Waterfront Etiquette

[Bear Islander]

Originally Posted by jrc

Wow, I've been coming to the lake for decades and never remember seeing someone standing up and peeing off a boat. I'm sure people pee in the lake all the time and everywhere but there is something extra rude about unzipping, exposing yourself and peeing in the lake.

I sometimes see people pee in the lake as they go through the NWZ. Last year a young man went slowly by our place while he stood on the swim platform and relieved himself in the water. He was swinging his hips back and forth and really enjoying himself. We took his picture, got the bow number and called Marine Patrol. He was taken into custody and ended up before a judge getting a $500 fine and a record that will follow him all of his life.

In truth he was lucky because he could have been charged with exposing himself and that means "Registered Sex Offender".

Public urination is a crime.

[Belmont Resident]

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

I sometimes see people pee in the lake as they go through the NWZ. Last year a young man went slowly by our place while he stood on the swim platform and relieved himself in the water. He was swinging his hips back and forth and really enjoying himself. We took his picture, got the bow number and called Marine Patrol. He was taken into custody and ended up before a judge getting a $500 fine and a record that will follow him all of his life.

In truth he was lucky because he could have been charged with exposing himself and that means "Registered Sex Offender".

Public urination is a crime.

Every now and then the system does work.

[no-engine]

In ocean with no coast or boats in sight, is one thing, but this is indescribable!

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by no-engine

In ocean with no coast or boats in sight, is one thing, but this is indescribable!

Be thankful there's no cruise ships on Winni!

"According to Oceana (an organization whose mission is to protect the world's oceans}, the cruise-ship industry dumps 255,000 gallons of gray water and 30,000 gallons of black water into the ocean every day. The United States allows cruise ships to dump untreated sewage into the water as long as the ship is 3 miles away from shore. If the cruise ship treats the sewage, the 3-mile restriction does not count, and the sewage can be dumped anywhere. Alaska is the only place within United States waters that does not allow dumping."

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

I sometimes see people pee in the lake as they go through the NWZ. Last year a young man went slowly by our place while he stood on the swim platform and relieved himself in the water. He was swinging his hips back and forth and really enjoying himself. We took his picture, got the bow number and called Marine Patrol. He was taken into custody and ended up before a judge getting a $500 fine and a record that will follow him all of his life.
not
In truth he was lucky because he could have been charged with exposing himself and that means "Registered Sex Offender".

Public urination is a crime.

Not to say that you were wrong by turning this guy in, but I couldn't do that to him because I know that he could be on the "Registered Sex Offender" list. As it turned out he has a record that will probably follow him for the rest of his life. I just couldn't ruin a young man's life that way.
What would I have done? Probably called the guy an idiot and hoped that he would not do that again in my presence.

[NoBozo]

I can sympathize totally with the posters above. But when Nature calls..are you expected to HOLD It ..and explode..?? NB

PS: The perps in front of RGs place might be responsive to a faulty ice circulator..with a stray current problem. Maybe RG could rig up something so he could flip a switch when the perps come back..they probably will because RG reacted to them....Even a guy peeing into the lake would feel a "Tingle" going up his leg..through the stream.

[Lakegeezer]

There are over 500 billion gallons of water in lake Winnipesaukee. Pee is 95% water. The non-water content of a generous quart of "contribution" is about one part in 40 trillion. The biggest chemical problem in the lake, Phosphorus, is measured in parts per billion, and pee has only a trace. Few enjoy watching others answering to the call of nature and it may be illegal, but the lake will not really notice.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

I sometimes see people pee in the lake as they go through the NWZ. Last year a young man went slowly by our place while he stood on the swim platform and relieved himself in the water. He was swinging his hips back and forth and really enjoying himself. We took his picture, got the bow number and called Marine Patrol. He was taken into custody and ended up before a judge getting a $500 fine and a record that will follow him all of his life.

In truth he was lucky because he could have been charged with exposing himself and that means "Registered Sex Offender".

Public urination is a crime.

In the old days the young man would have gotten a strong talking to by a law enforcement officer and maybe a weekend of community service. He likely would have remembered the painful lesson and shaped up. Now as you state he will have a record. I'm not sure this outcome improves the end result but I'm glad it makes you feel good.

I don't disagree that public urination can be disgusting and I certainly recoil when I see younger folks making spectacles of themselves. However, I have learned to take a deep breath and reflect back upon my youth and to some of the things that I did back then that I wish I hadn't.

Finally, if public urination is a crime I'd like to know if there is any man out there, including you Bear Islander, who can plead innocent to this "crime"?

[Belmont Resident]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

In the old days the young man would have gotten a strong talking to by a law enforcement officer and maybe a weekend of community service. He likely would have remembered the painful lesson and shaped up. Now as you state he will have a record. I'm not sure this outcome improves the end result but I'm glad it makes you feel good.

I don't disagree that public urination can be disgusting and I certainly recoil when I see younger folks making spectacles of themselves. However, I have learned to take a deep breath and reflect back upon my youth and to some of the things that I did back then that I wish I hadn't.

Finally, if public urination is a crime I'd like to know if there is any man out there, including you Bear Islander, who can plead innocent to this "crime"?

1. In the old days people cared about others. Not the case now a day as some of today's youth would just as soon shoot you as look at you.
2. More and more you hear about repeat offenders.
3. There is big difference between urinating in private and making a show of it in front of people and not caring.
First of all let me say I pee in the lake every time I'm out on it. Weather they say so or not probably 90% of boaters do at some time if not regularly, I do not think that is the issue here. Getting up and doing it within easy sight of houses and possible children is. As you mentioned most probably do it but we don't do it without making sure no one can see us. I carry a bottle from the hospital on my boat for day use and dump it. At night or in the middle of the broads with no one around is not an issue.
Once again it is the difference between using common sense and having no common sense.

[Bear Islander]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

Finally, if public urination is a crime I'd like to know if there is any man out there, including you Bear Islander, who can plead innocent to this "crime"?

I am innocent of this crime.

645:1-a Public Urination or Defecation. A person is guilty of a violation if such person urinates or defecates in a public place, other than a public restroom, under circumstances where the person knew or should have known would likely cause affront or alarm to another.


I will add that I only decided to press charges after I was informed that all six occupants of the boat in question signed a statement saying that it never happened. If they had owned up to it I would have dropped it. The Marine Patrol officer didn't tell them about the picture until after they had signed.

[KonaChick]

After he was taken into custody was it up to you to "drop it" or was it up to the State of NH at that point? I agree it's disgusting and at your vantage point on the lake you must see quite a bit that the rest of us do not. I do not agree however with the turn this could have taken. The prosecutor decided to agree to lesser charges obviously but if he had not this young man's life could have been ruined permanently because of one bad choice. I'm not making excuses for his horrible behavior but if he had been labeled a registered sex offender because of it then the punishment would not have fit the crime and IMHO the system did not work!!

It's a moot point because it did not happen but could have, according to you. I would not want that on my conscience for the rest of my life. Your life goes on unaffected but this young man's life could have been damaged to the point of no return because of one bad decision. Once again, I do not agree with his behavior.

[NoBozo]

I'm actually more annoyed that ALL six people LIED and then swore to it......than someone peeing in the lake. So TWO mistakes were made. Doing the deed and then lying about it. NB

[NoRegrets]

Laws are laws and I for one believe we have way too many of them. Many third world cultures behave like this. Are we heading toward that level of society? Nature cannot be stopped and when she calls action must be taken. I was brought up to be discrete and put up with a little pain if necessary.

The lack of respect that BI caught is wrong based on the values my parents gave me. The values that are now being infused into our society reflect the disrespect of a younger and more informed generation. I guess my parents were alarmed with the hippies of the 60's and 70's. Now we are witnessing a new norm.

[jrc]

I think the word etiquette applies. Today people believe:

If it's not illlegal then I can do it,
if it is illegal, I can do it if I don't get caught,
if I do get caught I can deny it,
if I get punished someone will feel sorry me and let me off the hook.

No one ever asks, should I do this, or how would I feel if someone did it to me?

That's civility and etiquette, you can't legislate it, parents and society has to teach it.

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by jrc

I think the word etiquette applies. Today people believe:

If it's not illlegal then I can do it,
if it is illegal, I can do it if I don't get caught,
if I do get caught I can deny it,
if I get punished someone will feel sorry me and let me off the hook.

No one ever asks, should I do this, or how would I feel if someone did it to me?

That's civility and etiquette, you can't legislate it, parents and society has to teach it.

"I didn't do it..Nobody saw me do it..You can't prove anything.".....Bart Simpson. NB

[Lakegeezer]

Originally Posted by jrc

I think the word etiquette applies. Today people believe:

If it's not illlegal then I can do it,
if it is illegal, I can do it if I don't get caught,
if I do get caught I can deny it,
if I get punished someone will feel sorry me and let me off the hook.

No one ever asks, should I do this, or how would I feel if someone did it to me?

That's civility and etiquette, you can't legislate it, parents and society has to teach it.

Etiquette standards change per generation and it is hard for the geezers to know what the new normal is. When I was young, long hair was not proper etiquette, nor was wearing jeans on an airplane trip. Things change.

I'd like to think that whizzing off the back of a boat in public isn't today's normal. However, lack of respect for some laws makes sense. Specifically, the laws bought by the wealthiest 1% and corporations, to keep the other 99% from bothering them or reducing their profits. Here on the lake, we see this in the form of no-wake, no-jetski and no rafting zones along with a speed limit. Each has wealthy contributors behind it. The balance comes from the fact that most law enforcement are part of the 99% too and will often let you off with a warning when scoffing at the 1% laws.

[jrc]

Really, you got bullship political talking points out of what I wrote?

[ApS]

Originally Posted by NoRegrets

"...Laws are laws and I for one believe we have way too many of them. Many third world cultures behave like this..."

Boy, have we strayed......but while we're adrift...

It's not waterfront—nor New Hampshire—but Third-World "etiquette" is already next door!

[MDoug]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I'm actually more annoyed that ALL six people LIED and then swore to it......than someone peeing in the lake. So TWO mistakes were made. Doing the deed and then lying about it. NB

Lucky that the fellow didn't hire a Georgia lawyer and sue for having a photo taken of him and thus violating his right to privacy!

[secondcurve]

"I am innocent of this crime".

I should have realized you were above it all!