[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Seems the jackboots are out in all their goose-stepping glory...

[RichInOC]

"To me it reeks of Nazi Germany and the death squads in Argentina..."

No, those guys wouldn't even bother with the search. They'd just give you a quick third eye, throw you overboard and confiscate the boat.

The Coasties might be overdoing it, but you, anonymous boater, are a melodramatic fool.

[freepatriot32]

ping

[torchthemummy]

My guess is it is similar to the pc-standards applied when checking airline passengers. Random searches of the obviously non-profile types so when a true threat is suspected (the logical, understood profile - middle-eastern) a strong, unannounced search can be conducted without giving the ACLU any grounds to win a law suit.

It sucks but ultimately blame the radical muslims, CAIR, and all of the far-left for creating the necessity for this pc-correctness-proof countertactic.

[firequarrel]

Gee, this sounds like a typical day for the Florida Marine Patrol. God love em.

[Jim Noble]

One resident, who asked not to be identified for fear or retribution, said his experience was "very intimidating, very frightening." "To me it reeks of Nazi Germany and the death squads in Argentina," he said. "I don't want my name on their list."

Yes, I'm sure it was JUST like that...

[sergeantdave]

This is certainly one of the more interesting posts. I never knew all this about the USCG and maritime law.

I'll probably never be boarded by the Coast Guard because I try to stay away from waters where the things that live there can eat you in one bite.

Walleyes and bass is about it for me.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The ACLU doesn't give a crap about illegal searches. They are too busy making sure that no child is allowed to say prayers over their lunch at school.

[SaltyJoe]

It's an interesting article, but I think many Americans forget the nature of piracy, drug running, and the adverse work environment that our US Coast Guard has to deal with.

I know of a Coastie who was shot by a kid when he inspected a boat. Apparently the father of the kid ramped up the little fellow with "defend thy honor" type of rhetoric. Luckily for the Coastie, the flak jacket stopped the bullet and he didn't return fire.

I also know of another law enforcement officer who was blown to bits from a drug runner's RPG.

I've met Coasties that had the displeasure of searching homosexual cruises and told me what they witnessed.

If Coasties board your boat, and depending on where you are, chances are they're more ready to take a hit than we ever would (considering that Freepers reading this are definately law abiding and lovers of our nation's defenders). The Coasties I know are ready for a fight and they plan on winning. If they act like a cop who's just been shot at, then maybe it's because they've had the unpleasant experience. The War on Drugs hasn't ended and it's a very real war with real causalities.

So, if Coasties board your boat, be nice and offer them a cup a coffee. I don't know too many salty seafarers that don't like coffee. They aren't after law abiding citizens, so establish that relationship of trust and confidence and try to understand their job and all its associated hardships.

[SaltyJoe]

It's an interesting article, but I think many Americans forget the nature of piracy, drug running, and the adverse work environment that our US Coast Guard has to deal with.

I know of a Coastie who was shot by a kid when he inspected a boat. Apparently the father of the kid ramped up the little fellow with "defend thy honor" type of rhetoric. Luckily for the Coastie, the flak jacket stopped the bullet and he didn't return fire.

I also know of another law enforcement officer who was blown to bits from a drug runner's RPG.

I've met Coasties that had the displeasure of searching homosexual cruises and told me what they witnessed.

If Coasties board your boat, and depending on where you are, chances are they're more ready to take a hit than we ever would (considering that Freepers reading this are definitely law abiding and lovers of our nation's defenders). The Coasties I know are ready for a fight and they plan on winning. If they act like a cop who's just been shot at, then maybe it's because they've had the unpleasant experience. The War on Drugs hasn't ended and it's a very real war with real causalities.

So, if Coasties board your boat, be nice and offer them a cup a coffee. I don't know too many salty seafarers that don't like coffee. They aren't after law abiding citizens, so establish that relationship of trust and confidence and try to understand their job and all its associated hardships.

[RinaseaofDs]

I used to be one of those jackbooted bording officers. Yeah they would whine about how intimidated they were until we pulled a couple of bails of BC Bud out of the engine hold of their sailboat.

Another bleeding heart had $350M in cocaine on their sport fishing boat.

We had others with illegals aboard.

The CG has the widest jurisdiction of any law enforcement body in the US. They can stop a US flag vessel anywhere in the world.

You want your borders protected, that means your ports and the navigable waters.

[Razz Barry]

"Terrorists," he said he was told by the officers, who exhorted him to "remember the Cole," referring to the October 2000 attack by terrorists on the USS Cole that killed 17 sailors."

I didn't know the Cole was attacked in Monterey.

[Fierce Allegiance]

I was a coastie. I did hundreds of these boardings. My job was to cover the crew of the boat we inspected. I carried a 45 and a remington 870 sea service shotgun, short baerrel.

[SevenDaysInMay]

Blackrobes have costantly RULED that Boats and Motor Homes are "conveyances", not homes protected by our Bill of Rights",...just another example of "compelling State interests" conjured to enhance the police powers of the State.

It does not seem to matter that such dwellings are citizens' homes. One can always put such for as one's defense or cause of action, but don't bank on it. You'll be shot dead in the name of police action - in your home, even if you could have proven that you were not a criminal/terorist.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Seems the jackboots are out in all their goose-stepping glory..."

Jim Robinson, my rant

To the posters, on this thread, that have made remarks like this.

I'm sure you are the same people who said

1) Gitmo troops are abusing "detainees"

2) ALL Iraq USA troops abuse "detainees"

3) President Bush WAS AWOL

You are so quick to buy the media's ONE SIDED story
and believe everything you read
and are willing to find the military GUILTY
without any real facts.

I'll give those of you anti-Coast Guard posters some
REAL facts.

Over Labor Day weekend the US Coast Guard was saving lives in New Orleans.

Among other places.

On any given day, the men and women of the Coast Guard:

• Conduct 109 search-and-rescue missions.
• Assist 192 people in distress.
• Seize 169 pounds of marijuana.
• Nab 306 pounds of cocaine.
Most important, the Coast Guard saves lives.
"Ten or 12 people today will go home to dinner with their family
only because the Coast Guard got them out of trouble,"
said Adm. James Loy, commandant of the Coast Guard.
Now that's a respectable day's work.
All from a service of only 35,000 people, fewer than the New York Police Department.

And you anti-Coast Guard posters get up, away from the keyboard and do something to help either the Coast Guard
or an other agency.

I have reported to Motor Lifeboat Station Coos Bay OR
every week, at least one day a week,
often times more, since Oct 2001
March 2005 update
In March 2005 I became the 1st Flotilla 51 AND Division 5 member
to be designated a CFVE.
(Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiner)
May 2005 update
I head a unit that does all voluntary CFVE dockside exams for Station Coos Bay
and verify compliance to any boardings at sea safety violations

This is what I do

Commercial fishing is one of our nation’s most hazardous industries.
The Coast Guard is committed to increasing safety in the fishing industry.
The main objective is to increase compliance
with the minimum safety requirements found in
Title 46 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 28—
Requirements for Commercial Fishing Industry Vessels.

U.S.C.G Auxiliary Fishing Vessel Safety Division
I am 1 of 162 CFVE's (Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiner)
trained and certified by the US Coast Guard
nationwide out of 32,719 Auxiliary members.
I am 1 of 9 CFVE's
out of 1,704 Auxiliary members in Dist 13 (WA, OR, ID, MT).

So you see I have 1st hand, on the job, experience with being on boats in harbors.

And it does not cost you anti military types one taxpayer dollar.

Feel free to ping your lists,
both PRO MILITARY and ANTI MILITARY

[StarCMC]

I can't believe you bought this story hook, line and sinker.

[vetvetdoug]

The CG would have a field day with me. I keep an M-1A with laser sight and scope onboard with me along with a M-1911 .45. I use them for fishing.......

[Just another Joe]

Coast Guard officials say they are authorized by maritime law to board and search vessels on U.S. waters, including waters that lead to U.S. waters, to enforce federal laws.

EVERY water outside the USA that's not landlocked leads to US waters.
Does this mean the Coast Guard can exercise their authority off the nationally recognized waters of France?

Besides that, conducting "safety inspections" at 10:30 PM after everyone is in bed asleep?
This sounds like abuse of authority whether it's strictly legal or not.

[eleni121]

Seems like some idiots have not grasped the dangers the US faces and are more concerned about their own little pleasures than homeland security which affects everyone.

My vote is with the coast Guard.

[Sam Cree]

Ramius, don't know if you are on this thread or not, I haven't read through the replies yet.

I have long understood that the USCG has boarding rights on US registered vessels anywhere in the world.

The one time I was boarded by the Coast Guard, about fifteen miles out from Miami, the boarding crew, who came aboard wearing flak vests and carrying side arms, were extremely polite and professional. Since Miami is a major smuggling port, the boarding wasn't really unexpected and I can't say I really minded.

Regarding other waterborne authorities, I have heard that US Customs agents can be pretty rough and I know that National Park Rangers can be rude, but the USCG has a good reputation. I will say that their choice in this case of boarding at 22:30 hours was kind of ill advised and unnecessary.

[maineman]

"To me it reeks of Nazi Germany and the death squads in Argentina," he said. "I don't want my name on their list."




Why not? If you haven't done anything wrong...not to worry.