Boat Inspections

[Bobby Bass]

Minnesota STATUTES 2011 86B.508

86B.508 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES RULES DECAL.

(a) A watercraft owner or operator must obtain and display an aquatic invasive species rules

decal issued by the commissioner on the owner or operator's watercraft prior to launching on,

entering into, or operating on any waters of the state.

( The aquatic invasive species rules decal must be attached to the watercraft.

History: 2011 c 107 s 40

NOTE: A violation of this section prior to August 1, 2014, shall not result in a penalty, but is

punishable only by a warning. Laws 2011, chapter 107, section 105.

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Just to clarify this, I am reading a lot of thoughts that are not related to what the new law states. I have an invasive decal on my trailer since 2007 was not a big deal getting it then and it should not be one now. Bobby

[TR21HP]

What you have quoted is current statutes and legislation it is not proposed legislation which was published in the Sunday Strib. I too have an invasive species sticker but it is not the same thing and the proposed fines are to be doubled as the article stated.

[CAMAN]

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.

Where does it say that you can be arrested? Fines, YES, but I have seen nowhere that states imprisonment.

[TR21HP]

The article was by Doug Smith on Feb.,5th on the Minneapolis Star and tribune outdoors section. Supposedly not to be enacted till 2015.

[Tracker55]

Yes. Thats what I was refering to.

[tyeetanic]

First it was just warnings and education. Then it was fines and no more warnings. Now they're talking doubling the fines. If you can't pay your fine, what's the alternative? Maybe you'll luck out and only get community service. But the alternative to a fine for any violation historically has been a stay at the crossbar motel. But this is quibbling over details. My point is that even with the best of intentions, you can and will be charged with a violation and then be fined for forgetting to pull your drain plug. Meanwhile, the shippers on the Great Lakes, who are responsible for bringing us this problem, get off scot-free. Most or all of us will forget to pull our drain plugs sooner or later, and risk getting busted for it.