04-18-2013, 12:29 PM
The way I presume it works is - to "HAVE" a boat, say in your driveway - your home policy probably covers the boat if -say - the tree the neighbor killed were to drop on it and damage it.
But to "OPERATE" the boat, you need insurance coverage, liability, injury, as well as damage, replacement.
But I'm no insurance expert.
I could have got a lawyer and forced Barney to "prove" what kind of wake was made. (but where was he when a big sailboat almost ran us down!)
Easily would have cost me more than the fine. Entered a "plea in abeyance" (if that's spelled right) - where you basically accept guilt without really admitting guilt. Then if you keep your nose clean for - 6 months I think it was - then charges are dropped. Otherwise - it falls to your "record", subject to points and all that good stuff. Normally - ANY other violation during that period (stop sign, speeding - any "vehicle" citation, even if it's not in a boat) would kick in the guilty plea.
With the clean record, judge was kind enough to narrow that threat by limiting it to another of the same violation. But I still watched my tail passing thru that speed trap!
IF the officer who entered the citation doesn't show up in court - chances are good the whole thing gets thrown out.
But typically - the "system" will still get their piece of flesh.
Oh - and if comes to word of mouth - your word vs an officer's word - um, guess who the judge will side with? And don't ever diss a judge. Laughing at or flipping off a judge, um - not a good plan (article last year).
Generation "Y"= why should I?!
But to "OPERATE" the boat, you need insurance coverage, liability, injury, as well as damage, replacement.
But I'm no insurance expert.
I could have got a lawyer and forced Barney to "prove" what kind of wake was made. (but where was he when a big sailboat almost ran us down!)
Easily would have cost me more than the fine. Entered a "plea in abeyance" (if that's spelled right) - where you basically accept guilt without really admitting guilt. Then if you keep your nose clean for - 6 months I think it was - then charges are dropped. Otherwise - it falls to your "record", subject to points and all that good stuff. Normally - ANY other violation during that period (stop sign, speeding - any "vehicle" citation, even if it's not in a boat) would kick in the guilty plea.
With the clean record, judge was kind enough to narrow that threat by limiting it to another of the same violation. But I still watched my tail passing thru that speed trap!
IF the officer who entered the citation doesn't show up in court - chances are good the whole thing gets thrown out.
But typically - the "system" will still get their piece of flesh.
Oh - and if comes to word of mouth - your word vs an officer's word - um, guess who the judge will side with? And don't ever diss a judge. Laughing at or flipping off a judge, um - not a good plan (article last year).
Generation "Y"= why should I?!