Here in pa we where out tonight Bowfishing and the game commission stopped us and said we can not us any "docking" lights while moving.so our hps lights. He said that is our verbal warning next is a fine. Did anyone else have this problem?
Pa fish and game bs
boosted97gt
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It is always a shame when common sense is not applied to a situation. I'm sure the rule was put in primarily so we don't have powerboaters flying up and down places at night with super bright lights, and should not have anything to do with people legally bowfishing.
I've had game wardens tell me on separate occasions that I had to wear orange while duck hunting during deer season and dove hunting during small game season. :headbang:
I've had game wardens tell me on separate occasions that I had to wear orange while duck hunting during deer season and dove hunting during small game season. :headbang:
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Got checked last night. He laughed when I told him about your situation. Told me to kill them all and said "DAAAAAMN" those lights of yours are bright! haha
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He's law enforcement not a lawer. I havent found a cop that knows all of the laws. You need to talk to his supervisor discuss the interperation of the law with him and if he agrees with you, inform him that the field officers have a different interperation. If he doesnt agree find out who wrote the law and ask for his intent behind it. Then have him pass it down. The law is the law not the officers word or opinion.
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i spoke at the boat commission meeting when this law was proposed.....they listened to what we had to say so as to NOT AFFECT our bowfishing. As long as your running at no wake and your lights are at a slight angle downward your fine. The head of the boat commission told us specifically that all the enforcement officers were going to get a memo on the way the law was to work and that "IF ANY OF YOU BOWFISHERMAN HAVE AN ISSUE WITH AN OFFICER TO GET HIS/HER NAME AND CALL THE COMMISSION THE FOLLOWING DAY AND NOTIFY THEM AND THEY WILL PERSONALLY CONTACT THE OFFICER AND ADDRESS/EDUCATE THEM ON THE LAW"......its simple, its their job to know the laws and if they dont, they arent doing their job, so just report it and continue to legally bowfish PA at night.
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Well said fishstick and thank you for getting involved when these regs were passed.
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Thanks Fishstick, I sent the boat commission an Email today requesting a response that can be copied and be given to officers who think we are in violation if needed.
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Here is the Email response I got from PA Fish and Boat Commission. Any one who wants a copy PM your Email address and I will send it to you by Email
Hi Mark,
The bowfishing topic associated to regulatory issues of boat lighting was very
much a talking point through the docking light regulatory process in 2011.
Current regulations and SOP allow lights to be used at night for bowfishing.
Section 63.8. (a) Long Bows, Crossbows, Spears, and Gigs clearly authorizes
bowfishing with the aid of a light at night.
Section 95.3(g) addresses Docking lights installed on boats and reads as
follows.
It is unlawful for a boat operator to use docking lights while underway except
when docking and the boat is traveling at slow, no wake speed and is within 100
feet of approaching a dock, a mooring buoy or the shoreline. For purposes of
this subsection, a docking light is a flood or spotlight type of light
permanently installed or permanently mounted on a motorboat that is used to
illuminate a boat's forward course of travel.
The Bureau of Law Enforcement Standard Operating Procedure states that the
following activities are not restricted or prohibited by the docking lights
regulation(Section 95.3.g). Officers are instructed that they shall not
initiate an enforcement action for violation of the docking regulation based on
the following activities.
The intermittent use of a hand held spotlight by a boater to temporarily
illuminate aids to navigation or locate hazards to navigation while underway.
The use of a spotlight to illuminate game along the shoreline providing the
spotlighting activity is consistent with the Wildlife Code rules and
regulations.
The use of fixed or hand held lights generally facing downward into the water
to illuminate certain species of fish that may be harvested by bow fishing
anglers.
The use of a downward facing light into the water by an angler for attracting
baitfish.
The above issues must be carefully conducted in a manner that they do not impede
night operation and lighting requirements for boats. Boat lighting requirements
are found on pages 14-16 in the PA Boating Handbook.
Please contact me with any questions.
Thank you for your time,
Ryan
Ryan C. Walt
Boating and Watercraft Safety Manager
PA Fish & Boat Commission
1601 Elmerton Avenue
PO Box 67000
Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000
rwalt@pa.gov
ph: (717)705-7841
fax: (717)705-7901
Subject: Message to the PFBC about Boating
Name of submitter: Mark Fournier
E-mail address: mf3lfour@aol.com
Telephone:
Address:
City: Pen Argyl
State: Pennsylvania
Zip Code:
County (if applicable): Northampton
====================
Subject: boating
Comments: Hello I am the PA state rep for the Bowfishing Assoc. of America.
There has been a lot of concern over the boating regulation on docking lights.
Could you interpret the regulation as it applies to bowfishing lights that I can
forward to members so they can carry a copy to present to conservation officers
who are telling bowfisherman they are in violation of the Law. I have seen the
amended version of the law that permits lights for bowfishing at slow no wake
speed, but conservation officers still insist we are in violation.
Any assistance in this matter would be appreciated.
Thanks Mark
Hi Mark,
The bowfishing topic associated to regulatory issues of boat lighting was very
much a talking point through the docking light regulatory process in 2011.
Current regulations and SOP allow lights to be used at night for bowfishing.
Section 63.8. (a) Long Bows, Crossbows, Spears, and Gigs clearly authorizes
bowfishing with the aid of a light at night.
Section 95.3(g) addresses Docking lights installed on boats and reads as
follows.
It is unlawful for a boat operator to use docking lights while underway except
when docking and the boat is traveling at slow, no wake speed and is within 100
feet of approaching a dock, a mooring buoy or the shoreline. For purposes of
this subsection, a docking light is a flood or spotlight type of light
permanently installed or permanently mounted on a motorboat that is used to
illuminate a boat's forward course of travel.
The Bureau of Law Enforcement Standard Operating Procedure states that the
following activities are not restricted or prohibited by the docking lights
regulation(Section 95.3.g). Officers are instructed that they shall not
initiate an enforcement action for violation of the docking regulation based on
the following activities.
The intermittent use of a hand held spotlight by a boater to temporarily
illuminate aids to navigation or locate hazards to navigation while underway.
The use of a spotlight to illuminate game along the shoreline providing the
spotlighting activity is consistent with the Wildlife Code rules and
regulations.
The use of fixed or hand held lights generally facing downward into the water
to illuminate certain species of fish that may be harvested by bow fishing
anglers.
The use of a downward facing light into the water by an angler for attracting
baitfish.
The above issues must be carefully conducted in a manner that they do not impede
night operation and lighting requirements for boats. Boat lighting requirements
are found on pages 14-16 in the PA Boating Handbook.
Please contact me with any questions.
Thank you for your time,
Ryan
Ryan C. Walt
Boating and Watercraft Safety Manager
PA Fish & Boat Commission
1601 Elmerton Avenue
PO Box 67000
Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000
rwalt@pa.gov
ph: (717)705-7841
fax: (717)705-7901
Subject: Message to the PFBC about Boating
Name of submitter: Mark Fournier
E-mail address: mf3lfour@aol.com
Telephone:
Address:
City: Pen Argyl
State: Pennsylvania
Zip Code:
County (if applicable): Northampton
====================
Subject: boating
Comments: Hello I am the PA state rep for the Bowfishing Assoc. of America.
There has been a lot of concern over the boating regulation on docking lights.
Could you interpret the regulation as it applies to bowfishing lights that I can
forward to members so they can carry a copy to present to conservation officers
who are telling bowfisherman they are in violation of the Law. I have seen the
amended version of the law that permits lights for bowfishing at slow no wake
speed, but conservation officers still insist we are in violation.
Any assistance in this matter would be appreciated.
Thanks Mark
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Thanks lipsmacker,and thanks to all who got involved with this last year.
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Printed a copy for the boat, thank you.
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dont shoot york haven...I know the Fish and Boat guys down there. They will sit at the ramps and wait like it is their only job. I am friends with some of them, and they've given me a warning this year already...nobody has ever bothered us up at harrisburg and north. I think all of the catfish guys down at york haven complain about us, I have had people key my jeep and leave nasty notes down there. Not worth it for me. If it isn't the law, its those catfish people....can't win.
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Don't know what to say. What do your friends say about the regulation?
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Sounds like someone wants york haven to themselves, ha!
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Hise in the bushes with shotgun with bean bags for a few hours while your friends fish???
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Send Ryan an Email, (his Email address is on the letter) asking him what you should do. Let him know what is going on down in York Haven, but don't whine about it. Then give him some time to handle it.
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pm sent thanks
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