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OUR WATERWAYSBy Steve MorrellNew Yorkers Complain About Too Many Boat InspectionsIt appears Florida isn’t the only place where the water policecontinually stop and inspect boaters. I read an AssociatedPress article that reported the problem persists in New York.In July, a group of boaters on the Hudson River joinedtogether in signing petitions and gathering in a flotilla protestingwhat they say is harassment by several police agencies incertain areas, all in the name of security. The AP quoted oneboater who said he was stopped four times in a four-mile sectionby four different agencies. He added that he was not theonly one being stopped; everyone was being stopped.Boaters complained that their rights of unlawful searchand seizure were being violated and that if such stops andsearches were happening on the roads, there would be a revolutionin the country. Numerous complaints were reportedabout peaceful days of boating being constantly interruptedby police stops.The AP reported that another boater said the policepatrol boats are “waiting for the boats to come out of theirslips” and “stop anybody at anytime.”Many would like to see a state inspection certificate toprevent the same boats being stopped over and over. Thestate responded that such a law would still not solve thesafety issue of whether there were enough life jackets onboard. I wonder if that would be good enough reason tostop every car on the highway to make sure everyone hadtheir seat belt on in those states that require seat belts beworn. But that would be against the law, since the policecan’t stop a car without probable cause. The car must obviouslyhave something illegal, like a brake light out or someother infraction, before the police can stop it. The stateresponse holds no water, so to speak.The AP article reported that state law enforcementofficials said the inspections would drop as budget cuts gointo effect. Now there’s a good reason to protect someone’scivil liberties. Those officials should be barred from policework for making such a comment. All the police commentsabout the situation centered on solving the problem ofmultiple agencies stopping the same boat. None mentionedboaters’ rights in not being stopped for any reasonthe police like.The article did quote one person who got to the heart ofthe matter—a protest organizer, Lex Filipowski, who saidthere was a simple solution: “If we just acknowledge theConstitution and the Fourth Amendment, it would be agood start.”Sounds like Florida, where boaters’ toilets are inspectedat night with bullhorns blaring and floodlights shining—even guns are sometimes drawn during toilet inspections.Don’t those New York boaters know these unwarrantedinspections are old hat down here?HOBIE CATSUNFISHLASER420OPTIMISTPRECISIONWAKEBOARDSSKIMBOARDSWATERSKISWE SELL FUNHOBIE MIRAGE SPORTPedal KayakLargest Dive Shopon the West Coast727-546-5080800-537-6099www.tackleshack.comWe’ll be on-siteat your regatta with Parts,Accessories & SupportOR STOP BY THE STORE:7801 66th St. NorthPinellas Park, FL 33781KAYAKSThe World is a Waterpark. Since 1962, we have sold the best rides!For more information, e-mail andy@tackleshack.com34 September 2011 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com