Posted on 05/18/2024 7:04:18 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
There is a reason that Michigan is among the leaders in the nation for registered boats. With four of the five great lakes surrounding us, 10,000 inland lakes and ponds, and a 35,000 mile web of rivers, streams, and wetlands, it is important to know the rules of the water road. Here is what we think you need to know if you’re heading out on the boat anytime soon.
I’m no expert, but it seems like one of the most important things to know before you go is the size of your vessel. A vessel’s length class determines the equipment necessary to comply with federal and state laws. Keep your vessel’s size in mind as you go through this breakdown of The Handbook of Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities.
According to The Handbook, “you must have a Michigan Certificate of Number (registration) and validation decals to operate your vessel legally on public waters in Michigan.” There are exceptions to registration requirements; if you are operating a privately owned rowboat 16 feet or less in length, if you are operating a privately owned non-motorized canoe or kayak, or if your vessel is registered in another state using Michigan waters for 60 days or less......
“The boating laws of Michigan are enforced by officers of the Law Enforcement Division of the Michigan DNR, county sheriff’s department, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and any other authorized law enforcement agency. They have the right to stop and board vessels in order to check for compliance with federal and state laws. The USCG has enforcement authority on federally controlled waters.”
(Excerpt) Read more at help.clickondetroit.com ...
“I saw a vid where a marine patrol stopped a boat and starting checking compliance, without probable cause. It appears at least in Michigan boat owners do not have 4th Amendment rights. According to the handbook the consent to search your boat is not needed”
Name a state where where they need “probable cause” to stop you and check compliance. I can’t.
UNITED STATES Coast Guard dont need no steenking 4th Amendment.
And No Motorboating!
The governor winch makes them up as she goes along depending on her schedule
We got stopped last summer for not having a current decal on our boat (North Idaho). The Sheriff and his deputy were scanning boats with binocs and spotted our out-of-date decal. My wife had paid the registration, but, when the decal came in the mail, the boat was in winter storage. She forgot to slap it on when we put the boat in the water for the summer. The sheriff and deputy were real nice and gave us a personalized safety class right there on the water. We found out our horn is anemic (they wear out) and we discovered where our fire extinguisher was hidden. They were good natured about it and didn’t write us up for any of the problems. They did call in and get confirmation we were current on our payments.
We didn’t get boarded.
That is pretty much true in every state.
It’s against the law to carry a concealed boat.
Be the husband of Witch Whitmer and have no boating issues....
That story only works when said wife is currently in the said boat. Great hand off to the Sherriff and standing there quietly waiting for the wife to explain everything. That was a true piece of work!
LOL...you make it sound like that’s a tall tale! It’s all true. I swear it!
This is nothing new,
it is the same in every state that I know of.
Don’t drink and boat!
Who cares, and why?
Gov in MI is a socialist cant -a +u
And for the record plenty of guys can qualify as a cant too.
Much prefered outcome.
- - -
Probable Cause is not required. Much depends upon the ranking officer of a patrol boat.
Goofballs misbehaving - waterskiing close to an ore carrier or river barge, is sufficient cause to stop a boat.
“We didn’t get boarded.”
I have had three compliance checks. Never boarded.
I had a friend that had his sailboat boarded by the CG with rifles at the ready.
The CG was just “practicing”!
“Do you know who I am?”
A real fun day on the boat!
I just got a sailboat and saw 3 pontoon boats tugged back
IIRC-—LAKE TAHOE HAS same searches
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