 Check out the bookstore at IRBS.com |
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: Norm of Bandersnatch (no email)
Date: Fri May 12 2006 - 16:31:52 EDT
This morning, May 12th, as I was taking Jan into the dinghy dock to do some
errands for her mom we were stopped by the local St Augustine city cops.
They told us we were in violation of a rule that creates a no-wake zone
within 500 feet of a construction area. This area is the building of a
temporary bridge to carry traffic while the historical Bridge of Lions is
being overhauled. There are several flat-top spud barges weighing several
thousand tons near the bridge.
There are no "no wake" buoys or signs posted.
The cop also told us we were in violation of Coast Guard regulations
because we did not have a fire extinguisher aboard the dinghy. Our dinghy
is a 10' Caribe inflatable with outboard motor and is NOT required to have
a fire extinguisher. It was obvious to Jan and I that he was threatening
us. When I objected to this accusation he immediately decided to fine us
$65 for making a wake in a no-wake zone.
Since his decision to fine us came immediately upon my objecting to his
false claim that we were in violation of a law requiring us to have a fire
extinguisher it was obvious he decided to fined us as punishment for
objecting to being accused of violating a rule that does not exist. He
even stated, "You just talked yourself into a citation!"
I requested that he write a citation about the fire extinguisher too but he
refused to do so.
He also claimed he had his blue light on. Neither Jan nor I saw any blue
light at any time during this incident.
Taken together with the incident of a few weeks ago when we were stopped
and repeatedly warned against anchoring in a local cove, even after we
declared we had no intention of doing so, and was actually physically
impossible for us to do, in addition to being threatened ("I'm sure we can
find something to fine you for"), a pattern of harassment may be emerging.
I will keep the list informed.
Norm
S/V Bandersnatch
Lying St Augustine FL
___________________________________________________________________________
|| The Live-Aboard List : send a "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" request ||
|| in body of message to: ||
|