Posted by Greg Mossman on January 12, 2005 at 14:40:33:
In Reply to: this is when you need a lawyer posted by northcoast diver on January 12, 2005 at 08:56:45:
"No maritime lawyers chimed in at all. And that was what Capt Tim was requesting in the first place."
And if said maritime lawyers were standing at Capt. Tim's dock requesting a free ride to Catalina, I bet they'd be ignored as well.
"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."
The Coast Guard is subject to the same constitutional restraints on government action as the rest of the government. Besides, the example was DFG not USCG.