Got a citation in no wake zone

[sunbyrned]

Yea.... assuming the Derby isn't cancelled, Sept 4th will see the city closed down. Doubt it gets dropped, but maybe the cop will want to be at Oaks instead of court.

Good luck man, I really hope this turns to nothing in the end. I'm still in shock the CO's at Taylorsville would write this ticket. There's just so much other rampant stupidity at that location at any given time, I just can't get my head around you being the one to get the citation.

Thanks! I appreciate your support. While they were checking on me, other Yahoos were speeding on by making our boats rock like crazy. I was thinking, really?! But I don’t have the upper hand in those situations.

 

[AuburnVFR]

Before deciding to pay a ticket or fight it in court, you should know exactly what your state law says. Your citation should specify a law/statute/regulation number that you are charged with violating. Google that number and see exactly what it says.

I was curious and attempted to look it up on Google. I could not locate any specific law regarding idle speed operation or obedience to no wake zones or other regulatory buoys under Kentucky Revised Statutes KRS Chapter 235 or Kentucky Administrative Regulations KAR Title 301. I did find a definition for idle speed: "Idle speed means the slowest possible speed at which maneuverability can be maintained". That seems to be in your favor. Good luck!

 

[tdonoughue]

That is interesting. Here in Texas the definition is headway speed that does not create a swell or wake. But in Kentucky it is idle speed. Didn't realize there was a difference, but there clearly is. I know here in Texas my first 'no wake' mode is faster than trolling (first notch on the throttle), but still no wake (clearly). Second 'no wake' is borderline for around here. Third 'no wake' I don't really consider no wake, as it does give me a bit of a swell.

Do you have fins on your boat? If not, might want to be sure to take a picture of the jets, too. Under the KY definition, if you have fins, your speed at which you can go in a no wake zone probably goes down...

 

[Liveto99]

NY is 5 MPH Fl to Im pretty sure

 

[Lawson2479]

I was at a south ky lake several years ago. Anchored, having lunch with the wife and kids. F&W pulls up. Points to one area then another and says. " there is an invisible line and I am in a no anchor zone". $175 ticket.

 

[Rockfords Fosgate]

Other than turning it on once to confirm it works, I have never used the Wake Mode feature. We have no wake zones around bridges on Lake Lanier and I keep one engine in neutral and 1 in drive. I creep...

Interested to hear the outcome of your ticket.

 

[anmut]

I was at a south ky lake several years ago. Anchored, having lunch with the wife and kids. F&W pulls up. Points to one area then another and says. " there is an invisible line and I am in a no anchor zone". $175 ticket.

WTAF - invisible line?! It's stuff like that that make people hate LEO's.

 

[Robconn]

Show your speed in the 3 settings on video.
4.5mph is high.

according to google, no wake zone is limited to 4 MPH. I’ll keep an eye on my speed and see how consistent speeds are for each increment of the no wake mode. I usually will use the first two settings around docks and anchored boats.I use the third setting when there is little traffic.

 

[2kwik4u]

@sunbyrned Was talking to my wife about this last night. Her response...."Seriously, WTF? They didn't see one of the other 235 idiots out there??"....Good to know it's not just me.

 

[bthessel]

That stinks, I always use no wake mode on my boat, it typically is 4.5-5 mph according to the gps on my perfect pass depending on wind direction. What lake were you on? We are always on Cumberland and typically I feel like I am the slowest guy in the no wake areas around ramps and marinas

 

[HangOutdoors]

Yesterday, while I was on the water I spoke with the Sherriff who patrols the lake. I asked him about some sailing buoys and how to handle them that were floating around the lake. None the less, we started chatting and he indicated that with so many new boaters they have their hands full and he has run out of ticket books on his boat more than once giving them out. Mind you this is a 900 Acre lake. He said he has never seen so much incompetence going on at the same time as now in all his years on the water. He can't even understand how some people think.

Anyhow, he is the same one that I see out there all the time and he gave me the direct number to the patrol boat. He did this after I explained to him what happened when another boat roared up on us while kids were swimming. Hopefully I won't have to exercise that option.

Perhaps if people get back to work it will thin out a bit. Not trying to be political, but could you image what it would be like if everyone got a stipend or guaranteed income? A lot of people with too much time on their hands and probably more unconscious boating.

 

[sunbyrned]

@sunbyrned Was talking to my wife about this last night. Her response...."Seriously, WTF? They didn't see one of the other 235 idiots out there??"....Good to know it's not just me.

That’s exactly what I was thinking the entire time. WTF?! Ha!

 

[sunbyrned]

That stinks, I always use no wake mode on my boat, it typically is 4.5-5 mph according to the gps on my perfect pass depending on wind direction. What lake were you on? We are always on Cumberland and typically I feel like I am the slowest guy in the no wake areas around ramps and marinas

Taylorsville lake at the marina. Good to know about the 4.5-5. Thanks! I too believe I was going slower than the others. These guys just saw churning white water.

 

[Sbrown]

After riding with water resource officers and interacting with them as part of my volunteer activities, the get out of jail free phrase is usually is something along these lines "I was going as slow as I felt I could safely and still maintain reasonable control". Repeat as many times as necessary. Most maritime laws are written to put the liability of safe operation on the captain, for obvious reasons. You just need to be able to articulate that.

 

[dnicholas47]

I took a video yesterday for the court date. Tried to upload it here but is too large. You guys don’t need to see it anyway. What’s odd is that the court date is Sept. 4, which is now Oaks Day before the Kentucky Derby. Everything is shut down on Oaks Day. I’m hoping I go and find the court closed. Maybe that was the officer’s way of letting me off the hook. Wishful thinking... I’ll keep you posted.

If the 4th is your first date it is likely just an arraignment and the officer won’t have to be there. At least in the counties where I practice, officers aren’t brought in unless the case is set for trial, which isn’t until you’ve entered a not guilty plea at arraignment.

 

[biffdotorg]

I’ve never used “No Wake Mode”. Will you guys give me the benefits of using it? Easy to get in/out of this mode?

I use cruise and the Connext GPS speed mode all the time.

On our vintage boats without the Connext GPS mode, no wake allows for putt-putt mode as we call it. On our Tri-toon, we can cruise the lake all day and have a conversation. But on the 242, putting the boat at around 2000 rpm is difficult, and cruise doesn't lock there.

So all you do is push it off neutral (indent) and punch it up three times, it's then a perfect 2000rpm on boat engines and putt-putt mode engaged. I don't use it for docking, as our versions of no wake require you to up throttle to dis-engage, and that could be dangerous. Either that, or mine is not working correctly. It does in every other aspect, so I have never worried about it.

 

[biffdotorg]

My boat has a No Wake Mode switch which allows me to give a little extra power without having to use the throttles when in idle or just out of idle. It really comes in handy docking or trailering. The thrust really helps with maneuvering, especially in no wake zones. That same switch also serves as a cruise control once you’re at 1500 rpms I believe.

Yup, all Yamahas do. It's a great feature. The RPM's vary on model year. But you should be able to use no wake to just over 2000rpm. And at most any speed, cruise should have at least 3 bumps of RPM's.

Good luck,

 

[sunbyrned]

If the 4th is your first date it is likely just an arraignment and the officer won’t have to be there. At least in the counties where I practice, officers aren’t brought in unless the case is set for trial, which isn’t until you’ve entered a not guilty plea at arraignment.

Ugh! Thanks though!

 

[sunbyrned]

@dnicholas47 Based on your experience and data, if this were you, would you just pay the fine or risk paying the fine and court costs?

 

[dnicholas47]

When people call me for speeding tickets, it usually comes down to how much is their time worth vs how much the fine/insurance bump might be. I would say same thing here. If the lake is local, and you have the time it’s probably worth a shot. I say that because with our boats and the no wake mode situation, you may find yourself in this spot again so it might be good to know where you stand. On the other hand, if you have limited time and will likely have to go to court at least twice, it may be worth it to cut your losses.