "less or MORE than legal".... How about those roadblocks - same deal there - other than costing me about 3 minutes and stirring up the dog - oh well. Maybe it is tme for you to go back to spraying the Spike 80D, and stay off the lake....
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| Name: |
Aardvark
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 11:56:27 AM
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I hardly see "Ned" up Little Kowaliga Creek anyway. He has made one pass per day up our way for as long as I can remember. He must have his hands full around the Rock.
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| Name: |
wsptiger
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 1:14:57 PM
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I agree with you Bob....all these "checks" they have for license and registration are really just intended to snoop around your boat to see if you might have a beer opened up on your pontoon boat. It's always been funny to me when police ask people out on a lake when it's 100 degrees and everybody is sun bathing and jumping in the water..."have you had anything to drink?" well yeah....along with the other 10,000 people out on the lake. Better question is who is not?
I don't intend this to be a drinking and driving issue, but I will say the only time I think it should be an issue is when it's just obvious somebody is impaired or when it's getting close to darkness. Danger time.
I know there used to be a time on the lake when the police were considered your friend and people weren't worried about being seen drinking a beer. Used to be if the Marine Police pulled up you didn't even hide the beer....you would offer them one.
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| Name: |
lakerlady
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 5:16:49 PM
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Ok I know I am suppose to know the answer to this question but here goes... Open beer on a boat.... not at all? Or just not the driver of the boat?
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| Name: |
MrHodja
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 5:52:39 PM (updated 3/30/2011 5:53:42 PM)
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I can't find the post, but a while back one of the Marine Police officers gave a long explanation of what they do, what they look for, and conditions under which they might cite someone for BUI.
The interesting thing (and someone correct me if I mis-remembered this part) is that consuming a beer or other alcoholic beverage while driving a boat is not an automatic stop occasion. Indeed, the officer went on to say it is the way in which the boat is being operated that will cause them to pull someone over. Observing a boat pilot acting responsibly and safely while openly consuming an adult beverage would not automatically prompt a pull-over.
If anyone else recalls that post, please cite it for us because it was revealing as to just how much leeway they have and how much discretion they exercise in keeping our lake safe.
And they can pull me over any time they like. I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
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| Name: |
mckaygmc
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 5:55:30 PM
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I have been checked a couple of time out on the water. I have never felt like I was Harassed or the police was just on a power trip. The few times I had been approached I greet them with respect and they did the same... I have no issues with the Marine Police on this lake.
Keep up the good work.
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| Name: |
alabound
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 6:16:19 PM
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My point exactly. Problem being, rude boaters don't even know they are rude most of the time because they have never looked at boating etiquette or don't care or don't even know there are rules. It slows them down too much!
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| Name: |
alabound
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 6:21:00 PM
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Holy crap! Are there people out there who think like this! Ever here of personal responsibility or DD? I drink my share of everything but would never think of driving a boat with my family and other folks' families in the water! Hope you are on the other side of the lake!
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| Name: |
Bob
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 6:22:00 PM
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I am "shocked" at the pious responses of most of you...NOT! You are exactly the type of mind numb robots who would gladly surrender your freedom for perceived "security". All I was saying is that perhaps this is an opportunity to watch for illegal activities and not random searches this summer...if you disagree with this, in a time of scarce resources, you are just stupid. Of course that would describe half of this board...my apologies to the educated rational members of the board.
Now go back to sticking your noses as far up the MP's butts as you can.
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| Name: |
alabound
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 6:27:17 PM
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Again... holy crap! Are there really people out there that say these things, call people names and drive a boat around the lake when my family is floating! The police have enough to do without bothering people who seem to be doing the right thing but random stops, on the lake or on the highways, make people think twice!
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| Name: |
Bob
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 6:41:18 PM
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Got so excited you posted twice huh? :) Yep, we are out there but its doubtfull we get near you and your family as we generally avoid the Bama Park Area. We float at the Rock and dodge the random annoying boat checks...come hang out over there and you too can enjoy producing your License, registration (even if you have a clearly current sticker), fire extinguisher, life vests, etc...I am sure you will enjoy it.
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
Dear Bob>>
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Date:
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3/30/2011 6:57:37 PM
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Going boat to boat at Chimney Rock has yielded many, many arrests for BUI, as reported by the MP last year. What's wrong with that? The MP , just maybe, might have saved lives, even the "harrassed" driver's.
And, I am convinced, based on your prior posts, that you, not the MP, caused the confrontation.
How' Bout that?
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 7:37:40 PM
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The law as I understand it is that an open container is not illegal, even by the driver of the boat. I think the problem some of us have with enforcement is the "Why Me?".
I would guess that 90% of the boats out cruising LM at sundown have booze onboard, including driver. So what? Moving at maybe 5 MPH,,, no danger to nobody. Should the MP use manpower to check it out? Waste of time. That's me.
However, during the day, in congested areas especially, with many boats, many skiers, tubes, etc. and a boat of folks openly drinking booze? Yep, check them out. If they are BUI, lock them up.
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| Name: |
Rooster
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 8:07:18 PM
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What Mack said is true. Not illegal to have open container- A 190 # person should be able to drink at least 2 beers over the span of 1 hour, no more than that, and still be way under the limit, even if not snacking on something. How do I know that is because I work for physicians, Attitude and the way you operate your vessel goes a long way during mp check. I have owned a boat since 1988 and have been stopped only once. That once was because I was standing up and the officer could not determine if kill switch was attached to person. A whole lot of yes sirs and no sirs goes a long way in determining your experience with the marine police. they are welcome to check me anytime. And I would never insult an officer of the law by offering him an alcoholic beverage while he/she was on duty. Hey Bob, you ever thought about moving to Lake Jorden.
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| Name: |
lakngulf
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| Subject: |
Dear Bob>>
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Date:
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3/30/2011 9:04:35 PM
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I feel some inspiration for one of next year's predictions
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| Name: |
CAT BOAT
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| Subject: |
BOB, You are out of bounds...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 9:28:26 PM
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If indeed you are the "BOB" that has posted from time to time over the past few years, you have changed, or now smokin' crack. I will be careful with my reply, but maybe.... JUST MAYBE! You should have spent more time promoting safety, than trying to run boats off of the lake that YOU don't like. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on personal issues. What if D.O. Conservation had that revenue???? No name calling here. In my opinion, MANY cram PERSONAL agenda down the throuts of MP or Dept. of Conservation, because they either CAN, or choose to seek some sort of personal satisfaction at the cost of others/members of the organizations they represent!!! (Really, you can't get that smart that quick) This is not an issue I am comfortable addressing in a public forum, but 'YOU ARE JUST WRONG'. There are a few among us, that DO NOT like or support what and who you are, or stand for! But, I will not allow my company to stand beside you, support your personal agenda (or any organization for that matter) for yours or there personal gain. Face it, we can't turn the clock back in time, but we can make the time we have for the future better.
Respectfully,
Steve
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| Name: |
MrHodja
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| Subject: |
BOB, You are out of bounds...
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Date:
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3/30/2011 9:45:30 PM
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You have mail....
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| Name: |
lamont
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| Subject: |
Dearest Bob...
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Date:
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3/31/2011 9:40:04 AM
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You are an imbecile(sp?). In 9 years I have been stopped twice by the Marine Police. The first time, I had a 6 foot eight inch friend sitting up on the back of the boat. The MP simply told me, in a very polite manner, please have him sit in a seat. That was all. The second time, I was stopped because I only had one of my decals on the boat because I couldn't reach the other side of the boat and simply forgot about it. The MP asked if I had the other decal on board. I did and I handed it to him. He took it, then maneuvered his boat to the other side of my boat and installed the decal. Then he said "Have a great Lake Day." And, by the way, all 4 of us in the boat had opened cans of Beer. The MP never even questioned us about the alcholic beverages. Obviously, he could sense that we were not impaired and used discretion and moved on. I swear, I just don't understand the Hate for the Marine Police. Now, if they could just do something about that "Cat" guy and his "fast" boat, I would really sing their praises.
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| Name: |
CAT BOAT
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| Subject: |
Dear Lamont.....
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Date:
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3/31/2011 1:07:47 PM
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Don't I have a couple of your boats at the Lake Martin Cathouse?????? Just sayin.
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| Name: |
lamont
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| Subject: |
Dear Lamont.....
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Date:
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3/31/2011 3:13:45 PM
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No you do not. You are totally confused. My boats are in their lifts at my house and you shall be doing a house call. Plenty of beer in the fridge for whomever shows up.
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| Name: |
alabound
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| Subject: |
BOB
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Date:
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3/31/2011 5:01:25 PM
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Bob has left the building!
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| Name: |
MAJ USA RET
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| Subject: |
BOB
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Date:
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4/1/2011 10:23:15 AM
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I wish the MP would get an engine big enough that they could catch the wake boarders with the LOUD speakers. I have no problem with wake boarding… looks like fun. But, PLEASE turn off the rap “music”. (I know it’s turned up so that the dude or babe on the board can have “theme music” for their exhilarating experience.)
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| Name: |
ecstasypoint
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| Subject: |
BOB
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Date:
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4/1/2011 11:20:22 AM
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Amen to that Maj. But according to the MP it is not against the law so they wouldn't be chasing them anyway.
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| Name: |
MAJ USA RET
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| Subject: |
BOB
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Date:
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4/1/2011 5:07:06 PM
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Disturbing the peace is against the law on land… but, not against the law on the water. My right to a peaceful day on the water is trumped by their right to have “gansta rap” while creating a huge wake on which to “surf”. I find that hard to believe.
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| Name: |
willallie
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| Subject: |
Fewer Marine Police this year...
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Date:
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4/1/2011 8:48:59 PM
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Bob....you are a dumb a...... !
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| Name: |
HP HQ
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| Subject: |
Maj
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Date:
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4/2/2011 11:19:18 AM
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I went through this several years ago, and yes it is true.. The noise law on the lake only applies to exhaust tone and not music or anything else that might be unpleasant. I told the MP that my exhaust doesnt send a bad message like slapping hoes and what not, but a law is a law, and its exhaust only!
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