Kicked off safe ice by State Trooper

[23mako]

Was fishing Sunday in Medford and a state police officer kicked us off the ice because he felt it was unsafe. I was respectful and told him the ice was 8-12” thick and was if fact very safe but he was not interested in the facts and was un willing to even discuss it. We ended up leaving because I did not want escalate it further.  Anyone have a similar situation and was able to successfully educate the officer?

[Rangerboats391]

why does this happen?

[Eastciderida]

Did he call you over to the shoreline? Should have just stayed out there believe only time they can force you to get off is if there are danger thin ice signs posted along the shoreline. Search the forum there are plenty of discussions on this matter and there is a law protecting us as fisherman that they can’t arrest or force you off unless it’s posted with the danger signs

[Eastciderida]

What is he going to do walk out on said unsafe ice and arrest you..

[manitron2]

Keep a copy of MA  General laws Part 1 Title xix Chapter 131 Section5C Obstruction with lawful fishing and a copy of the MA wildlife Ice strength chart published by the state [his employer] with your gear. The state chart shows his ignorance and the law abstract shows he is criminally violating your rights. Also as stated below, make him walk out to you.

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIX/Chapter131/Section5C

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/ice-strength-and-safety

[KillerFish]

Yeah. I would not have even responded verbally until he at least came out to me on the ice. Said I was partially deaf or something. But the cops have messed with me in general more times in my life than anyone would believe. So I’m pretty good at handling their crap by now. They can all go to heck.    At least I censored my language

[KillerFish]

Especially staties. They are subhuman.

[manitron2]

Since this harassment happens all the time, I am thinking that all of us should send cslater a PM and ask why one knowledgeable law enforcement agency does not educate the other less informed agencies on safe ice and illegal harassment of sportsmen.

[skifisher]

Yeah, that’s what I want to read...just how mean and awfully inconsiderate the police are, especially when it comes to ice fishing. I just love the comments by KillerFish and how to “handle” them. There are many ways to handle a situation diplomatically, and many reasons why the trooper acted the way he did. Carrying the regulations with you is a very good start.
Oh by the way, we just had our third officer killed in the line of duty in a little over a month. Somehow getting kicked off the ice seems trivial in comparison.
We all don’t like it whenever our “rights” appear to be violated, but there are other avenues to resolve these issues, like contacting the troopers supervisor and educating him. NO officer is “subhuman.” Just my opinion.

P.S.

[lowaccord66]

People ask why it happens...its a precident and its set when you give up and follow the troopers orders.  If you pm me the name of the pond, time of day it happened, and any detail on which officer I will try to make it so it never happens again.

Ive had to educate entire departments to surfcast without harassment.

Also, this is an ice fishing forum so its not trivial...skifisher.  We aren't here to debate the suckiness of an officer losing his or her life and that has no relevancy in this discussion.  It has nothing to do with an officer breaking the law posted above. 

If it were me Id be filing a formal complaint as the officer did indeed break the law above.

[Rangerboats391]

just wondering why, this happens. I believe that if we ask a couple of key questions in a respectful way. ask him why he is asking you to not continue a legal act, and under what law or code of conduct I am breaking. I'm sure the conversation will be civil

[lowaccord66]

It usually isnt civil and if it is what I get is the "do me a favor" response.  That makes me go nuts...do you a favor?  How about you follow the law and leave me to fish!

[BaitBucket]

While it does suck, IMO its not worth the headache to butt heads with them.. Pack up and fish another body of water. Plenty of other places to fish..

[bootstrap]

that garbage doest happen here, this is vermont we do what we want.

[stripernut]

I will not give in to them, I have had them steal from me, lie to me and harass me, but I won't give in to them! If you don't have the paperwork (law) handy, ask them (or you can) call an Environmental Officer, at least some of them know the law (but not all of them)...

[MassBass85]

I was kicked off first time out this season. The officer was very nice about it and seemed to feel bad, and we had a good short talk, I didn't want to start an argument since me and a friend were just hanging out that day and I didn't want that to be the highlight. The cop was  apparently sent from dispatch because they were getting too many calls. They even sent a second cruiser while we packed up. What ticked me off the most is why can't dispatch tell the PEOPLE CALLING that THEY should stop, not the people that are completely within the law? Nice to know they have enough taxpayer money to send two active duty cruisers to go run errands for worried callers, instead of actually enforce laws. I didn't bring it up when it first happened, but this was at A1 in Westborough in December.

[skifisher]

Iowaccord,
But it’s OK for other posters to trash LEO? What does THAT have to do with ice fishing?

My point is there are 3 sides to every situation...your side, their side, and what actually happened. Is it possible there was thin ice somewhere else on that body of water that was unsafe? Did the officer act in the best interest of the OP? The question of the legality of the interaction between the fisherman and the officer may have violated the OP’s right to fish and be in question. I wonder if there were any extigent circumstances the OP neglected to mention? I’m not saying it was right for the officer to ask the guy to get off the ice, I’m just saying ther may be a little more to the story.

[ICEHOLE]

I keep this in my wallet, have not needed it yet

[lowaccord66]

Iowaccord,
But it’s OK for other posters to trash LEO? What does THAT have to do with ice fishing?

My point is there are 3 sides to every situation...your side, their side, and what actually happened. Is it possible there was thin ice somewhere else on that body of water that was unsafe? Did the officer act in the best interest of the OP? The question of the legality of the interaction between the fisherman and the officer may have violated the OP’s right to fish and be in question. I wonder if there were any extigent circumstances the OP neglected to mention? I’m not saying it was right for the officer to ask the guy to get off the ice, I’m just saying ther may be a little more to the story.

Its cut and dry though.  If someone is legally ice fishing Police can't interfere it's as simple as that, no middle of the road to be discussed. There is no law that that provides Police to authority to determine what is or isn't safe ice.

The abuse of power in regards to Police and fishing is prolific.  The Police in my travels have proven loyal to the special interests before they are loyal to the law or the fishermen.  Ice fishing, surfcasting, or freshwater, in my boat or on shore.  I had to go as far as having the Coastal Management Office reach out to Marblehead Police to explain the intertidal zone is in the public trust so I could avoid being arrested for trespassing.  I could recant stories that trash LEO's for unethical behaviour until we are all sick of hearing it. 

The side if the story that is most often ignored when it goes to court is the anglers story.  Ask me how I know...

[skifisher]

NOTHING is cut and dried, just like not all LEO are bad apples.
I don’t know what event or events occurred to turn you so negative. I hope you can get over it.

[manitron2]

I am thankful that we have EPOs ,who know the law and are willing to uphold it. I carry their number for the times that "concerned citizens" try to use local police to harass us so we arent impeding their views from their million dollar second homes,or disturbing their weekend with our noisy augers or trespassing on their section of the lake or they are just totally clueless "do gooder" city people. It happens and it is not right. As for one part of the lake being dangerous being a justification for clearing all of it, I call BS.

[lowaccord66]

NOTHING is cut and dried, just like not all LEO are bad apples.
I don’t know what event or events occurred to turn you so negative. I hope you can get over it.

We are discussing a negative topic thus my comments are inline with what is being discussed. To suggest I am negative would be rather inaccurate as I am most certain you don't know me at all. If the thread was called "Awesome Acts of Police Kindness" Id have different comments. 

Let's clear something up though as I sense some bias in your comments.  Are you, or were you an officer? 

[BaitBucket]

I had to go as far as having the Coastal Management Office reach out to Marblehead Police to explain the intertidal zone is in the public trust so I could avoid being arrested for trespassing.
The side if the story that is most often ignored when it goes to court is the anglers story.  Ask me how I know...

Exactly man.. In life, you have to pick your battles. And this, to me, is not worth the risk of my future. Get arrested for trespassing and that comes up in background checks. Apply for a job and they ask if you have ever been arrested and Legally you have to say yes or if they run a background check, and that could be the determining factor for getting the job.

All for what? Legally fishing a chunk of ice? Especially knowing, as you said : "The side if the story that is most often ignored when it goes to court is the anglers story."

[skifisher]

I guess I do have a bias toward generalizations when it comes to ANY group of individuals. I can understand your point of view, and your right to have it. You’re correct that I don’t know you, and like you, I can only make an assumption based on your posts. I mean no disrespect. I am only expressing my point of view.

[sangell]

My question is what was a State Trooper even involved, maybe state property? That seems odd to me as it would be the local 911 Comms Center getting the calls which would be a LEO response.

[lowaccord66]

Exactly man.. In life, you have to pick your battles. And this, to me, is not worth the risk of my future. Get arrested for trespassing and that comes up in background checks. Apply for a job and they ask if you have ever been arrested and Legally you have to say yes or if they run a background check, and that could be the determining factor for getting the job.

All for what? Legally fishing a chunk of ice? Especially knowing, as you said : "The side if the story that is most often ignored when it goes to court is the anglers story."

Principle...Will.  For me it's all about principles.  For me I'll take that risk so others can fish peacefully.  You and your family can go to Marblehead Neck to the lighthouse and fish the rocks in front of the mansions because I took that risk.  Prior to that...you your kids and wife would be escorted off those rocks in about 20 minutes..

[lowaccord66]

I guess I do have a bias toward generalizations when it comes to ANY group of individuals. I can understand your point of view, and your right to have it. You’re correct that I don’t know you, and like you, I can only make an assumption based on your posts. I mean no disrespect. I am only expressing my point of view.

I hear you but for the record I am not generalizing, as I said I have endless stories to back up my statements and if it were a different thread my statements would be different. All that said you failed to answer my question and rather than speaking to the topic you are nit picking comments on said topic!

[Ice Scratcher]

Was fishing Sunday in Medford and a state police officer kicked us off the ice because he felt it was unsafe. I was respectful and told him the ice was 8-12” thick and was if fact very safe but he was not interested in the facts and was un willing to even discuss it. We ended up leaving because I did not want escalate it further.  Anyone have a similar situation and was able to successfully educate the officer?

In Michigan, one of those guys would be illegal, and it wasn't the one ice fishing...

<°)))>{

[BaitBucket]

Principle...Will.  For me it's all about principles.  For me I'll take that risk so others can fish peacefully.  You and your family can go to Marblehead Neck to the lighthouse and fish the rocks in front of the mansions because I took that risk.  Prior to that...you your kids and wife would be escorted off those rocks in about 20 minutes..

I hear yah man, but i akin this to arguing with your wife. Even if you are right, your wrong.. And will most like pay for it for a long time 

[manitron2]

Along with the other paperwork I suggested, put this # in your phone EPO hotline 1-800-632-8075.