T&T: BOATER IDs

[Rob Zanussi]

If a person has a passport there should be no reason for further ID. If
there is a requirement for an operating licence then yes, the person will
have to produce that. But simply having another document with your picture
on it really means squat when you can produce a current passport. If they
want my address I will give them my post office box and politely explain
that I do not have a physical land based home.

I had a big go round with the provincial Motor Vehicle Branch over this
very issue. They wanted a physical address so I gave them the address of
the post office where my post office box is located. Of course I didn't
tell them that.

Until it is a requirement to hold a current drivers licence to operate a
boat I will not be producing my DL to anyone. In Canada there is a
requirement to hold a valid boat operators licence and I will produce that
to Canadian authorities but unless it is required in the US I will only
provide my passport.

If you really want to raise some hackles, ask to see the ID of the person
who has stopped you! I have refused to produce ID to the police here in
Canada if the member could not produce his ID to me. Afterall, how do I
know he is really a peace officer. Of course I only do this if the member
has an attitude problem AND I know that I have not committed any violation
that I can be ticketed for. 


Rob Z aka S@#t Disturber
Royal Canadian Mounted Police - retired



At 06:09 PM 11/2/2007 -0500, Henry Quigley wrote:
>Marge,
>While 99% of what you say may be true, part of the problem can be caused
by the kind of actions that were reported by a person to this list the
other day.
>When stopped by the USCG and asked for their DL they said they didn't have
one and when asked for their address they said "Why."
>
>Now think how the coastguardsman reacts when someone won't give his
address. It goes into an after action report later that day and as it is
reviewed up the chain of command there are a number of people who now say
"we need a foolproof id that boaters are required to carry" so we can tell
who they are and where they live, etc.
>If more people would co-operate there wouldn't be anyone asking for a
boater id.
>Henry


Do you realize that in about 40 years we will have thousands of old ladies
running around with tattoos and pierced navels?