Posted by northcoast diver on January 12, 2005 at 08:56:45:
In Reply to: Summation of "reasonable" litmus test posted by Dave on January 11, 2005 at 20:52:45:
It does not matter what anyone "believes." That only matters when you go to church (or temple).
No maritime lawyers chimed in at all. And that was what Capt Tim was requesting in the first place.
When you are floating in coastal waters, you are within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard. I doubt they need probable cause for anything.
I suspect they "ask permission" to come aboard just to be polite. They could probably just as easily say "move otta da way asswipe we are coming onto your boat."