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Of course, he made the mistake of waking a judge and pissing him off.
Of course, he made the mistake of waking a judge and pissing him off.
Boater Fined for Excessive Wake
- Thread starter rwidman
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
BruceK
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Well done! We`ve had green water over the transom from one of these 40 ft+ speedboats, seeing one fined after spending up defending, changing venue, etc feels right.
How come he was offered probation but only got a fine? Was jail time possible for the offense?
How come he was offered probation but only got a fine? Was jail time possible for the offense?
Portage_Bay
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His mistakes were 17 kts in a 58' boat near small craft. Not paying attention. Not recognizing arm waving on a boat in front of him as a distress, or in this case attention getting signal.
His bad luck was pissing off the judge.
MYTraveler
Guru
He got probation and a fine. He was convicted of a misdemeanor and waived right to appeal (I suspect to avoid the prospect of jail time). Generally, specific intent need not be proven as a condition to a jail time sentence.
MYTraveler
Guru
That is for a judge, who has a better understanding of the facts, to decide, but he comited a crime and is a criminal, as a result of what was at least negligence. You may not like it, but that is our system.
Nope. No more of a "crime" than exceeding the speed limit (in your car) or failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. There's a big difference.
Robbing a store at gunpoint is a crime. Shooting a gun at another boater for making a wake is a crime.
I certainly don't have all the facts, but if this is anything like similar situations I have witnessed, "careless" is not a strong enough word.
While it's not technically illegal to be an a-hole, or arrogant, or totally indifferent to the other people you happen to share this planet with, it's quite possible this guy crossed that line.
I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for anyone steaming along at 17 knots in tight quarters, ignoring the situation around them. I could even argue that the only difference between that and armed robbery is the socioeconomic class of the perpetrator. Both crimes show a similar level of selfishness and callous disregard for others.
