Posted on 05/29/2002 1:26:07 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
PORTSMOUTH, Va. This years boating season will be markedly different than summers past, Coast Guard officials are warning recreational boaters this week.
New rules and regulations have been put in place by the Coast Guard nationwide since Sept. 11, all in an effort to help ensure the safety and security of ports, waterways, maritime facilities and U.S. Naval ships.
On June 15, a temporary Coast Guard regulation to protect U.S. Navy ships, that was put into effect Sept. 14, as a result of the attacks, will become permanent, creating a standing safety perimeter around all large U.S. Navy ships anchored, moored or operating in U.S. waters.
These Naval Vessel Protection Zones (NVPZ) help protect our Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines fighting the war on terrorism by effectively creating a no-float zone around U.S. Navy ships, said Vice Adm. James D. Hull, Atlantic Area Commander. Nothing the Coast Guard does now in the war on terrorism is more important than protecting our Navy ships and safeguarding our ports.
The new Naval Vessel Protection Zone, along with dozens of security zones placed around power plants, marine facilities, cruise ships and hazardous cargo vessels across the nation, are designed to reduce vulnerabilities and increase security as part of the Coast Guards largest port security operation since WWII.
Todays announcement comes at the conclusion of National Safe Boating Week, an annual national campaign aimed at reducing the numbers of boating fatalities each year. Nationwide in 2000, there were 7,740 accidents resulting in 701 fatalities, 4,355 injuries and nearly 35 million dollars in damage, according to the Coast Guards Boating Statistics 2000, the 42nd annual report.
Being safe on the water this summer takes on a whole new meaning, Hull said. Being safe on the water this summer means complying with new security zone restrictions, reporting suspicious activity on the water and taking care not to become a search and rescue case, which may draw us away from our homeland security duties.
Violating a Naval Vessel Protection Zone is punishable as a class D felony, which can result in a prison term of up to six years and a $250,000 fine.
DETAILS EXCERPTED FROM THE PERMANENT REGULATION
To further assist the public, the Coast Guard established a Maritime Safety Line, 1-800-682-1796, which is now available to provide both commercial and recreational mariners with the latest, up-to-date information on local waterways and ports openings, closures and restrictions along the eastern seaboard, Great Lakes, and Gulf of Mexico. This information is also available online at: http://www.uscg.mil/safeports/
The Coast Guard was under the DOC until 1967, and was then transferred to the DOT under LBJ. Historically, they have been more often a part of the Treasury Department as their original function was to collect tarrifs. I had not updated my memory. Mea Culpa.
BTW, that was when they added the gold fringe to your shoulder patches. I suppose you know what that means.
The US Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation, and is a federal law enforcement agency. In addition to search and rescue, they enforce the United States Code during peacetime. During wartime, they become a part of the US Navy.
That doesn't give them lawmaking powers, does it? In case you hadn't noticed, we don't have a Declaration of War from Congress, nor has the USCG been transferred to the Navy. Meanwhile my concern about mistaken priorities remains:
What about those container ships?
It's relatively quiet up in Coos Bay. Having spent 9 YEARS living on the water in the Port of Oakland, I have.
I have seen many cases of the Coast Guard saving peoples lives and boats.
So have I. I have also had the privilege of having them attend a burial at sea. But I have also seen them playing eco-cop without any knowledge of what they were doing, I know people who saw them getting their jollies boarding boats with nude babe sunbathers, I nearly got my boat bashed when they were conducting a "safety check" in choppy water just because they wanted to gawk at the antique yacht, and know that they tried to board a Federally documented vessel illegally (all 20 years ago).
If there are any harrasment cases coming in on my watch, I will be the one answering the radio or phone 1st.
Do you really believe that a boater would be dumb enough to complain about the Coasties on the radio? Gimme a break.
A law is very different from a regulation. All government agencies have regulations that help them carry out their responsibilities (for better or for worse). Can you think of an agency that doesn't make regulations and also enforce consequences for those who violate them? The US Coast Guard has been given the responsibility of protecting the Navy ships in US navigable waters, and they created some regulations to get the job done. I have no problem with that.
These Naval Vessel Protection Zones (NVPZ) help protect our Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines fighting the war on terrorism by effectively creating a no-float zone around U.S. Navy ships, said Vice Adm. James D. Hull, Atlantic Area Commander. Nothing the Coast Guard does now in the war on terrorism is more important than protecting our Navy ships and safeguarding our ports.
The new Naval Vessel Protection Zone, along with dozens of security zones placed around power plants, marine facilities, cruise ships and hazardous cargo vessels across the nation, are designed to reduce vulnerabilities and increase security as part of the Coast Guards largest port security operation since WWII.
How can this be a problem for you?
Meanwhile my concern about mistaken priorities remains: What about those container ships?
What would you like the USCG to do? Board every one of them and open every container? Or maybe you are suggesting they write up some new regulations?
They have a reputation of working over boaters.
Just a word of warning, make sure all the safe boating rules are observed, and there should be little if any problem.
For more up to date info check: Incedent News
Perhaps you are refering to the US Coast Guard's practice of asking selected boaters to heave to so that a safety check can be performed.
While stationed at a small boat station in a tourist area, I once pulled over a 15 foot open boat with three adults and 5 children on board. There were 3 floatation devices on board (seat cushion-type.) As the grandfather protested, I sent them back to the marina. I had just gotten a rescue call and couldn't escort them in.
After I towed in a fishing boat with an engine fire, I was returning to the station when I happened upon the family of 8 in the skiff. I promptly took the children on board my boat and towed Grandpa and his pals back to the marina.
I guess I really worked them over.
There are some hot dogs who take the law enforcement part of the job way too seriously. Same is true for any law enforcement agency. But Coast Guardsmen in general are about safety above all. We have gotten there too late too many times.
Please explain the operant Constitutional distinction without running afoul of the Separation of Powers Principle.
All government agencies have regulations that help them carry out their responsibilities (for better or for worse).
Only because Congress defaulted upon its Constitutional responsibility via a series of delegations of their legislative responsibility and the courts have abetted it in their interest as well. Further, many of those so-called "responsibilities" are also unconstitutional infringements by the Federal government, particularly property rights.
Can you think of an agency that doesn't make regulations and also enforce consequences for those who violate them?
No. That doesn't make the practice Constitutional, instead it is a WILD stretch of the Commerce Clause. I also can't think of an agency that doesn't make rules in its own interest as alienated from those of citizens.
I wrote a book proposing a system of free-market regulation because few of those delegated "responsibilities" were function in accordance with the limited powers granted the national government under the Constitution. Nearly all civic regulation is a democratic taking of the use of private property and is a temptation to corruption. They have enormous unintended consequences. Consider the EPA. Increasingly, EPA regulations reflect the profit interests of campaign contributors, particularly real estate.
BTW, nearly all Federal ownership of land violates Article 1, Section 8. Perhaps you should read the document.
The US Coast Guard has been given the responsibility of protecting the Navy ships in US navigable waters, and they created some regulations to get the job done. I have no problem with that.
No doubt. The police never have a problem drafting, writing, interpreting, administering, and enforcing laws that serve their interests. It is still a violation of the Constitution.
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