Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Over the last ten years or so, I've seen the ARG&F boys out on the Upper and Lower Caddo but today was the first
occasion I've seen them on the Ouachita. When our downriver group reached the Haskins house on river left, (about half way through the Remmel section) We encountered a big game&fish check point, probably eight officers out waist-deep in the river flagging everyone over, and two or three more up at their trucks writing citations. All went fine with our group but several of the tubers looked to be engaged in a lengthy visit. Just a heads up.

Jim

I have mixed emotions about this, because I think checkpoints in general are treading a fine line with Fourth Amendment rights.

But we've all seen the beer cans and other trash floating free from overturned boats at the ledge, and you can bet some of those party boats have glass beer bottles. So I'm happy if AG&F folks are doing something to address these issues now, before it gets as bad as some other places. We don't need a bunch of broken glass on the bottom at Rockport!

The check done by the officers was quick, painless, and professional. They checked my drybag (which I was carrying my beer in), made sure I had a mesh bag for trash, and huggies for my beer and let us go on our way...the whole time making small talk. Personally, I have no problem stopping at checkpoints since the main reason they are there is to protect the waterways and natural resources that we love so much.

Casey

Still wonder why they spend lots of man hours with checkpoints and won't spend a few bucks to put up signs at put-ins/take-outs to let folks know what they laws are concerning streams/boats/litter etc.

Since this was the first time I've been "pulled over" on the river, I was quickly mentally reviewing AR river laws as they called us to the side. I agree with all of the posts above. With my husband in law enforcement, I agree with Cowper on the "probable cause" for search and seizure. Yet I also don't want to have one of my kids with glass in their foot. Total agreement with Cowper there. I also agree that the search was professionally completed. I appreciate that they held onto Noah's boat to prevent him from going on down river while they checked my boat. However, I agree with Tim that signs sure would be helpful which brings me to the real reason I posted here. I have read and reread the container rules on huggies/koozies. I know that it applies to cans (as it should), but if I am carrying a plastic bottle of Gatorade/Powerade in the cockpit of my boat (held within the cord), do I still have to have a koozie? I know that sounds trivial, but it really makes you think when you see/hear disgruntled people in the Rockport parking lot. Thanks!
Sandy

Sandy
Good question about the Gatorade bottle. Guessing if it is secured, it would not be an issue. I'm thinking that since the cans are open, they are likely to sink if they go in the water where a bottle with lid would not.
Most of the folks who frequent this message board are familiar with the laws, but lots of folks who float do not frequent this board and are not well-informed.
It would be really easy for game and fish to have a bin/bag of mesh bags at put ins with a sign as to use and laws.
Sounds like I need to send an email Monday.

Tim Eubanks wrote:Sandy
Good question about the Gatorade bottle. Guessing if it is secured, it would not be an issue. I'm thinking that since the cans are open, they are likely to sink if they go in the water where a bottle with lid would not.
Most of the folks who frequent this message board are familiar with the laws, but lots of folks who float do not frequent this board and are not well-informed.
It would be really easy for game and fish to have a bin/bag of mesh bags at put ins with a sign as to use and laws.
Sounds like I need to send an email Monday.

That is my understanding as well. Since a plastic bottle will float there's no need to keep it in a koozie. I agree that signs at the put ins would be a good idea, but I'm not too sure about bins of mesh bags. Seems like a good place for Bubba to throw his ciggy after he's had a dozen or so Busch Lights. Wish I had more faith in my fellow man, but alas, I've seen too much.

Never give up hope in your fellow man. Diaper-droppin', bush light drinking, less-than-legal fish keeping, beer can sinking, can-I-get-a-ride-asking @#$%@#$^@$'s. There is always hope!

Tim Eubanks wrote:Never give up hope in your fellow man. Diaper-droppin', bush light drinking, less-than-legal fish keeping, beer can sinking, can-I-get-a-ride-asking @#$%@#$^@$'s. There is always hope!

Ha! I'll try, Timothy. I'll try. Check your email.

they need to be at the putin tellin people the rules before they ever get on the river by the time people get to the check point the glass is already in the river and yes this is a violation of our 4th amendment rights it boils down to is law enforcement with commie ideas OH we can do whatever we want were lawenforcement BS next time i run into one ill hav cameras rolling and will do a piece on it and post it to various websites

Don't let this get ugly folks.
The idea to do the "riverblock" probly comes from above? Our enforcers are told to do it? The decision to sign or not to sign also would come from above? Possibly even another agency could do it easier. Signs are a good idea.

First step would be civil communication and requests. Can we try that first?

Saturday of Memorial weekend, we encountered the "strainers" (pictured on a post from then) at Bayou access on Spring River. I simply paddled quickly to the biggest, baddest looking guy mid-stream, saying as I approached him, "no glass, mesh bag, coozie..." He just smiled and waved me on. I figured he was just doing his job. From what I had seen in the rafts & rental canoes, he was gonna have a busy day.

I would be more concerned with "rights" if I were singled out for a search instead of being routinely checked along with everyone else.

Jan

Wildwood wrote:Saturday of Memorial weekend, we encountered the "strainers" (pictured on a post from then) at Bayou access on Spring River. I simply paddled quickly to the biggest, baddest looking guy mid-stream, saying as I approached him, "no glass, mesh bag, coozie..." He just smiled and waved me on. I figured he was just doing his job. From what I had seen in the rafts & rental canoes, he was gonna have a busy day.

I would be more concerned with "rights" if I were singled out for a search instead of being routinely checked along with everyone else.

Jan

Agreed. I definitely don't want a police state, but among my rights are the right not to have my, or worse, Little Deuce's foot sliced open by a busted Corona bottle or be T-boned by a drunk driver. Are "strainers" and road blocks the best way to prevent this? I don't know, but I do know I've encountered both and never had an issue with any of the personnel manning them, including a huge road block at Marshall at 11:00 on Good Friday night. I had a boat on top and another boat in a trailer, so it was obvious we'd had a long day on the river. Flashlight shone respectfully into the vehicle with care to keep the beam far from any eyes and a quick chat to be sure I wasn't slurring and we were on our way. Sorry, but I just don't see that as much of an infringement.

I'm no fan of checkpoints on the water, or on the road but I try and take Jan's approach, with a smile and a little levity.
I particuliarly enjoy telling them, in my long drawn-out way, " Oh, and I even have my official, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission issued mesh trash bag attached to the boat". It usually lightens the situation, as it did this last Saturday.

Best Regards
Jim

Deuce wrote:Agreed. I definitely don't want a police state, but among my rights are the right not to have my, or worse, Little Deuce's foot sliced open by a busted Corona bottle or be T-boned by a drunk driver. Are "strainers" and road blocks the best way to prevent this? I don't know, but I do know I've encountered both and never had an issue with any of the personnel manning them, including a huge road block at Marshall at 11:00 on Good Friday night. I had a boat on top and another boat in a trailer, so it was obvious we'd had a long day on the river. Flashlight shone respectfully into the vehicle with care to keep the beam far from any eyes and a quick chat to be sure I wasn't slurring and we were on our way. Sorry, but I just don't see that as much of an infringement.

This^^^^^^^^^^. Well said, Deuce. Never underestimate the dangers of morons under the influence of alcohol. There's just a big culture of river partying nowadays. See "Rafting Gone Wild" new story below:

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