Posted on 09/22/2005 2:42:37 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Two of the Moss Landing Harbor residents who were the subjects of random boat searches during Labor Day Weekend say their experiences were closer to armed invasions than the friendly "safety inspections" characterized by U.S. Coast Guard officials.
Both residents said search crews entered the harbor in inflatable boats with machine guns mounted on their bows. Then, carrying M-16 rifles, they approached residents and boarded and searched their boats in the name of safety and "homeland security."
One resident, who asked not to be identified for fear or retribution, said his experience was "very intimidating, very frightening."
"To me it reeks of Nazi Germany and the death squads in Argentina," he said. "I don't want my name on their list."
Scott Jones, a live-aboard resident who was searched, said there has been talk in the harbor about contacting the American Civil Liberties Union, but he first wants to hear further from the Coast Guard about its future intentions.
Lt. Mark Warren of the Monterey Coast Guard Station said he has heard mostly positive response to the operation, but may rethink future actions given current criticisms.
"We take lessons and learn from these types of operations. If the public is genuinely distasteful of it, we might not do it," he said. "I'm not saying we won't, but I'm not saying we will."
In addition to trying to ensure the safety of boats on the bay during the holiday weekend, Warren said, the operation was part of an effort to increase the public's awareness of the Coast Guard's role as a law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security. He said the public might have been surprised to see weaponry that is now standard issue to all Homeland Security forces.
"I, as a U.S. citizen, am highly offended by that," said Jones, who is accustomed to Coast Guard boardings when he sails. "When a sheriff's deputy drives down the road or a CHP officer drives down the road and I see them, I'm aware of his job, and not because he's pulled me over and put a gun to my head.
"The Coast Guard's needs would be better served by an advertising campaign," he said, "rather than bullying people in their bedrooms at 10:30 at night."
Jones said he and his wife were sleeping when they were awakened by knocking on the side of the boat.
He went to the deck and was confronted by two armed officers asking if they could come aboard. Thinking something had happened in the harbor that the officers needed to talk to him about, Jones acquiesced.
"It seemed a little unreasonable at 10:30 at night," he said, "but it was the middle of the night and I was half asleep, so I said 'OK.' At this point, I looked out and saw six to eight officers (on the dock) and all appeared armed."
The officers boarded his boat and quickly spread out beyond the immediate deck without invitation, saying they were conducting a safety inspection.
"I can say with all certainly that what they did was not a safety inspection or in any way related to a safety inspection," he said. The officers demanded access to the bilge, saying they wanted to make sure the boat wasn't taking on water.
"This was highly suspect," Jones said. "If you're on board, you'd know if you were taking on water."
When Jones showed them the bilge, the officers repeatedly, and with increasing forcefulness, demanded to know if there were other accesses to the bilge. They also "demanded" the driver's licenses of everyone on board.
Increasingly upset by the nature of the search, Jones asked for the officers' authority and justification. One officer read to him from a federal code authorizing the search.
"It was either the Patriot Act or homeland security,"Jones said.
Warren said the officers would not have cited the Patriot Act because it affords the Coast Guard no additional authority.
Jones conceded he may have heard "homeland security" and registered "Patriot Act," but still feels the search was unwarranted and in a gray area of the law at best.
"I wouldn't question their professionalism, but I do question their motive and their authority," he said. "To me, it sounds like something that an ACLU lawyer would just tear apart."
Coast Guard officials say they are authorized by maritime law to board and search vessels on U.S. waters, including waters that lead to U.S. waters, to enforce federal laws.
Warren said the officers were attempting to ensure the safety and compliance of docked boats by checking for oily water in their bilges and that their sanitation devices were in locked position. Some searches were conducted at night in an effort to catch boats before they went onto the bay for the weekend.
The second boat owner who spoke to The Herald said his boat was searched after he challenged officers who were searching other boats, at 10:30 p.m. Sept. 2, and during the morning on following days. Told they were acting as Homeland Security officers, he asked what they were protecting the harbor from.
"Terrorists," he said he was told by the officers, who exhorted him to "remember the Cole," referring to the October 2000 attack by terrorists on the USS Cole that killed 17 sailors.
"The only terrorists down here are you guys," he told them. "You're scaring the hell out of me with that machine gun."
While Warren was noncommittal about future searches, he said it is important for the public to know the Coast Guard's presence will be increased.
"The Coast Guard's focus on homeland security has increased our presence on the water and will continue to increase our presence simply because that's what Congress is wanting us to do right now," he said. "The concern at the congressional level about the security of ports is pretty high."
MiI: stick with sports threads son...at least on those threads you can live out your fantasies. I thought your soccer post was most revealing as to your preferences.
DS: why am I reminded of raving lunatic when I see your screename? Must be your profile page.
"Must be your profile page."
The profile page, the last frontier of those who haven't a leg to stand on.
Thank you very much.
By the way, you didn't bother actually READING what was said at the linked posts, did you?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489544/posts?page=483#483
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489544/posts?page=525#525
Takenoprisoner said:
"This behavior by the US Coast Guard, boarding privately owned harbored boats as citizens sleep, is a disgrace and a disservice to the people so harrassed, and to the Coast Guard.
Time to remove this "Patriot Act" for good.
And all you sickos out here who suck the wangs of the gestapo warriors do not deserve to live in a nation
born for freedom." -post 575
This reminded me of what Nov3 said in post 483 linked here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489544/posts?page=483#483
And the response by the Big Guy found here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489544/posts?page=525#525
Taken, perhaps you should retract, recind, or modify your statement?
LOL
ok....meanwhile you just stick to your bong or your 15 shot limit each and every night so you make MORE great posts like the one you made up at post # 575 moron....
"Taken, perhaps you should retract, recind, or modify your statement?"
It is a disservice to use the USCG to harass sleeping citizens aboard their docked boats at the marina in the middle of the night. This is nothing more than a midnight drug raid (fishing expedition) executed upon innocent and unsuspecting american citizen boaters.
Time for the unpatriot act to go. If the cia and the fbi can't communicate without this intrusive act, then
we have an even more serious problem than any of us realize.
Sure the CG can board upon the high seas and the inter coastal waterways. But in the past this was done with vessels underway. Never upon private vessels in the middle of the night while docked at a private marina and while the ship's captain mom and dad and kids and the rest of his her crew were sleeping.
Someone could have been unecessarily killed or maimed...including innocent children.
Anyone justifying this kind activity does not deserve to live as a free man in a free society.
"Of course he didn't. Reading isn't in the troll handbook and besides to actually read a statement, he would have to put down the bong first...."
I read it before. Now see my latest at 587.
PS
you have the best arguments I have ever read...wow, you are such a master debater.
I don't.
Wow, all of that just to say that you not only did not read what Nov3 and Jim said, but that you back up the ZOTTED Nov3?
Taken, go read these posts:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489544/posts?page=483#483
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489544/posts?page=525#525
And then tell me how your post 575 differs at all from what was said in post 483.
"Someone could have been unecessarily killed or maimed...including innocent children. "
Life would be extremely boring and meaningless if we dwelt on what COULD have been.
Anyone justifying this kind of activity does not deserve to live as a free man in a free society.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489544/posts?page=483#483
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489544/posts?page=525#525
"Anyone justifying this kind of activity does not deserve to live as a free man in a free society."
Is that a threat?
"Is that a threat?"
Why on earth would I bother to threaten a meaningless tic on a hogs arse? I mean what more harm could I possibly inflict upon such a bloodsucker?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489544/posts?page=483#483
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489544/posts?page=525#525
"I mean what more harm could I possibly inflict upon such a bloodsucker?"
Project much?
Words to make him sweat, "Police, search warrant!"
Dude dude dude!!
Stash the Stash!!!!
LOL
I cannot believe this guy is still here.
"Why on earth would I bother to threaten a meaningless tic on a hogs arse?"
Because you are incapable of any actual honest debate as shown by your attack from the bio page lame tactics?
"Must be your profile page." -post 581
The profile page, the last frontier of those who haven't a leg to stand on.
And also because you are saying the same thing that got somebody the zot?
Go ahead and slam the Coasties and National Guard again.
"The profile page, the last frontier of those who haven't a leg to stand on. "
Then maybe you need to update your profile page so as to not look like an idiot.
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