Missouri Water Patrol Getting Ready For Drunken Boater Crackdown.

[jdmidwest]

I think I will just sit in my hardened bunker tonight and get plowed.

I am still wondering what drinking and paddling has anything to do with it. As long as you behave, have a shuttle or Designated Driver, don't litter, and are of age to do so, it should not be an issue.

Possession of alcohol in a boat in Illinois this year is an offense. But drinking soda makes you fat and that is against the law in some areas.......

[Al Agnew]

Wow. So I guess we should just concentrate all law enforcement efforts on policing the towns and cities and leave the rivers and countryside to be completely lawless. I guess the state water partrol should re-task to watch anybody who has an association with children in case they are child molesters. Oh, and I guess we should make very sure that all money derived from fines goes to whatever charity you think warrants it, and make sure while we're at it that we pay our law enforcement people no more than minimum wage...

See how hyperbole works?

Anybody who has ever floated a popular Ozark stream on a summer weekend will have horror stories to tell...unless they are part of the horror story. I always hear about "taking back America" or something like that. Well, I'd sure like to take back our magnificent Ozark streams from the drunken, drugged idiots who make it nearly impossible for anybody without their mindset to enjoy the rivers. And I want some serious law enforcement to go in that direction. I suspect we have enough police to go around if we insist that they do their jobs.

[fishinwrench]

Anybody who has ever floated a popular Ozark stream on a summer weekend will have horror stories to tell...

Yeah I've got two of them, but telling either one would screw up your long standing record of always being right.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Yeah I've got two of them, but telling either one would screw up your long standing record of always being right.

I've always thought I was right. Just don't express it.

And many of ya here have seen my antics on the rivers.

Miss my river brothers... but not all.

Oh... I do catch a fish or two.

[Greasy B]

In the end none of this will change anything. A few people will get busted, the locals will collect some revenue, law enforcement and the court system will justify their existence. Will the world be a safer place? Maybe, but probably not much safer than if a couple of folks were to loose their cell phones in the river. Will this cut down on obnoxious behavior? Maybe for one day by throwing a few people in jail. Will the people who are busted really deserve it? Some probably, but as likely as not some of the folks thrown in jail will just be mildly buzzed people who are mostly responcible and law abiding and just got caught doing what they do to relax. Rest assured this will not change the rivers or society for the better.

[Justin Spencer]

Rest assured this will not change the rivers or society for the better.

It sure helps knowing the potential for a ticket is out there. As long as all you are doing is drinking and not acting like a complete boob you have no risk of getting in trouble. Having eyes in the woods cuts down on open illegal drug use and blatant littering in my opionion.

Anybody who has ever floated a popular Ozark stream on a summer weekend will have horror stories to tell...unless they are part of the horror story.

That just isn't true. They can probably tell a story about some drunken behavior that they have seen in the past (you see that at little league games too sometimes), but we have big church and youth groups, scout troops, etc that float each and every weekend and come back year after year and have a great time. For many city dwellers this one trip a year is the only chance they have to spend time outside without there laptop, and while it is far from a natural experience on the weekends it is better for their kids than sitting at home playing Atari.

[ozark trout fisher]

That just isn't true. They can probably tell a story about some drunken behavior that they have seen in the past (you see that at little league games too sometimes), but we have big church and youth groups, scout troops, etc that float each and every weekend and come back year after year and have a great time. For many city dwellers this one trip a year is the only chance they have to spend time outside without there laptop, and while it is far from a natural experience on the weekends it is better for their kids than sitting at home playing Atari.

I think that depends a good deal on what river you're talking about. Some rivers (even those with fairly heavy traffic) just don't attract as many of the trouble makers as others do. Actually the river I have the most "horror stories" from isn't even one of the 10 or so most popular float streams in the Ozarks. Try floating the Big Piney from 6 crossings to Ross Bridge on a weekend and I guarantee you'll have some fun stories to tell...A lovely stretch of river that is just about completely ruined in the summer, not by the numbers of people, but by percentage of those people that are hammered drunk, stoned, or both, and make sure you know about it. If someone wants to float down the river, get drunk, and stay relatively quiet about it, then it's absolutely none of my business or anyone else's. But many (and let's be honest, probably most) of the party crowd has no respect for others on the river. Drunk and disorderly conduct is drunk and disorderly conduct as much on the river as anywhere else.

[Feathers and Fins]

It sure helps knowing the potential for a ticket is out there. As long as all you are doing is drinking and not acting like a complete boob you have no risk of getting in trouble. Having eyes in the woods cuts down on open illegal drug use and blatant littering in my opionion.

That just isn't true. They can probably tell a story about some drunken behavior that they have seen in the past (you see that at little league games too sometimes), but we have big church and youth groups, scout troops, etc that float each and every weekend and come back year after year and have a great time. For many city dwellers this one trip a year is the only chance they have to spend time outside without there laptop, and while it is far from a natural experience on the weekends it is better for their kids than sitting at home playing Atari.

But is this the behavior we want the Scouts to learn and think is ok?

Is this the behavior we want the Church groups to think is ok? and they do have a powerful voice in the community one I have seen strong enough to cause laws to be enacted.

I think it is more important for them, myself and others NOT to have to see and deal with it. If I saw this behavior at a park or anyplace else I would call the police and you can bet arrest would be made for D&D. So why is it acceptable for our lakes and rivers?

Now this one I cant pass up and its a shot right at you Justin ( ATARI ) Dam son your showing your age! Even I know its X-box or Playstation 3 lol ( but i know what pong is and played it)

[fishinwrench]

Hell F&F, there's way more rotten behavior going on in churches than there is on the rivers.

I think we need more cops in there!

[Feathers and Fins]

Hell F&F, there's way more rotten behavior going on in churches than there is on the rivers.

I think we need more cops in there!

Maybe but thats inside where only the members not the public have to deal with it and see it... This is in public where I am forced to see it.