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Originally Posted by Coach Z
The quote that I go by is the one I got from the commander of the coast guard academy when I asked what their jurisdiction was....
"see all the blue of the ocean, that's ours!)
The uscg and customs absolutely does not need any warrant ( for better or worse) to board a vessel within the 12nm limit "contiguous zone" That's been law since congress passed it in 1799!
www.gc.noaa.gov/documents/CZ05_final.pdf
Link to NOAA PDF of maritime zones and maritime law |
Well, you're correct, but there's more.
I can board any US-flagged vessel anywhere on the ocean, up to the territorial limit of another country. Let's say that you're on a 62' yacht 20 miles off the coast of Canada. I can board you any time I please. If your'e within Canada's territorial waters, I cannot board you without contacting the State Dept and them going through the approval network for us to enter Canada's waters for LE missions.
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Originally Posted by hogdogs
For me, a cruising vessel is a domicile away from home... I do what I want in my domicile and with out a search warrant NO ONE OFFICIAL LACKING A SEARCH WARRANT MAY ENTER IT SO LONG AS I AM IN THESE HERE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!
This includes the USCG lookin' for smuggled drugs or a harbor master or anyone else for that matter...
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Brent, I'll tell you first off that I agree with you, that's the way it should be... But that's not the way it is and if you take that stance with a USCG or Customs boarding team that's attempting to board your vessel, things will end badly for you. Long story short: if we/they want to board you, you will be boarded. Wether that's at sea and lasts a few minutes, or we do it the long, difficult way... It'll be up to you, your boat will be boarded, just a matter of if you go to jail or not.
Respectfully,
JGCoastie