Name:	Mack -	Reply
Subject:	Driver License Required in Boat??
Date:	6/11/2014 11:29:26 AM

I just stood in the DMV line in Birmingham an extended period of time,, trying to comply with the law,, to no avail.

The relatively new law that requires an operator to carry his license is a nusiance. So, says I, why not make a copy and keep it on the boat? No, says the Marine Police,, cannot be a copy.

So, says I, I'll just get a duplicate and keep that in the boat. Right?? Wrong. DMV will not issue a duplicate for that reason.

So, says I, the heck with it. I won't comply at all and take my chances on a citation. Compliance would require me to remember to get my license with each departure from the dock, and then remember to get it out of my swimsuit pocket and return it to my wallet before getting in my truck to drive. Yeah, right. That is asking for a problem.

So there!! Logic loses again. rantrantrantrant

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Driver License Required in Boat??
Date:	6/11/2014 11:55:18 AM (updated 6/11/2014 12:13:04 PM)

Agree with pretty much all you said except the relatively new part....the law went into effect in 1997 (17 years ago), lol. BTW, if you lose your license somewhere (on your boat maybe?), you can have a duplicate made.

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	Driver License Required in Boat??
Date:	6/11/2014 1:06:06 PM

Hmmmm.  I think I just lost my license.  But my issue is I take my license down to ride in the Sea Doo, then swim a bit, then folks decide a boat ride will be nice.  Then, if I am stopped, I can show Marine Police my license......in the Sea Doo.  So, I just lost my duplicate license too.

Name:	Mack -	Reply
Subject:	Driver License Required in Boat??
Date:	6/11/2014 1:33:19 PM

If it was law 17 years ago, it was not enforced nor was it even discussed. By just recently, I meant maybe about the time the big boats law was enacted and we started talking about this topic/kill switches/etc etc. Never heard it before, been here 20+ years. I considered just replacing my newly "lost" license, but decided I would not lie about,, at least until I get nailed without it.

Name:	twc -	Reply
Subject:	Driver License Required in Boat??
Date:	6/11/2014 3:27:07 PM

I've been asked for mine while on the boat once and seadoo once. On the boat, not a problem. On the seadoo, I had just run out about 200 yards from my pier to rescue a neighbor kid on a seadoo, forgot my license, phone, etc on the pier. I pointed to where it all was and the cop just laughed and said he would stop by later for a look. Dang if he didn't cruise back by 30 minutes later and want to see it! At least he was nice about it. 

I buy buy quart size ziplock bags, usually the freezer kind on clearance after the holidays. Stick the phone, license, whatever in there and zip it up. Haven't lost them YET! Hope I don't. 

Name:	JTenn -	Reply
Subject:	Driver License Required in Boat??
Date:	6/11/2014 3:54:02 PM

I agree that a copy kept on board would be acceptable. I also wish the law was enforced. Maybe it would help with some of the idiots that probably don't have a valid license.

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Driver License Required in Boat??
Date:	6/11/2014 4:02:13 PM

Yep, it's been law to have a boat license in all counties of Alabama since July 17, 1997 (I guess thats a month short of 17 years). I'm 99 percent sure the kill switch requirement either predates that or was enacted with the same revision of Alabama policy (I remember it was a requirment when I bought my first boat over 24' in the 90's). The boat ban was a whole different animal with different motivations.

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Driver License Required in Boat??
Date:	6/11/2014 4:04:20 PM

It is enforced, but like anything you have to get caught. Also, out of state boaters only need to comply with their home state requirments.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Simple solution for all
Date:	6/11/2014 5:36:11 PM

Memorize your licnse number and you never have to have it on you again.  They simply enter your number into the computer and up pops your license.  This method has been adequate enough for me on several occasions , once involing a fender bender accident.  True the law has always said to have it on you but even before they could see it in seconds no judge would ever convict someone who got a ticket for driving without who showed up in court with a valid license.  Most would not even convict if you had expired at time of ticket but renewed by court date.  When you hand over your license they don't simply say OK and move on.  They enter it into the system to make sure its valid.  In fact it is easier for them to identify you online because they get a larger and in many cases clearer photo.

I have never been asked to show my vessel license but would be shocked if it were not the same with the Marine Police.  Physical location of your copy is not the issue, knowing you have a valid license is, and your number proves that without a doubt.  I used to carry it in my swimsuit along with a credit card just because I was gong to carry the card anyway.  Then one day I was at a bank and needed photo ID only to realize it was still in my swimsuit.  I ordered and additional credit card to keep with the boat keys and don't worry about the license any more.  Someday I may have to plead my case to a judge, but in the meantime I don't fret about it not even a little bit.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	NOT TRUE
Date:	6/11/2014 6:36:09 PM

You need a boat operators license which is different from your auto drivers license. I can't find any requrement that you need to carry your auto drivers license. Kids at age 14 can obtain a license to operate a boat. They don't have an auto drivers license.

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Really?
Date:	6/11/2014 6:47:58 PM

Do you live in Alabama? It's the same license with endorsments......

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Really?
Date:	6/11/2014 7:41:40 PM

Even more proof that Goofy comes from a different world.

Name:	boataholic -	Reply
Subject:	Driver License Required in Boat??
Date:	6/11/2014 9:08:41 PM

Refusal to issue a duplicate is really dumb isn't it?  They could probably fund a few more marine police with the proceeds from duplicate licenses marked for boat use only.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	GOOF HEAD??????????
Date:	6/11/2014 9:25:35 PM

Lordy, Lordy.  Us old folks don't even have an endorsement on the back of our driver's license, we were grandfathered in, but as already posted the boater's license is an endorsement on the back of the driver's license.  Young'uns are issued a boater's license till they're 16 and get a real driver's license.  What state do you live in??  Not state of mind....

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	NOT TRUE
Date:	6/11/2014 9:42:36 PM

I think the boaters license only applies to Alabama residents but I am pretty sure you still have to carry a valid drivers license. I got my Alabama boaters license even though I am a Georgia resident but I only carry a copy of my DL when I am out. Have been stopped a couple of times around the Rock for routine inspections and one time when one of the kids had their legs hanging off the front of the boat. Never asked for either license any of the times I was stopped. 

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	NOT TRUE
Date:	6/11/2014 10:30:14 PM

Not sure about those not old enough to drive (Covered in another post), but the Alabama Driver's license is annotated with a "V", indicating vessel, to indicate the person is an authorized boat "driver".  No other "license" to pilot a boat is needed.

Name:	jalcz -	Reply
Subject:	NOT TRUE
Date:	6/11/2014 11:24:12 PM

You are either younger than 16, were already very old when the law was enacted, are from another state, or never bothered to comply with the law.

Let the guessing begin! 

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Driver License Required in Boat??
Date:	6/12/2014 1:31:54 AM

Thanks for clarification. 

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	NOT TRUE
Date:	6/12/2014 2:48:06 AM

Looks like GF is an alien....

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	NOT TRUE??? REALLY???
Date:	6/12/2014 7:50:39 AM

You are free to your own opinion, but not your own set of facts.  I didn't know you were with me when I was 19-20yo and got a ticket for driving without a license because I had left my wallet at home.  The ticket was promptly dismissed on court day when I showed I did in fact have a valid license.  They were made of paper back then.  Where you there a year or two later when I got pulled over and pulled out the illedgable wad of paper that used to be my license and handed it to a cop?  I had been pushed into the lake with my wallet in my jeans.  MY punishsment that time was to show back up the next month with a fresh copy and had it dismissed.  I know for a fact that you weren't with me all those nights I sat in municipal courts in half a dozen different counties working part time as a Court Referall Officer while I was working on a Criminal Justice degree and watched dozens of simular tickets be dismissed on proof of valid license.  Many, many times the offender being an adult that never bothered to get a license and the judge continuing the case for 30 days or so so offenders would have a chance to actually get one.  I didn't see you at the boat ramp a fews years ago when I turned to sharp with an empty trailer and bought an Escalade bumper. That lady freaked out when I told the State Trooper I didn't have it with me when he asked for it.  She was so busy freaking out so she didn't hear when I gave him the number and he pulled it up to verify.  Later when it and I were in the same location again I offered it to the trooper he said he didn't need it.

So the point of this rant is to demonstrate that liberals beleive so much that just isn't so.  You can disagree.  You can argue. You can dispute the facts. You can continue to ignore the facts.  What you CAN"T do is claim something I said is NOT TRUE!!

Captain Brooks reads the foum.  Maybe someone should ask him to weigh in.  I expect he will say publicly that you should have them on you at all times because is the way the politicians wrote the law, but would not cite anyone who can provide the number to their valid license for quick verification.

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	NOT TRUE??? REALLY???
Date:	6/12/2014 12:07:03 PM

So giving your license number is ok, but a copy of your license containing the number is not ok? Without court?

I have an out of date license that they punched four holes in it. Is this good enough?

You'd think this is good enough to prove that a grey haired man has taken the hokey boat test and is qualified to operate his vessel.

OK, time for our "public servants" to chime in and tell us we need a current uncopied license on us to go boating.

And a childish question      why?

Capt. Brooks, the clock is ticking................................................................

How about Montgomery giving $5 license copies to vessel license holders???????????

Let's get together and make a good law for once.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	NOT TRUE??? REALLY???
Date:	6/12/2014 12:30:04 PM (updated 6/12/2014 12:31:55 PM)

It does seem the logic could be improved upon....of course a paper copy would be much easier to manipulate so it shows the "V".  That lends credence to the "duplicate plastic copy" approach and I for one would gladly pay the extra $5, 10, or 15 to get one (or more).  Certainly cheaper than a trip to the Tallapoosa, Elmore, or Coosa county courthouses from Montgomery. 

Name:	jalcz -	Reply
Subject:	Nice RANT, but...
Date:	6/12/2014 2:11:42 PM

I'm not disagreeing with anything you said, but it's worth pointing out that reading the "NOT TRUE" post in context makes it pretty clear that he was replying to the original post, and NOT to your reply. (Yes, he posted his reply in the wrong place.)

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	He does that all the time
Date:	6/12/2014 2:18:21 PM

Not sure why but GF can't quite figure out how to reply to the right post and frequently causes confusion.  You would think someone with the amount of free time he has living on the dole that he could figure out how to post properly.  I worry that this is a sign of a deeper psychological issue.....besides the obvious one of supporting TOTUS and Billary.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Nice RANT, but...
Date:	6/12/2014 6:43:58 PM

Yea, now that I look at it you are correct but seeing a big NOT TRUE directly under my post set me off....lol.  I know goofy and he is generally a good guy other than the mental disease of liberalism.  Everything I said is validated by Cpt. Brooks' post above also.