Boat Inspections

[Riverratpete]

Well the criminalizing of Fisherman and Pleasure Boaters has now started in this once great state. Saw where they were hiring 150 folks to work for the DNR inspecting boats at check points throughout the state. Just remember "Law of unintended consequences"....when will they set up the "Enviromental Brown Shirt" patrols to patrol lake shore owners?..sad sad sad.

[TR21HP]

In addition to that what about the online test on invasives that has to be taken and passed before the DNR will issue you a trailer sticker that then allows you to be on the road while towing a boat. You will not be allowed to be on the road without that sticker. Nice work DNR, what a bunch of morons.

[TruthWalleyes]

In addition to that what about the online test on invasives that has to be taken and passed before the DNR will issue you a trailer sticker that then allows you to be on the road while towing a boat. You will not be allowed to be on the road without that sticker. Nice work DNR, what a bunch of morons.

Hopefully this doesn't pass

[CaptainMusky]

In addition to that what about the online test on invasives that has to be taken and passed before the DNR will issue you a trailer sticker that then allows you to be on the road while towing a boat. You will not be allowed to be on the road without that sticker. Nice work DNR, what a bunch of morons.

I must have missed this piece, but how would that work for those of use with lifetime registration? Or would it apply for boat renewals as well?

[Down Deep]

Well the criminalizing of Fisherman and Pleasure Boaters has now started in this once great state. Saw where they were hiring 150 folks to work for the DNR inspecting boats at check points throughout the state. Just remember "Law of unintended consequences"....when will they set up the "Enviromental Brown Shirt" patrols to patrol lake shore owners?..sad sad sad.

I don't think you understand the rule. The law that was passed was to appropriate funding to hire interns to do the work. There is no criminal penalty what-so-ever. The inpspectors are going to be intern. Not a bad part-time job for someone who need some work experience in the environmental resources area. The job description posted below pretty well explains the program...

Internship description

Title

Watercraft Inspector - Intern

Position

Temporary full-time (in all areas)

■Must work weekends and some holidays from 4/13/12 -10/13/12

◦start and end dates flexible based on school schedules

■Mandatory training –

◦Twin Cities April 13th and 14th

◦Brainerd Area April 27th and 28th

■Watercraft Inspector pay rate $10-$11 per hour

◦mileage reimbursement around $0.55 per mile

Application deadline

March 12, 2012

Apply online! - This link leads to the State of Minnesota Job Search site. Choose Natural Resources Dept from the Department section and Intern/Student Worker from the Position Type.

Eligibility

To qualify for the Watercraft Inspection Program applicants must pass a criminal background check and have a valid MN class D drivers license or the equivalent. In order to hold this position employees must receive college credit and major in one of the following: Biology, Natural Resources, Fisheries and Wildlife, Enforcement, Communications, Recreation Resource Management, Recreation, Park and Leisure studies, Ecology, Environmental Science, Forestry, Geology, Sociology, Sociology of Law, Criminology and Deviance, Urban and Community Forestry. In order to hold this position employees must receive college credit.

General description

The Watercraft Inspector serves to inform and educate the public to the threats of ecologically harmful aquatic invasive species to Minnesota's waters. Inspectors work at public water access sites educating the public by providing information to watercraft users and conducting a brief survey while inspecting watercraft for invasive species. Other duties include assisting the coordinator with access postings, assisting Conservation Officers with access checks, invasive plant removal, and other natural resource projects.

Duties

■Educate the public on invasive species program and issues

■Distribute written information to watercraft users

■Inspect watercraft for invasive species

■Conduct a verbal survey & inspection inventory

■Document and record research activities

Program structure

Watercraft Inspectors will be assigned to a specific area of responsibility which may include up to 10 public water accesses. Inspectors will be responsible for their individual work schedule upon approval of their supervisor. Personal transportation is required and mileage will be reimbursed.

Locations

■Seven County Metro Area

■Alexandria and Becker, Pope and Ottertail Counties

■Brainerd Lakes Area

■Duluth and Cook County

■Wright and Chisago Counties

■Mankato/Waterville Area

■Mississippi River - Red Wing to the Iowa border

■Northern Minnesota (Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods areas)

■Spicer/Willmar

■St Cloud Area

Skills

1.Excellent verbal communication skills

2.Sound understanding of customer relations

3.Ability to coordinate multiple tasks within a professional setting

4.Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

5.Willingness to work odd hours and in adverse weather conditions

6.Sense of humor

7.Demonstrated interest in environmental work through education, volunteer work, and/or hobbies

Contact information

For more information or to request an application packet contact

Heidi Wolf

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ecological Resources

500 Lafayette Rd., Box 25

St. Paul, MN 55155-4025

tel: 651-259-5152

fax: 651-296-1811

email: [email protected]

Females and protected class persons encouraged to apply.

[WaveWacker]

It would be a completely seperate sticker that must be on your trailer. What I read, the intent would be that it would be good for 3 or so years and you'd have to re-up it. I'm assuming that some the thinking behind it is that it is more transparent to ticket people then as the "I didn't know" excuse would definately not fly if you had a sticker on your trailer.

[kfk]

The intent is to try to educate everyone about invasive species and to get boaters thinking about how to minimize spreading of them. Maybe it'll help and maybe it won't, but isn't it worth a try? Invasive species are a serious problem that aren't going to go away by sticking our heads in the sand. I for one don't have a problem with the DNR trying this because action of some kind has to be taken.

Nobody wants less government involvement in anything more than myself, but if anyone has any better ideas, I and I'm sure the DNR would be happy to hear them.

This is a serious problem guys.

[snowfighter]

I bet there will be a $$$ fee with the sticker or course.

[Riverratpete]

I'm all for protecting the enviroment..grew up on the Mississippi when it was used as a sewer, much cleaner now then say 30 years ago. I have been a life long conservationist, license and tax paying fisherman and hunter..I understand the "Intent" of the law but am extremely suspicious of the typical knee jerk reaction by the goverment on these types of issues where they have no idea what the long range implications are and are only playing to their rich paying donors. Heck, they can't even figure out what the meaning of the Legacy Fund is and how they can rip it off when everyone KNOWS what the intent was when we voted for it.."The road to hell is paved with good intentions"

[ClownColor]

In addition to that what about the online test on invasives that has to be taken and passed before the DNR will issue you a trailer sticker that then allows you to be on the road while towing a boat. You will not be allowed to be on the road without that sticker. Nice work DNR, what a bunch of morons.

I'm actually okay with this one. Way too many boaters/fisherman out there that don't have a clue about these issues (not everyone is on a forum) and even better yet, you should have to pass a basic boating test online. heck, even through in some basic fishing rules and guidelines as well-at least then people are more aware of what is going on.

Not sure how you get the sticker but simply printing out the results and bringing them to any dnr liscense delear while you pick up your fishing liscense sounds simple enough for me.

On a side note...I'm note a big fan of the road side stops-but I guess we'll have to see how that is handled.

[creepworm]

I'm all for protecting the enviroment..grew up on the Mississippi when it was used as a sewer, much cleaner now then say 30 years ago. I have been a life long conservationist, license and tax paying fisherman and hunter..I understand the "Intent" of the law but am extremely suspicious of the typical knee jerk reaction by the goverment on these types of issues where they have no idea what the long range implications are and are only playing to their rich paying donors. Heck, they can't even figure out what the meaning of the Legacy Fund is and how they can rip it off when everyone KNOWS what the intent was when we voted for it.."The road to hell is paved with good intentions"

Especially when the knee jerk reaction is 15 years too late. It would be easy to stop the spread of invasives if there was only a handful of waters infected. Now that there are hundreds it is kind of a practice in futility.

[Wavey Davey]

Not only is this the stupidest thing I've ever heard of it's against our constitutional rights and singles out boat owners. Pull you over for no reason other than towing a boat? Where's our freedom? Guilty before proven innocent? What about the car next to you that doesn't have to pull over and has a trunk full of over the limit fish? This is not fair or right. Where was the DNR when the freighters brought zebra muscles into Lake Superior, did they stop them and make them clean them off? Too little too late that's for sure. This is going to be one big pain in the rear, waste everyone's time and taxpayer's money and will not stop the spread. What a bunch of carp.

[kfk]

Wavey Davey,

I'm don't want to criticize you, but what would you do to help the invasive species problem?

[loadmaster]

DNR web has an article about the stickers. They are free and you pick them up any Lic Dept dealers and from the DNR at any of the sports show.

I don't know if this state wide but in the Duluth area, they have summer help at the most popular boat ramps and check your boat over before launching. They ask the usual questions last lake visited, next lake and how to clear invasive species off the boat. Then give you a sticker good for one year to be placed on your trailer so you will not be bothered again. Also last year the DNR was in an undercover truck pulling a boat stopped a short distance from a stop near the launch looking a drain plug removal.>>later the load

[katoguy]

Also last year the DNR was in an undercover truck pulling a boat stopped a short distance from a stop near the launch looking a drain plug removal.>>later the load

Please help me understand this statement.

[Wavey Davey]

kfk, The DNR did nothing to stop the evasive species from being here in the first place. Now that they're here and spreading, this is their attempt to slow it down. I am not against educating boat owners about how they can help do that. It's the way they want to do it. If you're pulling a boat and the drain plug has been removed, trailer is free of weeds, etc., they have no reason to pull you over, period. The majority of people know the laws and abide by them. The time and expense used on this could be better spent on researce to find ways to remove or eradicate the invasive species now here.

(I see "muscles" in my original post should be "mussels"...)

[TR21HP]

There has been a ton of research on mussels on Lake Erie and we need to get predators in those infested lakes immediately. Cray fish and smallmouth have shown to make a large impact on some smaller lakes infested with zebra mussels in Ohio. I also agree that most people are aware of this problem and to simply inspect boats may have an impact on non infested lakes but a more aggressive approach is needed in those waters already infested. DNR should have been more proactive then reactive but that's the nature of the beast that is mired in politics and way to slow to respond to something they have known about for a long time.

[gregg52]

There has been a ton of research on mussels on Lake Erie and we need to get predators in those infested lakes immediately. Cray fish and smallmouth have shown to make a large impact on some smaller lakes infested with zebra mussels in Ohio.

I believe mille lacs has a pretty good population of small mouth and cray fish..but it seems the mussels are doing quite well there

I'm not doubting what you say just curious

the thing that kinda bugs me is like when i'm at the rv on winnie

i go back and forth to the landing and have to empty everything thing

that adds up to alot of $$$$$$ specially in the spring buying shiners

almost cheaper to rent a slip than pull the boat out every time...lol

[TR21HP]

Forget the live bait and use GULP! Just kidding.

If you go to the Ohio DNR there is all sorts of data on how they have tried to eliminate the problem on smaller lakes, Mille Lacs not being small, and the results they have had.I do agree with you on Mille Lacs Greg, we have a home on Isle Bay and the increases in Zebra mussels on the dock every fall is unbelievable. My point was that we notified DNR 4 years ago and had some officers and biologists out there then and looked at the problem and they are just getting around to looking at some half a$$ ways to try to possibly curb a small amount of the problem. The cows out of the barn!

[loadmaster]

They were looking for boats with out the drain plug removed after leaving the landing area. The truck and boat they were using had no markings or official looking indicators. The stop sign was about three blocks from the parking lot/launch area.>>>later the load

[Kyhl]

kfk, The DNR did nothing to stop the evasive species from being here in the first place. Now that they're here and spreading, this is their attempt to slow it down. I am not against educating boat owners about how they can help do that. It's the way they want to do it. If you're pulling a boat and the drain plug has been removed, trailer is free of weeds, etc., they have no reason to pull you over, period. The majority of people know the laws and abide by them. The time and expense used on this could be better spent on researce to find ways to remove or eradicate the invasive species now here.

(I see "muscles" in my original post should be "mussels"...)

I agree. Law enforcement requires probable cause to conduct a search. Probable cause is suspicion that a crime has been committed. Will someone please tell me what crime has been committed by towing a licensed trailer on a public road?

[Tracker55]

So if you trade in your boat do you get arrested for pulling your new one home from the dealer??

F?#%ing Morons.

[pulleye16]

So if you trade in your boat do you get arrested for pulling your new one home from the dealer??

F?#%ing Morons.

Nope! why would they arrest you? Unless the dealer covered your new boat in milfoil and zebra muscles, through in a over the limit walleye in your live well and a dead eagle in the storage compartment...maybe then they'd arrest you.

[tyeetanic]

If the boat dealer installed the plug in your new boat, and you didn't think to pull it before driving home, you are in violation and could be arrested for failing to pull the drain plug before transporting the boat down the road. You'd have a good argument though, if the boat had never been in the water anywhere!

It's unfortunate that the US and Canada weren't able to get together and police the maybe 20 shipping companies that brought us all the invasive species, instead of putting the hammer down on the maybe 20 million of us that use these lakes with our fishing and pleasure boats. I guess it must be easier to make all of us little people responsible for spreading the stuff than it is to make a few multi-national corporations responsible for bringing the stuff here in their ballast water. But that's the situation and now we have to live with it.

[TR21HP]

I believe what Tracker 55 was referring to is the proposed new sticker you will have to have on your trailer upon passing an online test for invasives before beilng allowed to be on the road if you are towing a boat. This is what is being proposed by the DNR and a little side piece of doubling the fines as they exist now- with no warnings given.