So I live in Texas around Austin and went to my lakehouse for the Fourth of July. Basically the cops were pulling people over on the lake left and right for no reason except for them to conduct "safety inspections". So my friends and I were out on the jet ski and I got pulled over for an "inspection" and passed but ended up getting a ticket and same with my friends for not having taken the Boaters Education Course.
I've been going on this lake for 7 years and have never gotten a ticket or pulled over but the cops for whatever reason decided to be dicks on the fourth like the pigs they are. My guess is they were short on there quota. The fine for this is $200 which is ridiculous considering how long I've been driving jet skis. My court appearance date is on the 30th for this month or I can pay the stupid $200 fee.
This just seems such bs to me since it's unreasonable search and seizure but that amendment isn't enforced on the lake so they can conduct "safety inspections". This is targeting. I looked this up online as this seems unconstitutional and surprisingly I found most states do the same thing except ones like Florida where they can pull you over only if they have a reason to just like driving a car. It's crazy they can pull you over like this when they can't do this when you drive cars. It should be the same for driving boats.
What should I do here? Should I pay the fine or try and fight it?
I've been going on this lake for 7 years and have never gotten a ticket or pulled over but the cops for whatever reason decided to be dicks on the fourth like the pigs they are. My guess is they were short on there quota. The fine for this is $200 which is ridiculous considering how long I've been driving jet skis. My court appearance date is on the 30th for this month or I can pay the stupid $200 fee.
This just seems such bs to me since it's unreasonable search and seizure but that amendment isn't enforced on the lake so they can conduct "safety inspections". This is targeting. I looked this up online as this seems unconstitutional and surprisingly I found most states do the same thing except ones like Florida where they can pull you over only if they have a reason to just like driving a car. It's crazy they can pull you over like this when they can't do this when you drive cars. It should be the same for driving boats.
What should I do here? Should I pay the fine or try and fight it?
