Beat The Ticket!

[jeb]

I got a "wake in a no wake zone" ticket way back in March of this year in the Prarire Creek no wake zone. Got waved over to the end of a dock where the AGFC guys were busy busting bass boats for wakes. Really odd deal. I remember wondering why were they not in boats? At first, since there was a big bass tourney there that weekend, I figured they were just checking limits or safety stuff. I was doing just above idle so was blown away when he said I was putting out too much wake. Long story short, he said "no wake means idle speed". Since I'd already admitted I was not at idle, I took the ticket and left.

I looked up the no wake law both in the boating handbook and on the AGFC website, and it says no wake means no more than 5mph. Nothing about idle. Which makes sense. I could turn the idle up on my boat to 10mph and claim I was just doing idle, right? But I figured I'd be able to beat the ticket based on that. First, the dude was flat wrong in what he'd told me. Second, how's he going to prove I was doing more than 5mph? He certainly did not have a radar gun with him. So I decided to fight it.

The story gets mired down here because I had to open a complaint against the district court baliff after he exploded on me as I was in there trying to change the date of my hearing (I was going up north for 2 months, so couldn't make the court date). So then I got assigned a different judge, blah, blah. Pled not guilty a while back and the "trial" date was set for yesterday.

The AGFC guy didn't show, so it was probably a given I was going to get off. And that's what the prosecutor suggested. But the judge was curious about it since he'd never heard, or heard of, a no wake zone violation. So I presented my case quickly anyway. He was not even aware that there were no wake zones on the lake! But he said that unless the AGFC guy had been able to prove that I was doing more than 5mph instead of idle (as he'd incorrectly told me), I'd have won it anyway. Judge said it was a clever defense. Said he'd remember that in case it came up in the future.

So if you ever get hassled about a no wake zone violation, ask to see their radar gun. IMO, unless they do get radar guns accurate at that low speed level, the current law is basically unenforceable. Unless you were up on plane or something, I guess.

[RSBreth]

Why are they hassling you about such trivial stuff when I can send them pictures of a ski boat buzzing me (complete with their AR registration #) about 20-yards away when I'm in my canoe, and I get ignored?

[wormer]

I got pulled over in June for a no wake infraction. It was at the cut Horseshoe bend -- Monte ne area. The guys said I blew through the cut. I always slow down and idle. Anyway I was let off with a warning, after they checked all the safety stuff and paperwork. But I tried to ask how far on each side of the buoys was no wake and they would not give me an answer.

I glad you got off. Now lets go catch some fish.

I will get to go Sunday, so any reports after all this rain would be appreciated.

[J-Doc]

Why are they hassling you about such trivial stuff when I can send them pictures of a ski boat buzzing me (complete with their AR registration #) about 20-yards away when I'm in my canoe, and I get ignored?

I'm glad you mentioned that. After spending time on the water in a little 12ft jon boat with no motor, I can relate. The ski boats have "0" respect for other boaters in boats larger than theirs much less a small vessel.

I bet the complaint at P. Creek marina was from the people at the marina. I usually cruise through at 800-1000rpm but I have a small boat and try my best to not leave a wake that will be noticed by the time it gets to the marina. Usually, I see a very very small wake behind me but it's never more than a 2-4inches high if that. Heck, my boat will leave a wake almost that big with the trolling motor wide open....

I'm glad to see the AGFC out there controlling laws but I wish they would pay more attention the other spectrum and leave us fishing guys alone. We generally have more respect for other boaters of all vessels.

[J-Doc]

Sorry guys.........couldn't help myself.

[RSBreth]

Sorry guys.........couldn't help myself.

Hey that's fine, I like those guys, but my favorite is "Thousand Dollar Car".

Great obscure reference, by the way.

[Quillback]

Hey Wormer - I know exactly where that no wake buoy is you are talking about and I had the same question, how far from that buoy does the no wake rule apply? Apparently the enforcement people don't know either! Geez, from what JEB and you are saying, sounds like the folks that enforce the laws on Beaver need a training session so that they know what the law is they are enforcing.

[Quillback]

Hey Wormer - I know exactly where that no wake buoy is you are talking about and I had the same question, how far from that buoy does the no wake rule apply? Apparently the enforcement people don't know either! Geez, from what JEB and you are saying, sounds like the folks that enforce the laws on Beaver need a training session so that they know what the law is they are enforcing.

[jolicious]

I'm glad you mentioned that. After spending time on the water in a little 12ft jon boat with no motor, I can relate. The ski boats have "0" respect for other boaters in boats larger than theirs much less a small vessel.

I bet the complaint at P. Creek marina was from the people at the marina. I usually cruise through at 800-1000rpm but I have a small boat and try my best to not leave a wake that will be noticed by the time it gets to the marina. Usually, I see a very very small wake behind me but it's never more than a 2-4inches high if that. Heck, my boat will leave a wake almost that big with the trolling motor wide open....

I'm glad to see the AGFC out there controlling laws but I wish they would pay more attention the other spectrum and leave us fishing guys alone. We generally have more respect for other boaters of all vessels.

You're boat only kicks up a wake when your partner's big rear is in it - Oh wait, that's the NOSE of the boat that kicks up when I'm in it

[jeb]

Hey Wormer - I know exactly where that no wake buoy is you are talking about and I had the same question, how far from that buoy does the no wake rule apply? Apparently the enforcement people don't know either! Geez, from what JEB and you are saying, sounds like the folks that enforce the laws on Beaver need a training session so that they know what the law is they are enforcing.

Same deal going under the Hwy 12 bridge. If you didn't know those were no wake zones, you'd never have a chance to cut the motor before you were through them.

I fish around and go through PC a LOT since I live near, and launch in, Sunset Bay. So I see a lot of "violations" through the no wake zone. The other day, I saw a guy on full plane before coming out of the no wake zone there. It was obvious he'd come from the ramp area. After I got over the shock of it, I realized what may have happened. There are no "no wake" signs at the launch at PC that I'm aware of. So if you didn't already know you were in a no wake zone at the launch (first time launching there, etc), it'd be reasonable to idle away from the ramp a little bit and then let 'er go.