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Dinghy lights - NH Marine Patrol Summons

10K views 27 replies 20 participants last post by  smallboatlover 
#1 ·
I got pulled over by the NH Marine Patrol last night in Portsmouth for not having a R/G bow light on my dinghy. I had a clear all-around on the stern, which is all that the federal/international rules require if making less than 7 kts. From rule 23: "a power-driven vessel of less than 7 meters in length whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights."

I don't think that a bow light is "practicable" on an inflatable tender.

The officer said that NH law requires the bow lights on any motorized vessel. Although that's true, the NH boating regulations also state "Any motorboat may carry and exhibit the lights required by the federal requirements for preventing collisions at sea, in lieu of the lights required by this section."

This resulted in an $81 fine - more than if the boat hadn't been registered! They "did me a favor" by not citing me for not having a fire extinguisher or sound-producing device.

Despite my time being more valuable than the fine, I'm thinking I'm going to plead not guilty and take the court date.

How many of you have bow lights or (even less reasonable) carry a fire extinguisher in your dinghy?
 
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#4 ·
We used to carry those flashlight type suction cup nav lights on our inflatable. They work but I recommend tying some string to them since the suction cups dont always hold that well. You can also buy those mini handheld horns too.

As for the legal issue, I was under the impression that all you need for small vessel like that is a hand held white light that can be displayed in order to avoid collision. But then I think that might only apply to sail and human powered vessels.
 
#6 ·
As for the light, sounds live they were just out revenueing. If you contest (bring your CFR's) I bet it gets thrown out. However, it probably would behoove you to get a set of those new aqua signal LED suction cup lights to avoid future interactions with the revenue man. But it is a viscous cycle. Next they will be out measuring the spacing of your registration numbers with a micrometer...
A sounds device is required. Get those cheap two pack whistles and tie one somewhere on every dingy you have. Be sure to demonstrate its use for the revenue man. They like that sort of thing.
 
#22 ·
As for the light, sounds live they were just out revenueing. A sounds device is required.... Get those cheap two pack whistles and tie one somewhere on every dingy you have. Be sure to demonstrate its use for the revenue man. They like that sort of thing.
Yeppers!!:eek: It sounded like a small town speed trap for catching the Ultra-rich touristas that are visiting NH.
How do they know that you are 'ultra-rich'? Because you live on a mega-yacht. One that is over 18 ft in length.:rolleyes:
 
#7 ·
I hate this sorta crap. Don't get me wrong I always try to abide by the rules and I think most of them do make the waters safer but busting someone for not having the exact light config for a particular state when technically you were correct judging by those rules you posted. I have a 10' Zodiac that came with my boat. I never even got around to putting the numbers and reg sticker on there till the end of the summer let alone carrying life jackets, horns, flares, fire extinguishers...etc. I only use it carrying adults to and from land or another boat going under 5 knts for a max distance of a mile if that. I mean if I had children or was using that to go fishing or for something more then maybe I can see making an argument for that crap to be in a tiny little dink but otherwise those "revenue collectors" can go f*ck themselves.

Also has anyone ever tried having lights on the bow of the dink at night? You can't see a thing! Ahh there I go ranting but I just get pissed off at these useless rules and more than that the people actually enforcing these rules when they really should be busting the large ass power boats that are always breaking the channel speed limit, waking other boats that are abiding by the rules, and all the other aholes out there that are actually doing things that could endanger other boaters. I would fight that just on principal alone.
 
#8 ·
lights

I use a white stern light only and always carry life jackets when using my 8' Trinka with a 2.5 HP outboard. I sometimes carry my handheld VHF, but usually don't. I have not been stopped yet, but have often wondered if I am in compliance. I just can't see the necessity of carrying a fire extinguisher on a boat this small, although adding a whistle to my safety gear sounds like a good idea.
 
#10 ·
Here, you have to have a fire bottle if there are flamable liquids in the boat. Trolling motor no, outboard gas engine, yes. Gas can for someone else's boat, yes. The local enforcement folks will stop you and read you out over your number spacing, size, and about whether or not the colors contrast well enough with your boat by the way!!!! :(
 
#11 ·
We carry a hand-held red/green flash light and a white flash light. The mate holds the red/green and I use the white light when ever I seen another boat or need to scan the water ahead.

We started carrying the red/green light when I got stopped by the CG in Rockland (ME) harbor one night last year. At the time we had only a flashlight and they nicely informed us that we were illegal, but took no further action. They asked to see our floatation devices (cushions) but said nothing about sound devices or fire extinguishers.

Good luck with the plea! My guess is the turkeys that pulled you over won't show up in court.
 
#12 ·
I'm glad that you guys don't think I'm overreacting.

The NH code is here: saf-c400

They do actually require a fire extinguisher on every motor boat. Pretty silly. Fire extinguisher or not, if my Zodiac caught fire, I'd sooner jump in the drink than try to put it out!

Eric
 
#14 ·
You know what really burns me...

You spend hundreds of $$ on these freaking iflatables....and they are sofa king stupid they don't think about a bow light.

How hard would it be to design a holder for those flashlight like lights or a built in bow light (LED) that used batteries.

Ridiculous!!!!!!
 
#16 ·
#18 ·
Good advice and gets the situation resolved a lot faster...

Forget the court date and call the court. Schedule an appointment with the prosecutor and present the laws. If they are reasonable they will throw it out before it ever gets to court..
 
#21 ·
"Judges don't like stupid cops "
Except, in some places the judges know very well that the charges are bogus, but they get their town budget--and salary--paid for by a piece of the fines they collect.
There was a big year-long investigation and review of this problem with small town judges in upstate NY last year, the courts wound up saying "Well, if they were elected to their office...they don't have to know the law" and letting the abuses stand.
So unless you want to take the huge step of proving bad intent and starting something like a federal RICO prosecution...your options are limited.
 
#26 ·
The original thread is three years old so the original issue was dealt with (I would hope). In most cases the USCG does not override state rules if the requirement is over and above their own, which is the reason why each state has different regs for stuff like the minimum age for wearing life jackets and who has to take a boating safety course.

Boaters are responsible for knowing the regulations in the state(s) in which they boat.
 
#27 ·
Pay the fine and move on. Even if dismissed, will probably have to pay court costs which are usually in the $50-75 range.

Despite the clause in the regs, if it has a motor they are going to nail you if you aren't running lights. If you have a hard floor, I screwed a pvc pipe cap onto the floor. Attached an 18" piece of pvc tube to the light to make it removable during the day. If the floor is soft, use the suction cups, but glue them on so they don't pop off. If the suction cups don't have removable posts, may need to mod them abit so the light is removable for storage, etc.

The fire extinguisher varies by state, don't need one in VA. +1 on the whistle.
 
#28 ·
the ticket was bs it should be a warning. but you have to relize that people can't see you its a safty issue. for the fire extinguisher and sound prodcing device you can do that eaily fire extinguisher un the seat and put a wisle in the boat tape it to the side of the motor easy enough safety issues nothing more
 
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