Has anyone had any problems with the sheriff patrols on the lake? I ride on Canyon Lake in Texas, and we were pulled over on Friday and Saturday for safety checks while boarding? Don't these guys have to have some sort of motive or something to just pull boats over all the time if they're not doing anything wrong but boarding. I don't see them pulling over family boats, etc..

I had my first summer "talking to" last weekend when we went out. It was myself and my buddy and 5 blondes <IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0>...I think the guy just wanted to look as some chicks, but he was alright...checked some jackets, registration, and fire extinguisher and left us alone.

profiling<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0>

<a href="http://www.boatcop.com" target="_blank">www.boatcop.com</a>

I usually don't get profiled, the only times i have been pulled over was for having no spotter and we got a ticket for that once. The other time he pulled up and was laughing because we had been waiting for him to go on break all day and knew we were gonna ride without a spotter.

pulled over idling in a no wake zone for a saftey check....arrested and taken to jail for refusing to take sobriety tests. saftey checks are necessary evils. a couple of years and about $4k in lawyers fees, chrages were dropped. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by wake1823 on May 07, 2007)

the ones on our lake arnt that smart. <BR> <BR>they checked our jackets once and not a single one was USCGA approved and they still passed us

They are just doing their job. <BR> <BR>Next week stop by their boat and say hi...offer a boat check and offer some water. <BR> <BR>Next week they will remember you and leave you alone. We love our warden chick here in dallas. We always stop and shoot the bull, offer beverages and roll on. No drama.

If you take Rich's advice, just dont offer alcohol beverages or you wont roll on! <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0>

We got stopped once last year on Lake Austin because a chick was sitting up on the side of the boat. The cop did a quick safety check and gave us a warning. He was really cool about it. I can't knock someone for doing their job.

It differs state to state. I know in Missouri, they have to have probable cause to pull you over, but here they do not.

They can do a safety or license (fishing or operator if under 16) check in TN without any cause. I've never been stopped while pulling a wakeboarder but have been approached when sitting still or idiling. I have seen them stop boats or PWC's for cause when they are operating to close to other vessels or in unsafe manners.

I ahve had my share of run ins but if you are nice to them they are ussually nice back. Dont get an attitutde becasue then you are just asking for it. Believe me, I know what Im talking about <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0>

We aren't bothered much by them. Whenever they're within sight we are a little more careful how close we get to things but otherwise they're cool with us and leave us alone. They're more after the jet skis, they'll sit and watch and wait for them to do anything wrong. <BR> <BR>Last spring, slightly before the memorial day weekend rush we were idling around with one guy sitting on the side and one standing on the platform "using the facilities" and a DNR boat came flying over. He pulled up and said, "You guys know better right?" we all hung our heads and said "Yes sir we do"...there was a long pause of us thinking it was the most expensive break on record when he said "Yup, won't get too many more quiet mornings out here, enjoy" and took off. <BR> <BR>We have the occasional power tripping jerk who has to come yell at you for something that is legal or rides right up behind your rider to tell you something. But otherwise we leave them alone, they leave us alone

We ride on Lake Elsinore a lot and all they seem to bother us with is wakesurfing and going the wrong way. Normally if they approach us if were nice then there normally nice.

You can drink on the lakes here in Texas...just not 50 feet from shore.

We have had a few alcohol related boat accidents over the last few years, one or two were fatal, so I don't mind them pulling us over, it has only happened once in about 6 years. They were very nice to us and checked life jackets and fire extinguisher and registration.

I can see Rich up there saw the article in wakeboarding mag about how to not get a ticket. lol <BR> <BR>Everyone should check it out. Might save you some tickets

It was an interesting evening out on the lake already when my friend decided to put a little icing on the cake and out run the law.

^^^speakign of, wanna hear some good stories, ask them about being out run by jetskis, from what I've been told happens more than you think.

I haven't read all the post so sorry if i am repeating what someone else has said... Read this months "how to do everything" article in Wakeboard Mag. They talk about Cops and what to do to avoid being made an example of.

The only time they have pulled me over is when someone is sitting on the sundeck while the boat is moving. Normally they just ride up to us while we are taking a break and just sitting still in the water or they will check us before or after we launch or take up at the landing.

I'm proud to say I got a warning last weekend for having the music to loud. He told me he could write me a ticket. Yep I was pretty proud of it. It took me everything I had not to ask him to put the warning in writing....

I used to get pulled over a couple of times a week last month, but now they know the boat so they really don't bother me. Just make sure if you are driving the boat you don't drink, and have all your safety stuff and you will be fine. When you are on the street getting pulled over means a ticket most of the time. Getting pulled over on the water does not usually end up with a ticket...They just want to make sure you are being safe..

Cops are just trying to protect, serve and take in the sites...... <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65919/446519.jpg" alt="Upload">

Last summer there was a cop towing in a drunken fisherman on the river we ride in. Meanwhile, my buddy was done with his run, so I drove by his dock while he cut towards it and let go of the rope gliding onto his dock. Sure enough the cop cruised over with the fisherman in tow saying how dangerous that was. There were about eight of us on the boat and we had eight vests. However, 4 of them were NCA (stupid on our part). He said if he didn't have the boat in tow he would have given us a ticket, $200.00 for each NCA vest. I'm not sure if he would have ticketed us either way, but I'm glad we did not get an $800.00 ticket!!