I've been boarded about a dozen times, and in almost every case the Coasties have been terrific. Polite, professional. Don't get an attitude with them, and no problem.
My bottom line is they are the guys who will pluck me from my raft, in the event of a calamity aboard the SV Escape Pod II.
I just hope that COs will go over some sort of "courtesy standards" to ensure no JBT treatment of American citizens, ever. Even if it is already rare. A few bad search cases get spread all over the waterfront and the internet, and it harms the USCG's interface with their "clients."
I've been boarded about a dozen times, and in almost every case the Coasties have been terrific. Polite, professional. Don't get an attitude with them, and no problem.
Basically good advice whenever you;re dealing with LEOs
It never hurts to be nice.
Roger that.
I'll own up. I *was* once that coastie *doing* those boardings some (now many) years ago. I boarded hundreds and hundreds of different boats over the time I was in. I was enlisted, but I'd done so many boardings that I had worked my way into being the lead Boarding Officer or Assistant Boarding Officer on many boardings.
I grew up on boats. I understand and fully identify with the boating community. Most people in the CG have the same story. That's why I joined the Coast Guard and it is the overriding reason why most people do. Nothing I did while I was there was in any way a violation of that.
The thing that ticks me off about this story us that it seems to just leave unchecked this idea that there's coasties just sitting around waiting for the chance to go hassle mom and pop boater.
As if.
Stuff like this doesn't happen for no reason. There just isn't time for playgames. There's lots better stuff to do.