I've only been stopped by MP once, about 10-12 years ago. We usually are on the lake one week every summer in Tuftonboro, and are fortunate to be at a place that has about 700 feet of empty waterfront on either side of the dock until the next dock. So we're fortunate to have easy access in and out of our dock area without other hazards. One day, while waterskiing, we dropped the skier a little too close to the dock, and were pulled over. Got away with just a warning fortunately, after a safety check.

For our own safety, ever since then, we just don't waterski if there is a MP boat in the area. We're quite safe, but just don't take the chance.

-Rick

I'm a bit paranoid when I see a MP boat in the area as well. I always (try to) abide by boating laws and regulations, but still feel uneasy when they're in the area. On the other hand, I always wish one was around when some idiot almost swamps my boat by going full speed 20 feet away from me!

The only times I've been stopped by the MP, or over here by state police or Coast Guard, is for standard/random inspections.

In all my years of boating, I've personally never seen and of the idiotic boaters like you've just described being stopped. I'm sure some have, I've just never seen them.

For the stops posted about above, the MP's sure must be a bored lot, and they must never see Captain Bonehead either. I doubt there's anyone in this forum that wouldn't know exactly where to keep post to fine them. If the MP is reading this board, it does certainly give hints. :rolleye2:

Sunday night we were at the Weirs and saw a boater approach a stationary MP at about 15mph. The MP was not in a trap location. The passage was going to be about 30 feet. We all said, "he is dead". Sure enough, the blue lights came on. Sometimes they do get the bone head. Or in this case, the MPs didn't even have to move.

Wow. Lots of stories of encounters. Any videos of these? Anyone call the MP Headquarters with complaints? Anyone call WMUR and ask for a story? Maybe send a copy of this thread to the MP and to WMUR?

As far as having them do a turn and follow I can attest to that one. Right at the beginning of the season I was heading from the ramp in Center Harbor to my dock at Quayside/Trexlers. MP boat spotted me as I was the only one out there. Came by me, but farther than 150'. He then turned a 180, crossed my wake and started to follow me around the point. So I simply turned to starboard and made a complete 360 crossing his wake and started following him. And him me. I figured he was going to throttle down, but he didn't and continued off toward Long Island.

You really don't have to put up with the MP. And remember the part about going on your driving record is only if you are convicted. Fight the ticket. And if you win in court mail the MP a copy of your expungment with a box of cho-chip cookies .

Lets take back the water.......:laugh:

It sounds like many of them have the typical small town sheriff syndrome. I don't think anyone could have any admiration for those actions, it's childish, and it's a waste of resources. They already are way behind the curve on getting the real problems solved, so it's ridiculous that they try to create situations where none exist.

They either need to grow up, or get the heck out of the biz.

Originally posted by Lakesrider
I always tell family and friends that are headed to the lake, especially early and late in the season, that when they see a MP boat head in another direction because they are generally bored and are looking for "something" to do and you could become that "something"!

Originally posted by VtSteve
Many of them are seasonal employees...college kids...etc. Not year round MPOs. That may account for what I call the small town sheriff cowboy attitude that some have.

We have a problem, right here in River City
 

I am normally sympathetic to the job the MP, or any enforcement agency, needs to do. They are often in a no-win situation in that no one wants to be stopped or hassled. But everyone wants them to get the “other guy” who is a bonehead. I also believe that the majority of the officers are well-intentioned professionals who take pride in what they do.

However, this thread,and a recent, personal, experience make me wonder if it’s time to take a hard look at the culture developing in the NH Marine Patrol.

My 16-year-old son is a member of the “Lake Host” crew on Merrymeeting Lake. http://www.nhlakes.org/lake-host-program.htm Keep in mind that the Lake Hosts are trained with state funds, and they are expressly told that they should absolutely check the boats of the Marine Patrol officers pulling into / out of the lake. This is reinforced because; a) the Marine Patrol is used to monitor their effectiveness and an officer can report them if they fail to check the boat. b) as much as or more than any, the Marine Patrol boats are in and out of potential infected water bodies on a regular basis.

The Lake Hosts are also trained that they are representatives of the Lakes Region and NH Lakes organization, and they try to be as pleasant and friendly as possible when approaching “guests” launching their boats.

My son worked last Saturday, the 4<SUP>th</SUP>. I was appalled when he recounted the following exchange with a Marine Patrol officer at the public ramp.

My son, walking up to the officer preparing to launch his boat: “Hi, Welcome to Merrymeeting Lake. Sure is great to finally see the sun today isn’t it?”

The only response from the officer was a grunt and a sour look.

My son, thinking (ok, so no small talk…): “Would you mind if I check your boat before you put it in the lake?”

Officer, responding in a very angry and aggressive way: “Why? I come here all the time” (clearly sending the message that as MP, he should be above this type of check.

My son explained why they check the boats, and also added that they are expressly told to check the MP boats. At this point the officer cut him off and angrily told him, “Well, hurry up then!”

He checked the boat and the officer launched without another word.

He was similarly sour when he came out.

Not exactly the behavior and attitude I would expect from a professional officer when dealing with a young kid just trying to do his job.

Unfortunately, my son did not note this officers name.

Look at it as a great life lesson for your son to learn. He's not going to encounter friendly people in his life all the time and will at some point have to learn how to deal with the grumps! From what you post it appears as if your son handled himself professionally and in a courteous manner. That's the lesson he should take away from this experience. You can't control how other's act but you can ALWAYS control how you act. Kudos to you for raising such a responsible young man!!

Ditto...and Merrymeeting...please please please report this to the MP headquarters. That type of attitude is very unprofessional and completely unnecessary.

Maybe we should look into this service
 

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/lo...-50074717.html

We can play cat and mouse with the MP and their "speed traps".

That's an awesome application. I think it's a great way to get around the problem that radar detectors are illegal in that area. The fact that the police are upset that they are going to lose revenue because people will be stopping for red lights and slowing down is amusing.

Lakesider, I love your approach. Way to beat the M.P.'s at their own silly game !!! And the choco-chip cookies are just the icing on the cake.:laugh:

Donzi
 

Usually we see the old Performer over in Moultonborough Bay, but Saturday an unmarked Donzi passed us with 2 officers and a dog. We were anchored over near Camp Tecumseh (sic?). Is this a special MP unit?

Fish and Game
 

We noticed the Donzi too. Nice boat with a 250 HP outboard. Saw it later in the evening, docked for the nite at 19 Mile while going for icecream. It has a Fish and Game sticker on the front. Perhaps they needed something to catch the bassers?

Makes sense
 

I guess I was thinking it was a drug dog but maybe its the same dog I saw out on the ice this winter. From what I understand it could tell if you landed a salmon outside your hole.

I boat on Ossipee, and the MP officers there have been very cordial. I've never been stopped, but spoke with several of them at the ramp and had some good conversations. I don't doubt any of the horror stories here, though.

a boys first ticket
 

many many many years ago when I was about 14, my uncle borrowed a freinds 10ft boat with a 10 or so hp engine. we launched on the pemi at rt104 ramp. off we went with my uncle letting me drive for the first time. about 5 minutes up river a mp passed by, and waved nicely. seeing as how I was driveing my uncle and his freind were drinking beer. once by us we noticed he was coming back with blues. not knowing the law my uncles friend took his newly opened beer can and tried sinking it :rolleye2:. well it stayed under long enough for the mp to arrive it then launched out of the water like the barrel on (JAWS). after explaining to my uncle that the boat needs to be registered, even in the river, which my uncle disputed :confused:, he explained that the driver would receive the ticket (my uncle tryed to take it), and if he would stop arguing with him he wouldnt give me a ticket for littering. He then politely explained that drinking on the boat was permitted, littering wasnt, and we could get a reg up the street. we were lucky enough to have live vests and a whistle. after wishing us a nice day he then said "by the way, please retreive your beer can". :laugh:
so I had a ticket first time out

This past Saturday in Alton Bay
 

We went to the concert in Alton Bay, complete with picnic lunch. While sitting there for about 2.5 hours (from 6:15 to 8:45), eating and listening to the concert, we also got to see a MP officer patrolling in and around the Bay, from Sandy Point to Downings. He made a few passes passed the docks, returning waves from some of the parked boaters, including me. He spotted a boater with docking lights on coming down the bay toward the docks, and simply went over by him and informed him he shouldn't be running with the lights on, except when docking, and then went about his business. I did see him with blue lights on out by Sandy Point, and it looked like he stopped someone going between the red marker and Sandy Point on plane. He ended up back in the end of the bay again, and had a rental boat heading out and they couldn't get their white light (on top of bimini) to turn on. He spent about 10 minutes with them, and let them go, I presume because the rental had an 875 phone number on it, and it wasn't quite dark. As it got dark, and he was starting to leave, he suddenly turned and headed over toward the town beach. A car pulled up in that parking lot (east side) and had a kayak on the top. It parked like they were going to put in the kayak, but a quick light up with his spotlight and a quick blue light flash sent them on their way. He then made his way out of the end of the bay and headed off past Sandy Point.
What impressed me was this officer was certainly more concerned with educating the boaters who needed his attention, and at least from what we saw, did it in a friendly, yet professional manner. Probably enhanced some boating experiences, rather than ruining them. :)

That is FANTASTIC! I love to hear stories like this. Whomever this officer is he/she should be commended for their efforts. I really like to hear that M.P. is proactively enforcing laws without needlessly issuing tickets. Thanks for this post it helps to put things in perspective. I always hope that most M.P. officers realize that they are in fact ambassadors to the lakes region!

I don't understand what the folks in the car were doing wrong. Can you not launch a kayak from the town beach?

I agree with hazelnut. This is my impression of how the MP should operate. Some of the other MP stories are disturbing...

At night? I would assume not...

I've never seen or heard of a law that says it's illegal to kayak at night. You'd need a light on the kayak viewable for 360 degrees to make it legal.

Nothing better than kayaking at night under a moonlit sky. On smaller, less populated bodies of water I might even do it without a light (OH THE HORROR!!!!!).

Kayak
 

the kayak was a sit upon type, and while not impossible to have a light, it is highly unlikely that they did. In fact, in my experience around Alton Bay, I have never seen a kayak at night with a light on it...but I have seen a couple truly in the dark without a light, including one in the middle of the bay in front of the town docks (last year, I believe). Not saying they (the other night) would be wrong, but I doubt the way they took off that they would be using lights.

I don’t believe the law that requires navigation lights on non-power boats require that the all around white light be attached to a kayak, canoe, rowboat etc.

Below is the law. There is a diagram showing the lighting configuration but for some reason I couldn’t copy it to paste it here but it clearly shows a drawing of a person holding an all around light in their hand.

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rules/saf-c400.html

I think an All Around light at night for a Kayak, Rowboat, Canoe, etc... is a common FLASHLIGHT... directed toward an approaching boat so as to alert the approaching boat of your presence.

Not visible 360
 

I don't think that (a flashlight) qualifies. The intent is to have a light visible from anywhere a boat may approach the unpowered vessel. While you could argue that being able to swivel the flash meets this requirement, I'd ask what would happen when two or more boats approach from differing directions. It might be a tad tiring holding the flashlight so as to meet the 2 mile requirement as well. And on that note I've seen kayaks at night but I've wondered if their lights met the 2 mile rule. They seemed pretty dim to me.

Some Common Sense
 

In reading the kayak posts I thought that with all the boat traffic generated by the concert and being a Saturday Night that common sense would indicate that it might not be safe at all to be out in the area in a kayak even with a white light on. I think it was a smart move by the MP to discourage the kayaker.

Video cameras people, video works.

Newspaper Article
 

Would anyone, who has commented on this thread, like to be in the newspaper about this situation? Private message me, as I can set up an interview with a local newspaper in the area. Contact me as soon as possible.

Sort of an "at your own risk" opportunity, isn't it? It is not wise to complian too loudly about the MP. They are the ones with the guns, and ticket books. I would prefer that the MP post to the forum and discuss the problem.

This is just an observation but I have noticed the smaller boats are usually piloted by the younger MPs. The old style inboard boats usually have a "Senior" looking officer on them. I am sure the more experience you have as an MP the more you realize what is dangerous and what is not.

I still say most of these MPs, and citizen boaters, should spend a few hours in the Newburyport MA inlet on a weekend to see what really dangerous operation is. It's like the worst day on Winni amplified 100X.

Or the Intercaostal in Florida..........................:eek:

MP doing great
 

I'm very happy with the MP this year. They seem to have gotten the message that things were getting out of hand and clamped down accordingly.They are certainly increasing their visibility. Things are so much more civilized out there this year than they have been in a long time. I don't understand why people are complaining because they are getting stopped and warned. That seems like a very reasonable approach and a good compromise.

I agree, MP has done a great job over all on Lake Winnipesaukee. A+ for them.
The rest need to do some more to keep their vacations Happy and Safe.
trfour

Perhaps you're not reading about the stops and warnings? Most are pretty ridiculous IMO, and there's no compromise, just the law and common sense.

It's nice to finally see some posts of a positive nature towards the Marine Patrol. I don't think people understand how tough their job can really be. And to all of the people complaining about being pulled over, stop breaking the law.

In my 30 hours on the boat so far this year have actually seen LESS MP presence. The exception being last weekend in Moultonboro. Saw 3 MP boats.

I have a friend in MP and he said that they didn't hire any new officer's for this past summer due to budget issues. They're doing the best they can w/ what they have for resources.