Can you believe this, I’m being pulled over – what do I do?

You’re driving along on the highway and you see those familiar flashing lights in your rear view mirror. Your heart sinks as you realize the sheriff is right on your tail. Next thing you know the officer is shouting over his PA speaker instructing you to pull over. Yup, you were snagged - for speeding.

Remember what the person who originally taught you how to drive told you about getting pulled over? Keep your hands on the wheel, have the other occupants sit with their hands in plain view and whatever you do, don’t be a wise guy. Be pleasant to the officer, give him or her the documentation they request and if you’re lucky, because you’re being so cooperative, they will be nice to you.

Well, we’re now on the water, zipping along jumping wakes or going way too fast in a no-wake zone. All of a sudden…you hear a siren, only to look over your shoulder and see those familiar flashing lights (blue is the only color that signifies an emergency vessel on the water). What do you do?

Well the officers, regardless if they’re local marine patrol, state police or Coast Guard will ask you to heave to. This means: Stop your vessel! Politely ask if they would prefer you to cut your engine(s) and/or drop anchor. Pull out some fenders (even though most law enforcement vessels will have their own handy) so they can safely tie-up alongside.

Now what? Well, if you took a safe boating course anytime in the last several years, some of the information you learned about being stopped and boarded has completely changed. In years gone by, the only agency that could stop your vessel and physically board it without an actual written search warrant was the United States Coast Guard. That has changed.

Several states have signed compacts with the Coast Guard in this post 9/11 environment, whereas the Coast Guard has delegated some of their Federal powers to the state. Specifically, they now allow state law enforcement (and those state powers flow down to the local law enforcement officers) to board vessels without having written warrants.

Bio: Chief Spivak joined the USCG Auxiliary after spending 7 years in the U.S. Power Squadrons. A catalyst for his joining were the tragic events of 9/11. Spivak is an instructor and webmaster as well as Vessel Safety Examiner and Marine Dealer Visitor. He served as Flotilla and Division Staff Officer, Division Computer Services Staff Officer and Ass't District Staff Officer for Computer Services. On a National level Chief Spivak is a member of the National Press Corps, Division Chief of External Communications, as well as a staff member for the National Training Center. Chief Spivak can be reached via email at WSpivak@auxguideanceskills.info.