Runnin out of place to run are FE Boats

[mp3ranger]

Me and buddy got run off the lake that we have running at for 2 years. The game warden pull up in his boat at the dock Then pulled out his badge. He said he got a couple calls about us running. He was watching us the hole time we were their. Then ask were he buy one at. lol

[LarrysDrifter]

Shoulda ran him off.

[Basstronics]

Hes a game warden not a police officer. Public water, tell him to get bent. Unless theres some rules posted like no gas motors (if your running gas). If nothing is posted then its fair game.

[mp3ranger]

He said its because the lake is owned by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

[Fluid]

Hes a game warden not a police officer. Public water, tell him to get bent.

Wonderful advice. That's a great way to get into far more trouble. In many jurisdictions, game wardens are fully licensed law enforcement officers who can arrest you for any crime they witness.

Regardless of the jurisdiction, if a fish and wildlife officer sees you harassing wildlife he can cite you. He could have been doing the OP a favor by asking him to leave instead of giving him a ticket.


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[Basstronics]

By all means if you ARE harassing the wildlife then you may get what you deserve.

However if you are simply running your boat minding your own business then there is no laws being broken. If there is no laws being broken then there is no reason for a game warden to tell you to leave. Thats the point by my comment.

Now theres some etiquette I go with also:

Dont run if people are fishing in your vicinity.

Dont chase the birds no matter how funny you think it may be.

Dont run next to people swimming in the water.

Use common sense.

No sense in being run off a perfectly good place to run "just because". There has to be a legitimate reason. If there is none then tell them to get bent. Call there boss. Call your local representative. Game Warden is a government job and they have to answer to somebody!

[drwayne]

Ive had similar issues with controlled lakes.
Formally ask "the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisherie" for permission to run your 'battery powered toy boats" for leisure fun at their lakes.

[Basstronics]

Something else I didnt catch the first time. The game warden pulled up his boat at the dock... Well the Dock might not be the best place to run your boat. There are full size boats that need to use it. If you are impeding them or inconveniencing them then you should move.

However I still have to believe there is a spot that you can run. Maybe it isnt the spot you want. But I can hardly believe they would just kick you out 100%.

[srislash]

We have had similar problems up here in west Canada.It only takes one person complaining as he stated occurred.Our common question by the bylaw officer is about liability insurance.I have been kicked off a number of lakes in municiple parks(also with my cars).Sorry I just had to put in my grumble as it still irks me.

[siberianhusky]

Did you ask what the basis of the couple of complaints was about? Could have been people who just hate to see anybody having fun. If they already have full sized boat traffic I can't see how with some explaining of the basics about the electric boats they can ban you that way. If you've been there for 2 years and there is only a couple of complaints I would pursue it further and see if you can get permission to run in a certain area of the lake.
Could have been a couple of tree hugger canoeists who don't believe in using soap. They hate everything they don't personally approve of, and complain about everything.
I'd go to the next level up in the chain of command and ask some questions about their concerns, you might be able to set them straight and get a good running spot nobody can kick you out of, especially if you join NAMBA and get their insurance, it's on you not the location, also it's a primary insurance.
Government likes hearing about things like national organizations and insurance specific to RC boaters, proves to them it is a legitimate hobby and not just a couple of over grown kids playing with toy boats!

[Flying Scotsman]

srislash, if you have home insurance then you have liability insurance, otherwise you will require to purchase insurance to run on municipal and governement owned lakes.

Douggie

[BakedMopar]

Our pond technically has a "powered motor" law. According to my attorney that also includes "electric" motor and not just "IC". When talking to game warden he said it should be okay but of (when) people complain he has to step in. He also said that there is noise ordinance rules in that area. If more than a few people start to make complaints then he would have to shut us down. He was really cool about it and talked to us for some time and was asking lots of questions about the boats and the hobby in general.

[srislash]

srislash, if you have home insurance then you have liability insurance, otherwise you will require to purchase insurance to run on municipal and governement owned lakes.

Douggie

Thanks for the heads up.I'm trying to get a group together and find a good local spot.We did this years ago,it just took going through the right channels and of course,finding the right channels.