Us Federal Judge Declares Boating Illegal In All Us Navigable Waters

[Skinski7]

The Federal Government has no jurisdiction whatsoever in this area and this ruling is thus only colour of law and actually illegal.

source:- Normal Parm v. Sheriff Mark Shumate
Case 3:01-cv-02624-RGJ-JDK Document 139 Filed 08/29/2006
CIVIL ACTION NO. 01-2624
http://www.spadata.com/downloads/Ruling.pdf


source:- http://www.ybw.com/ibinews/newsdesk/200608...923ibinews.html
US federal judge declares boating illegal in all US navigable waters[size=5]
By IBI Magazine

In a rather bizarre ruling that has marine industry officials worried, Judge Robert G. James of the United States District Court, Western Division of Louisiana, has said that it is criminal trespass for the American boating public to boat, fish, or hunt on the Mississippi River and other navigable waters in the US.

In the case of Normal Parm v. Sheriff Mark Shumate, James ruled that federal law grants exclusive and private control over the waters of the river, outside the main shipping channel, to riparian landowners. The shallows of the navigable waters are no longer open to the public. That, in effect, makes boating illegal across most of the country.

"Even though this action seems like a horrible pre-April fools joke, it is very serious," said Phil Keeter, MRAA president, in a statement. "Because essentially all the waters and waterways of our country are considered navigable in the US law, this ruling declares recreational boating, water skiing, fishing, waterfowl hunting, and fishing tournaments to be illegal and the public subject to jail sentences for recreating with their families."

Last month, James rejected the findings of the Magistrate judge who found earlier that the American public had the right under federal law and Louisiana law to navigate, boat, fish, and hunt on the waters of the Mississippi river up to the normal high water line of the river. Judge James Kirk relied on the long established federal principles of navigation that recognized the public navigational rights "…entitles the public to the reasonable use of navigable waters for all legitimate purposes of travel or transportation, for boating, sailing for pleasure, as well as for carrying persons or property for hire, and in any kind of watercraft the use of which is consistent with others also enjoying the right possessed in common."

"MRAA is working with the Coast Guard, state boating law administrators, and NMMA to fight this onerous ruling," said Glen Mazzella, MRAA chairman, in the statement.

(14 September 2006)

[Skinski7]

No comments on this most incredible ruling?

This is blatant in your face treason and should be on the news all over the country.

This Federal Judge just ruled all recreational boating (fishing/sporting/cruising) on all navigable waters in the USA trespass.

You don't get a bigger more blatant federal power grab than that. That no-one has even commented on this decision I find absolutely amazing.

[harflimon]

The ruling sounds amazingly retarded, and I've never seen any federal troops patrolling rivers or lakes to enforce this so I'm going to go ahead and disregard this ruling, which most Americans probably are doing too. I haven't seen the Coast Guard patrolling any of my local lakes or rivers, so I don't think I have anything to worry about.

[tsoldrin]

I thought this stood on it's own legs without the need for a "here-here". Sorry for not speaking up, but I find this disturbing also, I just don't have anything to ADD to it. :)

[Valentine]

I can't believe how many WTF moments I've had this week.

[harflimon]

It has been a very busy week. Last week of summer always feels like that for me:)

[Guest]

That's fuxxored

[TeslaandLyne]

I heard about this.

There was a TV program about this famous water way and how
it was going to be renovated.

And mostly likly cost to sail it or prevent terrorists using it, it
must be some Homeland Security involvement.

[wokensheep]

Quote:I can't believe how many WTF moments I've had this week.

i second that!
like and i agree with harflimon that most people will disregard. but what if its just to get federal tentacles into the water ways? cant they now tax you further to use them through boat and hunting registration?
this last hunting season i noticed all the hunters had some sort of serial number on their backs.
i live on the mississippi river so ill discuss this with the locals. make sure they're aware of it.
this whole thing smells of gun control if you ask me. they get control of how when and where you hunt, and then tax the shit out of you for hunting on their water or land. and allot of times its not even the gov. land, its private property these people are hunting on. yet they still have to register and they still have to pay a tax. i don't know just seems foolish to me. should be able to live off your own land without the gov. involved.
but yes i see a more sinister view of this ruling i guess.