$15,423 Coast Guard Fine

Yikes! Fortunately looks like I won't have to pay it, especially since I renewed right away (I was expired by 1 week).

But goodness, can you imagine having to pay a fine like that just because your registration expired.

In California nothing would surprise me!

Now all those "fake" documentation services would say that is what their $75 fee saves you.

Clearly, it can be a sizable fine, but they don't wish to make it so. I'm sure very few ever have to pay the maximum fine. It's a bit like expired tags which are typically taken care of the same way but in some states can lead to jail time.

That there is Federal Law (CFR is Code of Federal Regulations). Got nothing to do with California.

If you had not renewed how could you have "the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect"? There wasn`t one.
If they want to ping you for not renewing,ok. But they can`t expect you to have a Doc onboard they know doesn`t exist.
It`s a strange generic way to send a registration reminder. Are you satisfied it is genuine and the sender is the proper Authority?

What they mean by oroginal COD is the one that comes from the CG not a photocopy.

I also wonder about its authenticity. I have never seen the use of a personal pronoun in an official government document.
Oldersalt

I think thar’s Spam. Call the office.

It's genuine. They did board me and I had my coast guard certificate doc but it was expired.

MichaelB1969 said:

It's genuine. They did board me and I had my coast guard certificate doc but it was expired.

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In a way, that`s worse than it being bogus.

I'm so fed up the documentation center, I believe I'll cancel it next year. They have been late every year on every boat I've owned.

And this year they promised me one week turn around. I call them after receiving nothing after a few weeks. "Oh, your registration got put in the wrong box".....

Call them again, "Oh, you have a discrepancy, need to correct it"...

After 5 weeks no document.

Last year was several MONTHS to get the paper!

I really don't see the need, even in Canada or Bahamas, unless one is doing charter.

And in this case, the punishment sure doesn't fit the crime.

Reminds me of the phone message received several days ago. Message said there was an arrest warrant on me for unpaid taxes. Didn't respond since the message was a fraud.

markpierce said:

Reminds me of the phone message received several days ago. Message said there was an arrest warrant on me for unpaid taxes. Didn't respond since the message was a fraud.

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I did not respond and they still call back. I have, according to them, 4 arrest warrants that can be resolved.....

OldDan1943 said:

I did not respond and they still call back. I have, according to them, 4 arrest warrants that can be resolved.....

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Don't worry. US tax authorities communicate by mail. A good friend had two such crime threats a couple of days ago.

markpierce said:

Don't worry. US tax authorities communicate by mail. A good friend had two such crime threats a couple of days ago.

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Yup, and, I live a squeaky clean life too, one might say 'boring'.
I dont recall the voice identifying itself as IRS.

OldDan1943 said:

Yup, and, I live a squeaky clean life too, one might say 'boring'.
I dont recall the voice identifying itself as IRS.

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I had a number of those scam "IRS" calls, the "agent" identified himself as "Agent Miller with the IRS in Washington DC", the caller ID actually did indicate the call originated in DC, and the guy used official sounding jargon-- in a heavy Indian accent. My first question was "how is it that an IRS agent named 'Miller' has such a thick Indian accent I can barely understand it??" He hung up. Unless I recognise the number, I'm already suspicious. Either don't answer, or just immediately hang up. IRS never makes initial contact by phone, always mail.

BruceK said:

In a way, that`s worse than it being bogus.

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Agreed!

They quote the correct violation statue (46CFR...) but I had to search for the fine statue (46USC...). Looks like there adjust max fines for inflation each year and stick the updates in a table here ( https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/33/27.3 ).

Table is pretty interesting on what they can fine.

Seevee said:

I'm so fed up the documentation center, I believe I'll cancel it next year. They have been late every year on every boat I've owned.

And this year they promised me one week turn around. I call them after receiving nothing after a few weeks. "Oh, your registration got put in the wrong box".....

Call them again, "Oh, you have a discrepancy, need to correct it"...

After 5 weeks no document.

Last year was several MONTHS to get the paper!

I really don't see the need, even in Canada or Bahamas, unless one is doing charter.

And in this case, the punishment sure doesn't fit the crime.

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I have done my renewal online at the beginning of the expired month. They have never been late and i have always received my certificate within 14 days.

markpierce said:

Reminds me of the phone message received several days ago. Message said there was an arrest warrant on me for unpaid taxes. Didn't respond since the message was a fraud.

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I had the same message but the IRS was suing me for fraud, unless I give them information.

Alaskan Sea-Duction said:

I have done my renewal online at the beginning of the expired month. They have never been late and i have always received my certificate within 14 days.

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We've done the same, although slightly earlier than you but never had an issue.

We renewed ours this year and it took one week. Filled out the online form and got the new doc very quickly.

markpierce said:

Reminds me of the phone message received several days ago. Message said there was an arrest warrant on me for unpaid taxes. Didn't respond since the message was a fraud.

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I got one of those and played dumb, " Yes, you have reached the Sheriffs Department. But, I don't understand what you want. Do you want to speak with the Warrant Squad?". They hung up and never called back.

But, we just sent our CG renewal in. It's good until June 30, so hopefully it's back by then. $26 these days.

Oldersalt said:

I also wonder about its authenticity. I have never seen the use of a personal pronoun in an official government document.
Oldersalt

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I agree!

Xsbank said:

I think thar’s Spam. Call the office.

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Agreed. I smell a rat. Check out the URL on this website referenced in Michael's letter.

I Want a Vessel Safety Check!

When I go to the URL, it looks official but starts with wow.uscgaux.info. They have a link to the USCGAux Homepage (Welcome to the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Official Web Portal) but the "wow.iscgaux.info" appears bogus to me.

Should the USCGAux be involved in documentation enforcement?

Alaskan Sea-Duction said:

I have done my renewal online at the beginning of the expired month. They have never been late and i have always received my certificate within 14 days.

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That could be my problem... did it about 6 weeks early. But always do it on line unless there's a change that required the form.

If you renew prior to them sending you the renewal letter they change the expiration date. I “lost” two months because of this.

meridian said:

If you renew prior to them sending you the renewal letter they change the expiration date. I “lost” two months because of this.

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I get snail mail too late... try to do everything online. Reregistered 2 cars and three boats, no issue... all early. But not the documented one.

They did admit they screwed up and put my renewal "in the wrong pile". What a bunch of idiots!

We have those scam calls here too. Threats of instant arrest, for fraud on the Tax Office, etc,unless you pay. Part of me suggests asking for details of the alleged fraud, the other part says get off the line asap.
There is also a "Chinese Embassy" pay money scam call or the relatives in China get it.I`m assuming that`s not genuine, but...

Apparently the money has to be paid in iTunes vouchers. Not even our Tax office operates that way.

BruceK said:

We have those scam calls here too. Threats of instant arrest, for fraud on the Tax Office, etc,unless you pay. Part of me suggests asking for details of the alleged fraud, the other part says get off the line asap.
There is also a "Chinese Embassy" pay money scam call or the relatives in China get it.I`m assuming that`s not genuine, but...

Apparently the money has to be paid in iTunes vouchers. Not even our Tax office operates that way.

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There was an instant the other day where they called trying to scam and the people on the receiving end decided to argue with them and confront with them. They then told them if they didn't do as they had asked, they were calling the police on them right then and having their home raided. The recipients said something else basically daring them and they called. So a full squad of officers arrived with guns drawn and cleared their entire house. The report they'd received was of a shooting. I read of another several months ago where they reported the house as a drug house. The police are warning not to engage the people, just hang up. Bad enough to have the scams but now the retribution if you don't fall for it is getting bad.

Alaskan Sea-Duction said:

I have done my renewal online at the beginning of the expired month. They have never been late and i have always received my certificate within 14 days.

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My experience also.