pet575 wrote:
I think that is because the risk of not having proper safety equipment is so much greater. Breaking down on the highway without a flashlight or spare tire just means you walk (if you can't get cell reception!!!), but a problem on a boat is much more serious from a safety standpoint. Not to mention that if that problem is an accident, rather than a mechanical failure, lives are at stake much more than on land.
I just want to know whatever happened to natural selection

VHF radio
anchor
oars
trolling motor
flares
I can think of many things that should be required on boats besides a flashlight. I can understand on the busy weekends/holidays, the water patrols want to make their presence known as part of their "zero tolerance" policy. However, I just received a citation for "No Fishing License" on July 5th(after all of the hubbub was over). The ironic part was that my wife has a license, my wife was fishing, and I only have one pole. I guess I was a little too close to the pole

Of course, I will fight it and I will win, but they do sometimes look for ANY reason to pull up along side you. I have to take my time(let's say billable at 200/hr) and spend 2 hours thinking about this crap and going to speak with a judge. It's cheaper to pay the darned thing. ROCK- me -HARD PLACE. If you have a few hotties on board, it gives them all the more reason to stop you

I can see it from both points of view.
Justin