Fishing in Port Aransas, in the US.... Coast Guard stops the boat and 3 Coast Guard guys board the boat. Say we need to see if you have life jackets, whistle, etc. They check fishing licenses and state IDs. They look around the boat. Everything is in order, they leave. I am so irritated by this. My personal opinion is that this steps all over the 4th amendment.  I know all about drug runners, terrorists, the crazies in the world. There was zero cause for them to board the boat. I just can't give up the freedoms that so many people have fought and died for, in the name of security.Your opinion?
@QueenB: maritime law is much different than laws on land. coast guard may board or stop you without probable cause or warrants. I have been stopped and boarded numerous times by hpd and tpwd on lake Houston and lake Livingston. They are generally very nice and cordial. Fourth Amendment Rights do not apply...The U.S. Coast Guard Boarding Policy:Title 14 section 89 of the United States Code authorizes the U.S. Coast Guard to board vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, anytime, any place upon the high seas and upon any waterway over which the United States has jurisdiction, to make inquires, examinations, inspections, searches, seizures, and arrests. The U.S. Coast Guard does not require a warrant to conduct search, seizures, arrests over any United States Waterway or high seas. The U.S. Coast Guard also have full legal law enforcement power on any land under the control of the United States, as needed to complete any mission.
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