Posts: 2,841
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
Drove up to Deer Creek Sunday night with the kids and saw my brother kicking around in his tube so we stopped to say hello and see how the fishing was. The fishing was really slow for him and the people I talked with on the shore. DWR was providing some great entertainment for the night.
When my brother arrived at the pull off near Wallsberg a DWR officer pulled in and started watching some people fishing on the east side of the channel with a spotting scope. My brother got his stuff and headed down to the lake. Just after getting on the water he saw another officer driving down to the people the first officer was watching. Thats when the dope started flying under rocks and anywhere else they could find to put it. Too late the officers had them. The best part was not only did they get busted for the drugs but he charged them with littering and made them pick up their trash! Good Job DWR!
[signature]
Posts: 35,986
Threads: 288
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
57
[cool][#0000ff]Yeeee Hawww. Score one for the good guys. Did you have to pay extra for the show?[/#0000ff]
[signature]
Posts: 509
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2005
Reputation:
0
[#505000]Sounds liek they did a great job. My hats are off to them!![/#505000]
[signature]
Posts: 1,293
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2005
Reputation:
0
they do a great job at deer creek. did your brother catch any fish, or was he too busy watching 'cops'?
[signature]
Posts: 5,856
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2003
Reputation:
0
Nice to see the dope heads get nabbed! Spotting scopes can be a cruel toy!
[signature]
Posts: 533
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2003
Reputation:
0
Posts: 1,506
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2005
Reputation:
0
[font "Baskerville Old Face"][#ff4040][size 3]That's awesome! Nothing like watching COPS in real life.[/size][/#ff4040][/font]
[signature]
Posts: 2,436
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
So were they poaching, or just puffing. Cause if they were poaching then I'm happy. If they were not poaching, then I feel it was a waste of time and DWR $. There are others to enforce such things. You never see a sheriff checking licences or bag limits.
Who were they hurting? You?, your brother?
[signature]
Posts: 3,084
Threads: 21
Joined: Jul 2003
Reputation:
12
Troll -- DWR CO's are fully qualified law enforcement officials that have completed POST training. This means they can enforce ALL laws. I'm curious if you would have been happy if the CO's would have simply checked these people, found that they had legal fishing licenses, and just shrugged their shoulders at the dope?
Also, you DO see sheriff's departments checking licenses, bag limits, etc. In fact, I had both a sheriff deputy (Garfield Co.) as well as a National Park Service Ranger pull me over and check my license while hunting deer on the Grand Staircase National Monument (which is legal). I was actually happy to see them. The sheriff deputy then followed me home, and helped my hang my buck, and skin it. Talk about service!
[signature]
Posts: 509
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2005
Reputation:
0
[#505000]I gotta back PBH on this one. The DWR are fully qualified and certified law enforcement officials. When we get sworn in as cops we (all cops) agree to enforce all laws. For them just to check licenses and ignore a drug problem would be ludicrous. Frankly if you are speeding a DWR guy could (most likely won't) stop and issue a speeding ticket. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]If you fish Salem pond at night plan on Salem City PD stopping to check your license. I know for a fact they do do it, and can do it. During the walleye spawn in Utah Lake when the tributaries are closed, and I was assigned to the road I would patrol those tributaries which run through my city, during the night shift. Never caught anyone actually fishing them but I know for a fact a few of the gentlemen I stopped to talk to had been planning on it (had all the gear in the vehicle, just hadn't wet a line yet). After chatting with them and reminding them about the law they all assured me they were just there looking and then they would quickly pack it up and leave. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]What it all comes down to is a cop is a cop. My focus is my city and what goes on in it; from the homicide to the parking ticket to everything in between. Highway Patrol's focus is on accidents, traffic enforcement, and anything to do with a state road (including the transport of drugs) that doesn't mean they can't come into my city and make a domestic violence arrest if they need to. DWR's focus is making sure people don't abuse the natural resources the state has and making sure those resources are properly managed. On top of all that if any one of us (all cops) runs into a criminal violation we'll take some form of action. If I catch someone poaching deer in city limits you better believe I will take action, even though I'm not DWR. If I'm out on my time fishing and I have thought to bring my work credentials (badge and gun) I am more then happy to issue a not so friendly (very friendly if I forgot my credentials) warning to those I see who haven't bothered to read their proclamation. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]I just have to wonder if those of you (not pointing fingers at any one individual because I'm sure a few feel the DWR had no business enforcing drug laws) who are upset at the DWR in this post would be as upset if those guys got high as a kite and killed somebody while driving back down Provo Canyon. And for those who are wondering, yes you can get impaired to the point you can't drive safely from the wacky tabacky![/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]*climbs down off the soap box*[/#505000]
[signature]
Posts: 18
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2005
Reputation:
0
Just say no to drugs...man! I think that we have the responsibility to report not only poaching but all other offenses including drugs. I don't want my kid poaching, littering,etc...and I surely don't want him thinking its okay to smoke dope! Just my two cents! Oh and by the way I have been checked for my fishing license by a sheriff at the Jordan River near the pump house in Saratoga...I wasn't smokin' dope though! [cool]
[signature]
Posts: 102
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2005
Reputation:
0
I AGREE WITH PBH AND GIVE DWR RESPECT FOR BEING PROACTIVE IN THEIR PATROL WORK. I DONT THINK THAT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IF ITS DOPE, POACHING, BURGLARY, THEFT....ECT. IT IS ALL A CRIME. NEXT TIME YOU LEAVE SOMETHING IN THE BED OF YOUR TRUCK AND SOME *%#$@ TRIES TO TAKE IT... WOULD YOU BE THANKFUL THAT DWR CAUGHT THEM OR WOULD IT BE A WAST OF TIME AND $$$ FOR THEM TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT. THE LAND AND RESORCES ARE OUR INVESTMENTS AS WELL AND ITS GOOD TO SEE THEM OUT PROTECTING THEM AND KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE. IF YOU WANT A DEPUTY TO CHECK YOUR LICENSE OR BAG LIMIT...SWING ON BY WEBER COUNTY BECAUSE I ASSIST SEVERAL PEOPLE A YEAR WITH A COURT DATE, CITATION, AND JAIL FOR THE VIOLATION OF THE REGULATIONS. AND ALWAYS...HAVE A GREAT DAY [cool].
[signature]
Posts: 2,841
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
My brother landed a few small rainbows that went back in quickly to grow up. He was trying out a new rod and reel so there was nothing going to stop him from fishing. He watched the show but probably never missed a cast.
Were they hurting anyone at the time? No. Were they doing something illegal? Yes. Can you do anything about it after they hurt someone? No! Am I glad they weren't on the road when I was? You bet your life.
[signature]
Posts: 6,353
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2006
Reputation:
0
PBH nailed it! Alot of places that "Fish Cops" patrol are not patroled by "Cops", therefore the only ones to enforce some of the laws ie: dope smoking, are the wardens. I know a warden that was on her way to check licenses at a community fishing water where alot of kids fish, and as she came around the corner she witnessed a drug deal and you bet your ass she stopped it and proceded to testify against them. I for one am glad they would intervene in a situation like that. If it were me catching them i would do the exact same. There is no room for drugs where children are trying to fish and have fun. Nice job catching the "potheads".
[signature]
Posts: 69
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2005
Reputation:
0
[size 2]The dest part of this this thread for me is the Schadenfreude that most of you display about this.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, Schadenfreude is a German word meaning “to find happiness at the misfortune of others”
You all are sooooooooooo happy that these guys are going to receive thousands of dollars worth of fines and have their drivers licenses suspended for six months.
Why ???
Troll asked the right question - “Were they poaching or just puffing ?”
If they weren’t poaching then how were they hurting you ?
Sorry, but “a crime is a crime” just doesn’t fly with me. How is two guys smoking a joint while fishing by themselves on the shore of a lake equivalent to burglary or theft ? The law does'nt see it that way, thats why there are different punishments for murder than for jaywalking.
I couldn’t care less if somebody smokes dope while they're out fishing and it’s a to think that apparently some of the boats around me are spotting scope, or internet camera watching, tattle-tailing little snitches…
And as far as the safety aspect on the roads afterward. I would much rather be driving behind the guy that smoked a joint than behind the guy that swilled a 12 pack while out fishing… Which I KNOW FOR A FACT is a routine practice for many of the posters on this board.
But alas…
Hypocrisy coming from a bunch of uppity, righteous, holier than thou Utahans…
I think I might just keel over and die from LACK of surprise…
Of course that’s just my opinion… I could be wrong.[/size]
[signature]
Posts: 935
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2003
Reputation:
0
LMAO..............
[signature]
Posts: 419
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
0
I don't suppose that you know anything of the Levels Of Morallity.
Level 6 is like a martyr. Not many around.
Level 5 is someone who changes the world, but not by dying. Look at Martin Luther King Jr. or John Lennon before they died. It didn't take martyr-dom for either of them to make a change in all of our lives.
Level 4 are the people who enforce the laws. Hence, the DWR officers who made the bust.
The law, to put it quite frankly, is the law. Period. For those who believe that, we are generally considered to be a 3.
For those who break laws, Ex. the druggies, they are on a level of 1.
You, my friend, are on level 2. You don't care if the act is against the law or not. You only care whether or not it affects you, and only you. Would you care if those people drove down the road and killed someone? No. Now, if they even thought about even swerving infront of you you'd be completely and totally against them.
Laws are set in place to protect the well being of everyone. Me, you, and every other person around, regardless of race, creed, religion or anything. I don't care who gets busted, as long as they do. If it's illegal to do, and there's a good reason for it being illegal, then by gosh they should be busted for it. Period, end of the story.
Posts: 1,408
Threads: 18
Joined: Sep 2003
Reputation:
13
[reply][size 2]
You all are sooooooooooo happy that these guys are going to receive thousands of dollars worth of fines and have their drivers licenses suspended for six months.
Why ???
[/size][/reply]
Why? Because the guys broke the law...and maybe, just maybe, by being fined and losing their drivers' licenses for six months, these guys won't break the law anymore. Your attitude implies that it is ok to break the law as long as you don't get caught or aren't harming anyone. That simply is not true.
Do you know what the meaning of "Wahnsinn" is? It is a German word meaning "madness". Your reply is simply crazy or "verrucktheit"!
[signature]
Posts: 69
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2005
Reputation:
0
It never ceases to amaze me that you think so highly of John Lennon yet you could'nt be anymore the other side of the coin from the message his words and music stand for.
You, my friend, dont know me at all or know anything about what "level of morality" I'm on, whatever that means.
Laws are a sign of the times and are constantly changing. Rest assured that a time will come in the future when what these guys were doing probably wont be illegal.
I'm willing to bet that you consider Joseph Smith a prophet. Is he on level 1 of your morality scale because he encouraged his followers not only to break the law, but to leave America to escape its overly oppressive laws ?
Just remember this...
Morality seperated from practicality, is immorality...
Of course thats just my opinion... I could be wrong !
[signature]
Posts: 5,964
Threads: 1
Joined: Jan 2003
Reputation:
0
|