Alcohol crackdown on Buffalo?

[RugerPilot345]

Well I guess I have a question, legalize stuff, we are having the same problem down on the Caddo River down around Arkadelphia......they, law enforcement officers, are setting up a tent/table on the edge of the river and they stand in the river with waders on and search every boat/ice chest as they float through.......is that legal to just search every vehicle/boat that floats by.......and no they do not ask they just start opening up the ice chests as you float up to them.......the little tent by the river is where they have a table setup and one officer is over there writing up tickets, unbelievable........now they are very polite but WOW that is like setting up a road block and searching every car as they pull up no reason for the search needed......who is a lawyer on here.......leaglize this for me!!

Thxs!!

[Tim Eubanks]

Yes, they can do that. Boaters are supposed to be aware of regulations regarding coolers with lids, beverage floaties, pfds, trash bags, etc.

Ignorance of the law is no defense.

[RugerPilot345]

the question is not about being ignorant of the law Tim, the question is can they legally search you/cooler without cause........?? are you a lawyer Tim??

[Randy Dodson]

Tim is a school teacher..... and he's right.

[jvickery]

well skip back to my man ERIC's first comment and I say, I will come bail you out my friend. It is independent people who pick up litter in this country that I give the most respect to. There are those who say what they woud do and those who just do it. You my friend saw trash and pulled off to get it. My family does the same and I keep this river down here (Lower Ouachita) damn clean. If you see trash at the park or dam launch area it is a fresh violation. I clean it 5-6 days a week and collect over a full 50 gal trash bag each week. We also drag out tires, old pool tubes that people just can't seem to leave in the pool, and odd crap that I can't even figure out how it get here. Your a good man, and you have a good woman!

J

[Tim Eubanks]

Not a lawyer, just informed. Happen to be good friends with the lawyer/legislator who crafted the policy regarding trash on our streams. Not sure that he meant for "river blocks" as an enforcement tool.

As I understand it, you can have alcoholic beverages in your cooler and can consume it (for sure on the Buffalo since it is federal land). If you're intoxicated in public, be ready. If you don't have a secure cooler lid, etc, be ready. If a ranger sees you drunk in a canoe and then you try to drive away, be ready.

The last time we were checked on the Buffalo, the ranger asked if he could look in the cooler. They are after glass, not contents.

[Allen Rittman]

Tim is correct you must have your cooler secured to your canoe and the lid must be secured so it can’t come open if you swim! And being nice and friendly to the ranger or law enforcement officer will go a long ways with them. And like Tim said don’t think they are going to let you get out of a canoe drunk ,load up and drive away. And glass is really all they are looking for in your cooler. I enjoy having a few cool ones on the river (maybe too much) as much as anybody, but I don’t enjoy encountering belligerent drunks!

And look at from the ranger point of view. If you had to deal with drunks everyday you would probably get pretty tired of pretty quick! And no it’s not that I don’t like getting that way sometime, but at the house or on a rock bar camping with no one else around to offend.

And then there is the deal with underage drinkers. I’ve seen several drunk teenagers in my time on the Buffalo and Piney. I’m talking 14 or 15 maybe younger!

But I’m going to say for the most part if you paddle up to a law enforcement officer with a smiling face and with the right TONE in your voice and are respectful and cooperative, he will check for PFD’s, check the cooler for glass and you will be on your way. Ask him how his day is going treat him like you would a friend, he really means no harm as long as you don’t try and get out of hand! Extend your hand in friendship don’t make him bring down the long arm of the law.

If you pull up and ask, “don’t you guys have anything better to do.” You’re probably going to become their target! And like I said trust me that officer does not really want to be in knee to waist deep water all day dealing with drunks. He would rather be with his friends drinking beer enjoying their hobbies.

Now I’m not trying to defend to protect the law dogs. I don’t like getting stopped and checked either. I personally think it boarders harassment! But the fact of the matter is they are there and if you don’t cooperate with them you will go to jail. Remember that is their last option and their job.

I have talked to and dealt with rangers on the river and in the campgrounds when I had had a little too much to drink and long as you are respectful I think you will be OK!

And I can’t even believe I just said all that, for those of you who know me I promise I have not changed, I'm still the same A$$ I 've always been! LOL!! But law enforcement is there to protect us. Try and imagine what it would be like if we had no laws and no one to enforce them! MEXICO!!!!!


And like the Warden said in Cool Hand Luke, “Boy I don’t like this anymore than you do, but we got what we had last week which is the way he wants it. Well he gets it!” So if you don’t want to get it be NICE!

[daxhaltom]

The last time we were checked on the Buffalo, the ranger asked if he could look in the cooler. They are after glass, not contents.

Very True, and why not. I dont want to step in glass. The rules are simple and easy to follow. Be nice to rangers if you are drinking. Dont act crazy and dont offend people. If i am going to drink on the river I make sure I camp. Then the next day I paddle to my car and get in sober. Over 90% of park rangers are just your normal nice guys trying to make a living do something they love. I would say that close to 100% of people on this board are not the problem, but we have to deal with the problems that people who trash our steams have brought upon is. No matter if I agree with the rules or not, they are there and like I said before they are easy to follow. Keep your empties in a mesh bag, cold ones in the koosie, strap on the cooler, and have enough vests. Easy Easy. this will save you all the trouble. My suggestion to people who want to avoid road blocks and river checks is to pick a time to float that is not a holiday weekend. everyone knows this is the time where all forms of illegal behavior is at its highest and they will be looking for it. I try to float on the weekdays anyways to avoid the crowds. You also avoid some of the tourists then. Although I do want them to keep coming and i am by no means a tourist basher. I just dont like bumper to bumper canoeing on any river. Thanks to everyone who has posted their opinions. Like everything else there are no perfect solution, but I like to avoid trouble and try to respect the people who are there everyday to protect our streams and vistiors to them. Imagine all the stupid things they see people doing on the river everyday.