Tell the CO's to take a hike, legally...

[Havin' Fun]

I wonder if why this is such a hot topic to some, is because they are breaking the law and don't want to get caught. I have heard bad stories too, and here is a little quote that says it all. "Believe none of what you hear, and half of what you see."

Here is my bad experience(or was it?), I was 10, on a family fishing trip to Winni. DNR is stopping everyone leaving. Pullovers and searches of vehicles for fish. Really [PoorWordUsage]ed my dad off. Hot as heck and our fish were going to spoil. Well they found us in compliance, appologized and sent us on our way. The groups behind us and in front were searched and from what I could tell at age 10, in big frickin trouble. I saw all the fish on the road and guys taking pictures ect. This is why we need CO's.

[Guest]

Dan97,

When Major Everett said that the DNR has to knock and announce he was referring to the DNR itself. They must have set a policy to knock and announce from now on to avoid further issues. Law Enforcement is not required to announce "Police" when they knock on your door, though they often do. Many departments implement that as a policy however.

Thanks for digging up that info though.

Good Luck,
Rusty

[Guest]

Hey Dave and Gonzo,
you guys are right on!
I guarantee you that every person here complaining about crabby CO's have had 10 times as many nice CO's come around. Personally I have only had encounters with 2 crabby CO's in my lifetime. Unfortunately these are the ones that we remember. And I have 2 questions to the guys that are happy about this ruling.
1) How are CO's supposed to do their job if they can't enter your house w/o permission?

2) What is more important to you, your ability to be able to break the law or your ability to catch fish?
I want everyone to think about how many crabby CO's compared to polite CO's they have encountered. This may stop some complaining.
And my final solution one that I have already proposed,
If you don't want to be subject to random compliance checks STAY OFF THE ICE!!!

Just my .02,
-Mr. Fisherman

[Guest]

in answer to that,
1). Just like every other branch of law enforcement, without a presumption of guilt, and through the proper channels, i.e. warrant upon suspicion of wrongdoing.
2). Since I'm going into law enforcement, and obviously don't plan on breaking any laws, I'd say catching the fish. I don't believe that this will have a huge impact on whether or not more people are going to be taking over their limit though. Seriously, are any of you going to now be taking more than your limit just because you know that the Dnr can't come into your fishhouse without permission? Isn't it nice knowing that you can now lock your sleeper door at night, and not have to worry about it being illegal?
The same people will continue to take more than their limit, I don't see a whole new group of fisherman without scruples coming into being just for this one ruling.

The reason I'm happy about this ruling has nothing to do with the individual CO's themselves, whether or not they're grouchy, or if they've got good manners. That doesn't matter to me. Just think of what would have happened if the DNR had won this ruling? Have you heard this quote before? "Absolute power corrupts absolutely"
Thats why our government has all those checks and balances, the last decision was just an example of those checks and balances at work.

[Guest]

If any of you don't think giving up your rights is a big deal start paying attention to your rights and money that disappears at an increasing rate yearly! I'd much rather have a crack addict in the house next to me, than a government that has a right to search anything of mine...and yes if you give them one thing, they'll sure as hell go for the bigger picture when they feel a weakness.

[Piker]

So if you don't want your rights violated stay off the ice. Is that it? Sounds like the wrong approach. To me, you fight back and that's what this ruling is about. There's also the saying that laws (and locks) are only for the honest criminals.

[TRZ]

i find myself somewhere in the middle of this debate. had my shack dore closed last year with a bunge cord because it was broke and a jerk CO ripped it open and cut my wifes face, needless to say i was mad considering it was 12 noon and we were using 3 lines between the 2 of us. i also don't like the idea of crack heads using the law, or people who like to violate fishing laws-we need somekind of middle ground.

[Guest]

I don’t get how people can think like that…fishing, hunting, and gathering are rights not privileges!! Fishing in an enclosed house is different from driving your vehicle on a public road how? We have licenses for both correct? If anything, driving should be the weaker…it’s a privilege not a right. Can a police officer search your vehicle without a reason/probable cause? No, hence neither should a CO be able to search an enclosed house(yes it’s much different than a boat in the wide open.)

Why should CO’s be allowed to live by there own set of laws.

[Guest]

I have been reading along for a little time now.I do not see how the CO's can possibly enforce the laws if they cannot search a shak with out permission.In order for them to do their job they may have to resort to not issueing a license for permanant shelters.Do away with permanant shelters alltogether.Now I don't think that will happen but it could.Or they could prohibit any shelters from being left out over night or unattended.We may have opened up a big can of worms here.I did see a post on another thread that said that they may require you to sign a privacy waiver in order to get a license for your shak.

[Dave]

I'm going to agree with fishhead, and I've kind of said the same before. This is gonna open up more than some people think, and probably like.

[cwmn]

Did the DNR change the law about being able to lock your shack while you are in it? I don't think they did.

[Guest]

This all is a mute argument really.

If they suspect they do need to search you, your shack, or your vehicle, your body cavities and blood analysis, whatever, they will do so.

They will just call in for a bench search warrant and sit on you tell it gets hand delivered.

Now your twice as likely to get scrutinized and ran through the mill for your lack of cooperation. Then once probable cause has been reaffirmed they will also get a search warrant for your home residence, just to be efficient.

So, go ahead, tell them to take a hike, if you truly feel your constitutional rights are being trampled on.

Or just maybe, you could let them do there job and get on with life as you know it.

It is your call.

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"Ed on the Red"
Backwater Guiding Service
[email protected]
fishingminnesota.com/ed-on-the-red/

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 02-05-2002).]

[Guest]

Wow I never realized there was such a contrversy about this! There is some great debate from both sides, and it is hard for me to take a certain side. For one I am glad that we have people who are able to regulate waht everyone does. For one thing it allows everyone to have a chance to enjoy "natures gifts", but on a different line there have been many times when I wish that I didn't have to worry about licenses and laws. I mean who wouldn't like that right to go fishing whenever they want and take as many fish as they want, or go and shoot a deer whenever they felt hungry for some fresh venison.

I guess when it comes down to it I am thankful for the CO's because I know too many people who would take as many fish as they could get, would fish with as many lines as they could keep track of and would do it whenever they felt like it. Let's face it there are too many people out there that would ruin it for the rest of us. Just my thoughts.

I do have a question. Is there a quota that the CO's have to make? For instance I now the local police agency at my hometown has a quota of the number of speeding tickets they write in a month. I was just wondering if the CO's have a quota of the number of checks they have to make or something? Does anyone know?

Thanks guys for the perspectives. Like I said you all put up a great arguement.

hsolist&MEL

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"The Big One is down there, keep at 'im"

[Guest]

Quota's are illegal,
at least, anything put into writing is. All the officers should be having about the same amount of tickets. But,if you have an officer thats writing out 50 less tickets a week than the rest of the officers in the department. He/She is gonna get a talking to.

[Guest]

Thanks DirtyB22

Perhaps I misunderstood the situation at my home town. I was just curious. Thanks Again.

hsolist&MEL

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"The Big One is down there, keep at 'im"

[Guest]

I have never understood the 2 line rule anyway. What does it matter if you use 2, 4, 18 lines as long as you do not exceed the daily and possesion limits? I abide by the 2 line reg, and if it's fast and furious you can't handle 2 let alone more! And come to think of it, why are 2 OK on the ice, and only 1 on open water?
Let'em knock.

[Piker]

What's wrong with them knocking? Sounds like the proper thing to do when wanting to enter private property. I don't think we should have to license houses, let CO's trample all over you, or for that matter pay as much as we do for licenses. I could care less if we had a DNR at all. For what we pay, we aren't getting our money's worth. When it's all said and done and you get your shelter license for your two or three house, your angling license, your spearing license, your boat license, not to mention your deer license and whatever else. Your talking hundreds of dollars a year! Take that times every fishermen/hunter and your talking some serious cash. If anyone thinks they need that much money to upkeep boat ramps, stock fish, and act like jerks, your dreaming. It's not the things everyone on here cares about that they are spending money on it's mainly all the top-level talk. Crunch the numbers on what you the average sportsmen spent last year on the above "privileges". Then mulitply that times the 1 million?? or however many residents (not including out-of-state) anglers there are. To ask them to knock on the door is too much to ask? If your against them, then your condoning on-ice crackhouses and meth labs? Give me a break. There's your can of worms!