This will certainly leave you shaking your head in disbelief...

[administrator]

US federal judge declares boating illegal in all US navigable waters
By IBI Magazine In a rather bizarre ruling that has marine industry officials worried, Judge Robert G. James of the United States District Court, Western Division of Louisiana, has said that it is criminal trespass for the American boating public to boat, fish, or hunt on the Mississippi River and other navigable waters in the US.

read more....

http://www.ybw.com/ibinews/newsdesk/...23ibinews.html

[jerryrlitton]

I wonder if the Department of Homeland Security has anything to do with this.

Jerry

[jswwrites]

That's just scary...

[Parley]

I would not want to be one of those trying to enforce such ridiculous legislation. They keep this up and the population will eventually take thier country back. This, I can promise, as history has proven it over and over again.

[Dewey Benson]

WTF!

Screw that Noise!

Live Free or Die!

Dewey

[jerryrlitton]

Dewey, I agree with you buddy but we have become a society of freakin sheep for the most part. There is way too much apathy out here. Now if we can organize at least 5% of the voting public…..

Jerry

[Rockter]

Well, you can come here to Scotland, where you can sail without this stupid nonesense. You can wander where you want, too, within reason.

This is the sort of stupid nonesense that lawyers come out with from time to time. No freshwater fishing from a boat in the US, yes? I wonder. There are simply too many of them.

[TrueBlue]

That IBI news release has been floating around many of the boating sites and has been dispelled as sensationalization by the media. The actual language of the Judge's ruling has been misconstrued by the press with many reports claiming that it makes pleasure boating illegal on every navigable river across the nation.

The actual intent was to restrict fishing and waterfowl hunting "Above" the low water line of navigatable rivers, such as along the Mississippi.

Here's a related article which includes the original court's ruling:

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/co.../display/full/

[jr438234606]

Here's a more thorough article:

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/co.../display/full/

[poopdeckpappy]

Originally Posted by jerryrlitton

I wonder if the Department of Homeland Security has anything to do with this.

Jerry

I have delt with land access issues for a few years and everytime I see the word " Riparian " it send a chill up my spine; Raparian areas are a major bone of contention with Environmental groups and they will fight strongly to protect Riparian areas.

I would venture to bet that this has more to do with a environmental issue than a HLS issue and I would also be willing to bet that judge Robert G James has some ties with the environmental moment and /or group, much the same way that many of the Judges in the 9th District Court do.