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Since when does the Department of Commerce have the Constitutional power to prevent free passage of American citizens on the waters of the United States? That is a War Power. Do we have a declared war? Bush's speech doesn't count.

I can think of a number of navigable channels less than 100 yards wide. Consider the Oakland/Alameda Estuary. A Navy ship at Todd's floating drydock could shut it down. Then there's the Napa River near Mare Island.

The Navy should be in charge of patrolling around their vessels. With container ships arriving and unloading totally uninspected, with those containers having full access to the North American continent, I think we have higher priorities for the Coast Guard than to harass American boaters (no, I don't have a boat), and I CERTAINLY don't think walking on the Constitution is necessary to protect American Naval vessels.

This is just about as dumb as the Federal Deputies inspecting old ladies at airports. Somebody should tell Mineta to unplug his butt and open his eyes. Better yet, he should be fired.

Since when does the Department of Commerce have the Constitutional power to prevent free passage of American citizens on the waters of the United States? That is a War Power.

What does the Department of Commerce have to do with anything? 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.

Back off of my fellow Coasties.

"I think we have higher priorities for the Coast Guard than to harass American boaters"

Having spent nearly 8 months at the local Coast Guard base AND reviewing the daily logs as part of my Radio Watchstanding course and duties I have yet to see one case of the Coast Guard harrasing an American boater.
I have seen many cases of the Coast Guard saving peoples lives and boats.
Coos Bay is the 7th largest port on the West Coast.
BTW Yesterday I passed my test and oral review board to become a fully quaified Radio Watchstander on the base.
If there are any harrasment cases coming in on my watch, I will be the one answering the radio or phone 1st.

"The Navy should be in charge of patrolling around their vessels."

From press release above
All vessels within 500 yards of any large U.S. naval vessel (greater than 100 feet) must operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course and proceed as directed by the Navy or Coast Guard patrol
enforcing the zone.

10 Aug 1971 Federal Boat Safety Act signed. CG given wider authority over recreational boating in U.S.

Alameda and Mare Island are both shut down. Great bases but the lefty nuts in the bay area did not want them there any longer. San Diego is a very narrow channel with alot of navy traffic.