Rifle River - DNR enlists help to patrol rowdy rivers

[Hamilton Reef]

DNR enlists help to patrol rowdy rivers

Problems with drinking and rowdiness among canoeists on the Rifle River have prompted the state Department of Natural Resources to establish volunteer patrols to help officers catch troublemakers.

"We want to reclaim the river for family groups who have been turned off by what they see going on," said Sgt. Ron Kimmerly, a DNR conservation officer from Saginaw.

http://www.freep.com/sports/outdoors/

[mallardtone-man]

Always good to see some action being taken twoards this sort of thing.








James

[Mitch]

"It's against the law to operate any vessel while intoxicated."

Let me get this straight...

It's against the law to operate a non-motorized canoe while under the influence? How about tubing?

You have to be kidding me!

Mitch

[Zofchak]

I think the state would have his their work cut out for them in getting a conviction for "drunk tubing". Maybe a disorderly coduct or public intox, but I dont see how floating down the river in a tube can be considered "operating".
I've heard the canoe thing before, but tubing thats stretching it..

[Fishndude]

but this seems like a difficult thing to enforce. They should care as much about enforcing no snagging for Salmon in the Fall on a nearby river.

[snakebit67]

Well for some reason I can't open the boating regulation link on the DNR website. Would someone please clarify for sure. I am almost positive it is not illegal to drink and canoe as long as you don't have a motor. I am leaving next weekend for our 20th annual canoe trip down the au sable. We stopped taking our motors years ago for this reason. Beohr, you out there?

[Banditto]

It is not against the law to operate a canoe or tube while under the influence. But you can be ticketed for public drunkenness. Same thing as walking down a sidewalk drunk.

[snakebit67]

Thanks (hiccup)

[bobcolenso]

We tubed the Rifle River a few weeks back. The lady driving the bus said quite emphaticly that if you're going to be drinking you have to have photo ID ("even if you're 80"), and no more than 6 beers per drinking person. No glass bottles.

[Hamilton Reef]

CO Report for Week Ending 7/25/04
DISTRICT 8

COs Holly Hikade, Tony Soave and Dan Lee worked the Rifle River CARE project this weekend. While the COs hid and watched a problem area on the river, they observed a group of people in canoes pull up on shore and start pointing at a no trespassing sign. The group talked one subject into climbing the hill, tearing the sign down and throwing it into the woods. The subject climbed down the hill to all the clapping and yelling, which stopped almost as soon as it started when CO Hikade climbed down the hill to meet him. Tickets for trespassing were issued.

[sideshow]

Holly is a great CO and Im glad to hear the problem is being addressed. People abuse that river... and saying snagging is a greater problem that should be issued before that is way off base. We are putting millions into projects to restore this river only to have rowdy groups of drunks tearing up banks and littering.

Sideshow

hiccip