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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
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 Marine Patrol and trailers		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts
Initially Posted - 02/24/2006 :  07:26:30  Show Profile
Has anyone ever had the Florida (or any state) Marine Patrol stop you on the road and do an inspection on your trailer?

I just heard a guy at the office say he keeps an inspection sticker on the side of his trailer to avoid that. But there are no required inspections in Florida so it was a voluntary thing. I was just wondering if that has ever happened to someone or is he just being overly cautious?

Not that there is anything wrong with my trailer, but it would sure be a pain if I had to pull off the road pulling that load.

-DaveC25
1979 Catalina 25 "Pretty Penny" #1166
Palm Bay, Florida
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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts
Response Posted - 02/24/2006 :  10:15:08  Show Profile
Most states have a law that prohibits "unsafe vehicles" from streets and highways. Usually it is only enforced when a police officer sees an unsafe condition, such as a wheel that is about to come loose, burned-out lights, or a part that is about to fall off, such as a rusty old muffler. In that case, they're doing you and others a service by letting you know about it. It would be a pain if they made a practice of pulling you over just to make a safety check.

Most police agencies, and courts, frown upon an officer pulling a person over just to do a "safety inspection," when he has no reason to believe that there actually is a dangerous condition. The courts are wary of such police practices, because, if an officer can find a way to justify stopping you without reasonable cause to believe that you have violated a law, then perhaps something will happen that will justify him in patting you down for his own protection, and, in doing so, he might acquire reasonable cause to believe that you are carrying a pocket knife, and that might give him reasonable cause to reach into your pocket, to make sure you aren't carrying a weapon, and, in doing so, he might find that bindle of cocaine that someone put in your pocket without your knowledge.

It's always possible that you might be pulled over for a safety inspection, but I don't think it happens very often. If it happens to you, your best bet is to just co-operate and, if you have a sailing buddy traveling with you, ask him to hold your bindle for you.
Edited by - Steve Milby on 02/24/2006 11:24:54
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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts
Response Posted - 02/24/2006 :  11:34:52  Show Profile  Visit aeckhart's Homepage
I agree with Steve. Another consideration though is that most states have an 8 (8 1/2?)foot width limit. We do not have to have a wide load permit because our 25's we meet that requirement. Of course, if you have stuff hanging on the side of your boat, like a kayak on a rack of some kind, you may be over the limit and subject to being pulled over. As Steve said, "probable cause" is a major consideration for such stops.
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 02/24/2006 :  11:58:07  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
Ok Steve, now I will spend the next three hours trying to remember how to fold a bindle.... no that's a football... nope that's not it either...
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.