[gatorbait]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3926900.html

Better make sure you arent carrying w/o a permit and dont have an open container. This might slow the lines down even more. I didnt know the ferry's were all of the sudden a big security concern. Hmmmmm, security concern or money maker? Who knows.

Z

 

[Freshwaterman]

I'm sure this falls under the heading of "Homeland Security", and as such I don't wish to be criical of their efforts to keep us safe.

However, to have my vehicle searched, without probable cause, by an employee of a security company, in the search for who knows what, begins to feel like an infrigement of my freedom.

I know they occasionally do this on the way into airports, and understand their basis for concern.

As more and more of our freedoms and liberties are eroded in the name of Homeland Security, I become increasingly uncomfortable. What next, random checks on the highways followed by random checks of our homes...........

 

[Hooked Up]

Well said Steve! Guy

I'm sure this falls under the heading of "Homeland Security", and as such I don't wish to be criical of their efforts to keep us safe.

However, to have my vehicle searched, without probable cause, by an employee of a security company, in the search for who knows what, begins to feel like an infrigement of my freedom.

I know they occasionally do this on the way into airports, and understand their basis for concern.

As more and more of our freedoms and liberties are eroded in the name of Homeland Security, I become increasingly uncomfortable. What next, random checks on the highways followed by random checks of our homes...........

 

[Bobby]

At least you can refuse this search. When you ride the ferry you agree to any search. Big sign before you get on. Guess I will have to hide my stuff somewhere else.

 

[stargazer]

We went to dinner over at Stingree's last evening and they were looking in the backs of P/U trucks. Even had a feller in a 18 wheeler open his trailer. Something else I thought was strange. There was a sign stating No portable gas cans

 

[Bobby]

We went to dinner over at Stingree's last evening and they were looking in the backs of P/U trucks. Even had a feller in a 18 wheeler open his trailer. Something else I thought was strange. There was a sign stating No portable gas cans

They have been doing that since I moved down here 8 years ago.

 

[wet dreams]

They have been doing this since (I guess) last yr. I have even seen the sheriffs dept following the ferry across the channel till they meet the other and then follow it back. You can NOT get on with a gas container in the back of your truck. Also last yr while on ferry there was a DPS officer on brd on both trips and found out they were on all of them. We noticed him walking around looking into all cars, he spotted an open container in a truck close to us and questioned the woman in the passenger seat (only one in truck) for a bit and he walked away but hung close by watching the truck. When the driver got back in it the DPS guy went back and confronted him. I don't know what transpired BUT I do know there was another officer on land waiting on the truck and it seemed as if the driver was expecting to get pulled over. I do know last yr the law was sitting on a beachfront cabins deck on Crystal Beach and watching for open containers and then radioing others in cars of what they saw. WW

 

[mastercylinder60]

They have been doing that since I moved down here 8 years ago.

right. i used to own the "the fun spot waterslide" ('97-'02) in crystal beach, and they would frequently hassle me about bringing pool chemicals across the ferry in the back of my pick-up.

 

[wading_fool]

They have Troopers on the Ferry's going into Port A on the Weekends....he makes it a point to walk around and look in all the cars and backs of trucks. They will not let you board the ferry if you are carrying more than 10 gallons of gas in the back of the truck. They have caught quite a few people with open containers...been doing this about 2 yrs now, so be careful come ICC

 

[speckle-catcher]

"No portable gas containers" has been a rule on the ferry for as long as I can remember - and I've been back and forth to Bolivar my entire life.

the sign that says "vehicles may be subject to search" has been up for several years. I don't remember if it went up before or after 9/11/01

one thing that really chaps my arse (and it's happened several times) - the flunky at the landing will not be paying attention and just waving cars past to go on to the bote - and then you get halfway to the bote and they start yelling at you to stop cause he didn't get to look in the back of the truck (they've also been doing that for for the last couple years) as you went by. If the guy (once it was a girl) would pay attention to his **** job instead of jaw-jacking with his friend...

Once I got all the way onto the ferry before they caught up with me (after they had waved me forward) and had to go through a thorough search of my entire vehicle (which was full of tools & construction materials). By the time they got to my duffel bag, the cop asked what was in the bag - I told him "dirty socks & underwear - you wanna sniff'em?"

He didn't see the humor in that

 

[surffan]

They have Troopers on the Ferry's going into Port A on the Weekends....he makes it a point to walk around and look in all the cars and backs of trucks. They will not let you board the ferry if you are carrying more than 10 gallons of gas in the back of the truck. They have caught quite a few people with open containers...been doing this about 2 yrs now, so be careful come ICC

Yes, they have been doing that for at least a couple of years but so far not real searches for the Port A ferry. How they would do that with all the SUVs crammed full of kids and beach stuff I don't know.

 

[mastercylinder60]

i was carrying two 100 lb. buckets of pool chlorine once, and no one said anything to me (and, hadn't before) until i was already on the ferry. they actually held up the entire loading process and made me back my truck off of the ferry.

 

[luv2fish]

I am glad that they are looking out for our safety.

 

[toyotapilot]

How does the "no portable gas cans" effect portable gas tanks in boats? Are they included in that? Something I have always wondered.

 

[wading_fool]

I may be wrong but I think its just 2 boat gas cans...and they have to be in the boat.

 

[speckle-catcher]

How does the "no portable gas cans" effect portable gas tanks in boats? Are they included in that? Something I have always wondered.

regular gas cans cannot be carried on to the ferry.

portable gas tanks for a bote - I never had a problem with.

 

[kunder3006]

i was question one time for having a gallon of coleman fuel in my truck, he let me slide,i go the back way through high island to avoid the wait and hassle of it all. just my .02 cents worth

 

[Mitchw123456]

I dunno about that, that made us dump our gas out of a GENERATOR once. They told us not to come back without water in the tanks, but there was no way I was filing my gen. gas tank up with water. They eventually did let me get by w/o water in the gen but I had to give away a few gallons of gas as the truck was already full. You would think they'd be a little more concerned with the 25 gallon fuel tanks on these trucks our the hundreds of barrels on the tractor trailer rigs. Seems like if they are going to nit pick one thing like the gas can deal why not nit pick everything? Also why do they let you carry propane bottles on the ferry but not 5 gallons of gas??? I really do not understand some of there thinking and I guess thats why I try to stay away from that thing as much as possible now.

 

[TomCat]

Pop open that cooler, sir.

I think the first line of the article says it all. There’s no money to be generated looking for bombs and terrorist on the Bolivar Ferry. Local law enforcement know the majority of beach goers and fishermen will have beer in their coolers and some will have an open container in the drink holder. Bolivar Island also has a problem with drunk teenagers on the beach. Local homeowners have done every thing under the sun to try and keep these under age rowdies off their beach. Maybe this type of advertising and aggressive enforcement will slow the tide of young folks that migrate to Bolivar during the summer season. Maybe if we create enough traffic problems we can justify that new bridge we want. Who knows.

 

[Bobby]

You can go to Wal-Mart and buy a new gas can with nothing in it and they won't let you on the ferry. Been there done that. LOL But if you hide it under some blankets or tarp you can get it across.
Also it is not the ferry people that are doing this it is the coast guard.