Sheriffs shuting down all public launches?!

[TKOGWEE]

My cousin that works for city of Independence tells me that the cops have put up signs on Lake Independence prohibiting vehicle travel on the lake. Per officer Ray something or other stated that "as of midnight tonight you will be ticketed and fined for driving a vehicle on Hennepin county lakes". Is this for real?

[Finlander]

Just read that in the StarTribe HSOforum!

[TruthWalleyes]

Good o'l nannies...

[CAMAN]

Looks so...

Quote:

Hennepin County Closes Access to Lakes

8 vehicles already through the ice this winter

Updated: Thursday, 09 Feb 2012, 2:24 PM CST

Published : Thursday, 09 Feb 2012, 2:17 PM CST

MINNEAPOLIS - With at least eight cars, trucks, SUVs and ATVs already through the ice on Twin Cities metro lakes, the Hennepin County sheriff’s office has closed all access points to lakes.

The early Feb. 9 closing will remain in effect until further notice as ice conditions are increasingly unpredictable with the unseasonably warm weather in Minnesota. Driving a car, truck or SUV onto the ice against the county’s order is a misdemeanor with a mandatory court appearance, and a judge may set a fine.

The sheriff’s office highlighted Lake Minnetonka, which has areas of open water, including channels with moving water.

Snowmobiles and ATVs will still be allowed on county lakes, but riders, anglers and people out waling on lakes should use extreme caution.

In Hennepin County, there have been eight incidents involving vehicles going through ice on this winter. Most of the incidents have taken place within the past week:

February 8

SUV broke through ice on Eagle Lake in Maple Grove.

February 7

ATV broke through ice on Parker’s Lake in Plymouth.

February 6

SUV broke through ice on Medicine Lake in Plymouth.

February 4

Pick-up truck broke though ice on Lake Minnetonka, Upper Lake. The driver escaped through a window as the truck started to sink. A man who was cross country skiing helped the man get onto dry land. The driver was transported to a hospital and treated for hypothermia.

February 4

Pick-up truck broke though ice on Lake Minnetonka, Smith’s Bay.

February 1

ATV broke through the ice on Lake Minnetonka at Lost Lake.

January 29

A man and boy in an SUV were driving on Haltstead Bay channel, broke through the ice, and escaped through the windows of the vehicle. The SUV sunk as people made it to shore.

January 21

Car broke through the ice on Lake Riley in Eden Prairie.

No ice should ever be considered safe. For more information about ice safety, the Minnesota DNR has information online at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice .

[CJH]

It was only a matter of time.

[McGurk]

I'm heading to the lake with my 4 wheeler and charging $20 a tow for permies. No cash will be turned away!

Yeah, right...

[Huntin&Fishin]

http://www.startribune.com/local/139040204.html

[amateurfishing]

if ppl were not so_________, this would not be an issue

[TKOGWEE]

THANKS BIG BROTHER! All because of a few bad spots, that are always bad, and a few people that don't realize that some areas, like channels, are always bad. I still have snow on a part of my roof the doesn't get sun. Good ice everywhere I fish.

[amateurfishing]

it is the job of public officials and their offices to serve the masses, one bad apple spoils entire bunch, happens all the time everywhere in life

[Sonicrunch]

I'm welcoming it. I am sick and tired of thinking of all the gasoline and oil being spilled into the lakes. Granted, the effect is next to null, it's just not right.

[mallardnwalleye]

Wow! A few trucks go through and it's game over for everyone. What a worried world we live in.

[GrumpyOldCrappie]

Lower South Long in Brainerd still has 18 inches just about everywhere- and I've drilled over 200 holes in the last few weeks looking for fish.

Lots of 1/2 - 3/4 ton trucks still driving on it. I personally wont take my truck out there but with the lack of snow, I've been driving my mini van out to the house everyday.

[ozzie]

big difference in ice from Hennipen county to South Long lake in Brainerd!!! I won't drive on the lakes in the Princeton area as there just isn't enough consistant ice to really know how thick the ice is where you are driving. I walked out and I saw trucks driving on the lake...right when they got on the lake I knew it just by the water in my hole and I was a long ways from them. If I want to drive on the ice I have been driving an hour or so north of Princeton and finding drivalble ice as it seems to be 4-10 inches thicker

[McGurk]

You think the comments are funny here, you should read the ones on the Red Star's HSOforum regarding this article!

[gopher_nation]

You think the comments are funny here, you should read the ones on the Red Star's HSOforum regarding this article!

I get plenty of daily humor reading comments on articles. The wolf season article was a great read!

[Knoc]

if ppl were not so_________, this would not be an issue

from the cities?

[Slabasaurus]

if ppl were not so_________, this would not be an issue

I'll go with "Life Challenged and Survival Impaired"

[reinhard1]

i'm sure law enforcement is doing this for public safety. while the majority of us use common sense some dont. you have to admit this is an unusual year with the fluctuating warm temps and the few cold days we had. i am usualy carefull where i drive on the lakes at anytime, but this year i am more carefull due to the conditions. good luck.

[TKOGWEE]

While there at it, I think that after, and while it's snowing, all roads in the "snowy area" should be shut down until they are cleared to prevent the hundreds of accidents that are a result of poor road conditions. Oh, and for sonic, we should also ban outboard motors to prevent the evil things from gushing oil right into our lakes. Gees, the more I think, the more I realize how lucky we are that we don't have to think, our BIG BROTHER will do it for us. How reassuring.

[amateurfishing]

its a good daily "fill in the blank" nonetheless, actually sounds like a good forum to start

[CJH]

i'm sure law enforcement is doing this for public safety. while the majority of us use common sense some dont.

Like the Mayor that went through on Bald Eagle??

[muskE]

While annoying, I'm glad to see it as I didn't want to be the first "walker" polar swimming because someone decided to drive too fast and too close to someone else on marginal ice.

[Mike Wallace]

I have been fishing on Phelps Bay on Tonka. Go out at the red bridge launch. Checked ice all the way out to the holes out there and there is 13-15" all the way. Is this unsafe? Don't think so. But now I can't go out and fish there. Can't park at the access - vehicles with trailers only. Can't park on either side of the road for a 1/4 mile - Minnetrista no parking.

Here are the last two paragraphs of the Star Trib article:

Violating the prohibition is a misdemeanor that requires a court appearance, where a judge may set a fine, Kiava said.

"Enforcement of the new restrictions will emphasize educating the public and verbal warning, if needed," she said. "Our goal is to keep people safe, not write tickets."

Doesn't sound like they will be citing people who use the lake responsibly.

[CrappieNight]

I'm with TK and all others who think this is a horrible infringement. Instead of locking up the access' I can assume a "safety" procedure should include marking areas of thin ice?!

It's a slippery slope, this may very well facilitate future infringements upon us sportsmen who understand ALL of the risks of our preferred sports.

Would you lay down and roll over for some CO who told you that the waves are too big on Mille Lacs and since a few 14' dinghies capsized you need to take your 20 Lund home until we tell you it's safe?