FWC Zero Tolerance comes to South Florida

[Doc Holliday]

All.....last night I received the sternest of warnings from an FWC Officer regarding BUI. While I won't go into details, the Officer informed me that FWC is entering into a new level of zero-tolerance for anyone, anywhere, anytime who is even suspected of BUI.

In my case, I was coming back from a four hour run in WCA-2A. I was the only one out (at least from the Lox Road side), and FWC was basically waiting for me upon my return.

I've had probably over 200 such excursions into WCA-2A over the last five years, and have never ran into this type of scrutiny before. While I've read about the recent events in North and Central Florida, I guess I kind of blew them off.....well.......not anymore.

My advice to all.......make sure you have all your safety equipment up to snuff, your flag is right, your numbers are displayed correctly, and, most importantly, pay attention to the amount of spirits you intake during your ride. Apparently, FWC is watching and will be vigilant in their enforcement.

 

[Waterthunder]

We are their income machine they must use us (by writing tickets) to justify one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States. I can’t believe what’s going on is it me or are we all loosing our rights faster than in any other time in our nations history. Seams like almost every week I'm loosing a right that just one generation ago people would have never imagined that right could ever be taken away.

 

[Waterthunder]

Good comment Doc people need to realize once it starts happening and being accepted anywhere it's a matter of time before it hit's home also. Somebody on this board bashed me about complaining about the FWC well if he boats at all it’s just a matter of time till he losses his desire or right to go boating.

 

[TerriABW]

I understand that FWC will be at the FAA meeting this weekend to answer some questions about all of the stops and ticket writing that took place over Easter Weekend on the St Johns. It will be interesting to hear what they have to say......

 

[wade]

Waterthunder!!!! your right once again!!! I get alot of flack for the same beliefs as you. The patriot act is another thing that needs to be watched. We are losing our civil librities boys!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can tell you that I do not like the trail our country is taking. By the way, how many new laws were put in place on july 1 :shock: .

 

[marshmaster pat]

Not just the patriot act. They can claim your land for the good of the local government. Take your house for a new Walmart.

Saw where that ex-SEAL in the Glades finally was pushed out. The money didn't matter to him and the people pushing him out could never understand that.

Times are a changing.

 

[Sniper]

Guys I totaly understand where you are comming from I have been with Law Enforcement for 17 years and it is an embarrassment to see how some of my brothers in Law Enforcement act I think the first thing you have to be to be a Wild life resorce officer is some one that likes to abuse the authority given you 99 percent of the ones we have up here are that way they have more power than any other
Law Enforcement person in the state and one of the lowest Paid so they make up for that by abusing there athority if I behaved that way on the street in my City I would not have a job long. I wish I could be at that meeting just to tell them what I have observed in my few trips down there
as a Law Enforcement officer I spent 6 years working with Navy SEAL Team Two and have trained or worked with all most every Spec opps unint in the Military and Law Enforcement and have 16 years on a SWAT team and I have never seen behavior like they have shown down there. I have found if you treat reasonable folks like the way I would like to be treated if I was on the other side of the fence you tend to get a lot of respect and co- operation.My advice is to you is act respectfull and carry a small pocket note book or tape recorder with you and document the Officers name and what was said and any actions taken.I still believe in the system
and there is Federal agencies out there that investagate and regulate State and Local Law Enforcement and there is always the Govenor and Senators that you can make your Case to.Good Luck and I am now off my Soap Box.

 

[Daddy Dave]

Hate to see this trend developing within the Florida FWC ./ DLE. Many of us have worked closely over a long period of time with WFC to develop strong stakeholder relationships. Looks like a few field officers might be trying to reverse that trend. Unfortunately, the FWC is loosing their best qualified field officers to other LE agencies over gross pay discrepancies.

Last Sunday evening / night, a FWC officer set up on the Kissimmee Ditch between Hatchineha and Kissimmee just where the ditch breaks out into Lake Kissimmee. The water was ripping to the south. He stopped nearly every airboat that left Camp Mack and was headed for the Ridge or Milk Bus. A young couple set to run with us was delayed more than an hour in very strong currents for a "boating safety inspection".

 

[Doc Holliday]

I'd like everyone to know that the FWC Officer I met Wednesday night was extremely courteous, and if he was in plain clothes, would have appeared to be "one of us". Apparently he's been airboatin' for 25+ years (probably as an FWC Officer), and appeared to be extremely familiar with Area WCA-2A. His safety inspection was nothing out of the ordinary (life vests, fire extinguisher, registration) however he was extreme in his concern for BUI and the message he gave that I relayed in my prior post.

The Officer indicated that there are growing numbers of accidents, both reported and unreported, which are alcohol-related. And FWC has been tasked with reducing this number. This was confirmed by a visit to the following webpage on their website:

http://myfwc.com/whatsnew/05/south/boatsafe2.html

Personally, I don't feel targeted. I know the law, and will abide by the law. If the same Officer does this again to me, then maybe my attitude will change. Hopefully next time I see him, he'll wave and say "How's it goin' Doc" and either stop for conversation or move on to the next guy. I personally feel that if we get to know these guys better, particularly in areas we usually ride in, that we're all better off.

BTW, I came across another page on the FWC website that I found interesting.....check it out:

http://myfwc.com/law/Weekly/index.htm

Doc