Reply With QuoteThat sounds like BS to me as well. Had the boat registered in AZ since 2000 as a non-resident. Granted, never been stopped by the law but if you could not register as an out of state resident, then why do they allow you to do so?
This last week I was pulled over on the Parker Strip up by the dam. My wife was laying on the engine cover and I was s-l-o-w-l-y cruising back up to the dam to float back. The sheriff was pleasent and did not cite me for "moving a greater than wake speed, (I did have a wake, but you create one from going up against the current). I didn't argue with him. He did a safety check, life vests, type 4 flotation device, and fire extinguisher. He checked my registration (a copy), and asked if I owned property in Arizona. I said not yet, but we're looking. He told me that I could not have my boat registered in Az without being a resident. I told that it shows on the registration that I paid the $20 non-resident fee in addition to the registration fees; and this is the only place other than Havasu that I use the boat at. He said that the Az fish and game dept. handles the boat registrations and they don't do things the right way. He said since I've paid my fees up to 10/05, he won't cite me, but when it's due again, register my boat in CA. It sounds like BS to me.
Has anyone out there had this problem before?
That sounds like BS to me as well. Had the boat registered in AZ since 2000 as a non-resident. Granted, never been stopped by the law but if you could not register as an out of state resident, then why do they allow you to do so?
What sheriff department was he with? ist the river patroled by both Riverside County and Mohave County?
But in the end its just another l.e.o. who isnt correctly informed on the law.
When I bought my boat, Ultra asked me if I wanted it registered in AZ, which I did. AZ even sent the AZ registration tags to my house in Huntington Beach. I store my boat in Havasu and it is only used in AZ. so if I get stopped, thats the line they're getting. Anyways, it is pretty much way to time consuming for a peace officer to find out if you own property somewhere else. If you tell the officer that you own property in AZ, but dont get mail there because it is a vacation, unless they go out there it is pretty hard for him to prove you don't.
I'd also like to know who said this. By state and federal law, your boat is supposed to be registered in the "State of Principle Use", meaning where you boat 51% of the time. Boating anywhere on the Colorado River could be considered either Arizona or California, (or Nevada or Utah, for you Northern River/Lake Boaters)
The Arizona Game and Fish Department registers boats in Arizona and has fees specifically for out of State registrations. I actually would push for out of Staters to register in Arizona, since the Grant that pays our salaries is derived from Boat Registration fees. More money for fees=more money in my grant.
The stop you mention sounds a lot like one I did on Friday, (kids in vests, wife on engine cover) although there was no mention of Arizona Registration. I did a safety check, ran the expired CF numbers (no '05 tag), found them to be current and sent the boat on their way.
I also wonder why you'd mention the wake issue, since that area isn't a "No Wake Zone"??????? Unless you were down by the Casino and the Headgate Dam.
If you have your boat registered in AZ as "out-of-state resident", is there any requirement to have it stored in AZ? Or can I have it stored in CA 100% of the time?
I was under the impresion that you can not be under way in any form with people not in a proper area. Meaning a seat of sometype or in the cockpit.???
I spoke with a watercop in the channel at Havasu about bowriding after I saw a boat with four girls dragging their anles in the water. He said it is legal at slow speed....news to me. I imagine sitting on the hatch would be the same, OK at slow speed?
This sounds like one of those topics that can have many interpretations by the officer. I think the engine hatch would be fine but not dragging your feet while in motion IMO. I let the girls sit on the engine cover while cruising the channel.
If you have your boat registered in AZ as "out-of-state resident", is there any requirement to have it stored in AZ? Or can I have it stored in CA 100% of the time?
No requirement whatsoever, when it's not on the water. The only time registraion is an issue is when it's "IN USE". That means when it's on the water. You can tow your boat around on the trailer for the 10 years without registering it and your're not breaking any laws.
You can keep your boat on the moon for all we care. All we require is that it's used 51% of the time on Arizona waters.
The question about riding on parts of the boat, not intended for passengers is at "above a wakeless speed" only. Now that is the LAW portion.
From a safety standpoint, it's always a good idea to be seated whenever the boat's in gear. How many times have you been standing in the boat and the operator "gooses" the throttle for some reason. You probably ended up flat on your ass. This is especially true of those who have had a few cocktails, designated driver or not.
Except for jets, all boats have this really sharp thing under or behind the boat, spinning a few hundred RPMs, even at idle. If you fall off the boat, there's no way an operator will be able to stop that sharp spinning thing before it takes a few chunks out of your flesh. (Ask me how many of these I've seen when they were just "going slow")
Think of a boat as kind of a water going car. Would you ride on the hood or roof or trunk, or hang out the windows if you're only going slow? (Well, I know SOME of you would) Most of us would look at conduct like that as being idiotic, not to mention illegal.
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