Fishing License

[blitzburgh]

Originally Posted by ashmoz

Not sure if lifeguards can check your fishing license but it wouldn't hurt to let them see it...

Lifeguards are not Peace Officers. They are public safety officials. They can observe conduct and report, observe conditions, administer first aid, close portions of beach for emergency..... They have only the same power of arrest as a regular citizen.

[dsafety]

Blitzburgh is right. Lifeguards are not peace officers. While I am sure they can ask to see a fishing license just like you or I can, they cannot compel anyone to produce it. Enforcing fishing regulations does not fall under their authority.

Harbor patrol officers, may have additional authority as they are now part of the police department and are peace officers. In my day, they were part of the lifeguard service.

Park rangers in many locations have the authority to demand to see a fishing license and write citations if one is not produced. I learned this the hard way when I took my young son fishing at Donne Pond in Palomar State Park many years ago. It was new years day and there was no way to buy a license that day. The $120 fine got my attention.

Bob

[StinkyMatt]

Sometimes things are not Black and White.

Yes it is true that only some people CAN ask to see your license it is also true that maintaining good public relations requires a lot of flexibility at times.

The lifeguard may not have the "power" to see your license but can prevent you from using a part of the beach she "identified" too dangerous to be shared by kayakers that day. You may not pay the "price" that day but the kayaker next week will.

The harbor patrol may all of a sudden decide to enforce the rule about not dropping hoop nets in an obscure area of a breakwall because you wanted to make a "POINT" and not show him your license.

If you are legal, and following the rules you should not be too troubled to show someone your license.

If you are not legal, then I and most people want you to get busted!


Hey you never know when the lifeguard you just became friends points you to a nice little honey hole he heard about from another angler.


Just my take on it.

[Darkstar]

you can always stick your license down your shorts that way when someone asks to see it you are prepared.....

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by Darkstar

you can always stick your license down your shorts that way when someone asks to see it you are prepared.....

on a hot summers day

[PAL]

San Diego City Lifeguards can and do write tickets.

[blitzburgh]

Originally Posted by PAL

San Diego City Lifeguards can and do write tickets.

This is true. I should have notated that caveat. The city of San Diego Full Time Lifeguards are considered Peace officers and enforce rules as such.