The dinghy and the law
I've gotten myself into some hairy situations with my past dinghies. From breaking free at sea, breaking free at anchor, sinking/resurrection, theft, rowing in 20 knots of breeze with a 5 knot crosscurrent, etc. I have a new one to add to the list today: a clan of three of Newport's finest.
I left the local pub Benjamin's at about midnight this past Monday. It was a short walk to the Ann Street dinghy dock a quarter of a mile away and, unbeknownst to me at the time, I was being followed. When I arrived at my humble chariot, I pumped out the water, pumped up the port side tube that never stays inflated, hopped in and pushed away from the dock to start the engine. Within seconds, three bright beams of light illuminated me, in front of a stern voice instructing me to return to the dock. I didn't panic though, that's exactly what they want you to do. They're looking for a reason to throw the book at you, the trick is to never give them the opportunity. I obliged, and was informed I was too intoxicated to operate the vessel.
Now, I'll admit I had a few at old Benji's, but I really didn't think I was impaired in any way. I asked if I could simply row to my boat and got a reply to the affect of they didn't trust me that I wouldn't start the engine once I turned the corner. They were probably right. Anywho, they dragged the dinghy up onto the dock, completely deflated her and threw me in the back of the squad car. I wasn't handcuffed or read my rights, was I being arrested?
"You're not under arrest, we're taking you home."
"Well, my boat is my home, so I don't know where you plan to take me."
"We'll take you to a hotel."
"OK, fine by me!"
I had never been in the back of a police vehicle, it was like a taxi with bars and really hard seats. This was about when I updated my Facebook status, saying I had been arrested for a flare of drama. When we arrived at the hotel, I was escorted in with one of the officers and the desk lady said it would be $120. I looked to the officer.
Me: "Go ahead sir."
Cop: "We're not buying you a hotel room. Pay the woman."
Me: "Well, I only have $60 in my checking account."
Desk lady: "That's the best price I can do."
Cop (looking to me): "Are you joking?"
Me: "I wish I was. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to mess with you, I just don't have any money."
Cop (with a very heavy eye roll): "Get back in the damn car."
They drove me around for another hour, even went on another call, before dropping me off in a Wal-Mart parking lot at 1 AM. An eventful evening, that did not end a poorly as I had thought when I first saw those flashlights. A friend was just getting out of work at a restaurant and came and picked me up.
The real kicker was when I got back to the dinghy in the morning, the tide had come up during the night and crushed my engine between the floating dock they put her on and the gangway ramp. The pull cord wouldn't pull, so I rowed back to Soveraine and spent the next hour disassembling the housing and bending it back into shape.
So, what did we learn here? Not to do it again, I guess, whatever that is. I'll row if I've had anything to drink in the future, for the record.
I left the local pub Benjamin's at about midnight this past Monday. It was a short walk to the Ann Street dinghy dock a quarter of a mile away and, unbeknownst to me at the time, I was being followed. When I arrived at my humble chariot, I pumped out the water, pumped up the port side tube that never stays inflated, hopped in and pushed away from the dock to start the engine. Within seconds, three bright beams of light illuminated me, in front of a stern voice instructing me to return to the dock. I didn't panic though, that's exactly what they want you to do. They're looking for a reason to throw the book at you, the trick is to never give them the opportunity. I obliged, and was informed I was too intoxicated to operate the vessel.
Now, I'll admit I had a few at old Benji's, but I really didn't think I was impaired in any way. I asked if I could simply row to my boat and got a reply to the affect of they didn't trust me that I wouldn't start the engine once I turned the corner. They were probably right. Anywho, they dragged the dinghy up onto the dock, completely deflated her and threw me in the back of the squad car. I wasn't handcuffed or read my rights, was I being arrested?
"You're not under arrest, we're taking you home."
"Well, my boat is my home, so I don't know where you plan to take me."
"We'll take you to a hotel."
"OK, fine by me!"
I had never been in the back of a police vehicle, it was like a taxi with bars and really hard seats. This was about when I updated my Facebook status, saying I had been arrested for a flare of drama. When we arrived at the hotel, I was escorted in with one of the officers and the desk lady said it would be $120. I looked to the officer.
Me: "Go ahead sir."
Cop: "We're not buying you a hotel room. Pay the woman."
Me: "Well, I only have $60 in my checking account."
Desk lady: "That's the best price I can do."
Cop (looking to me): "Are you joking?"
Me: "I wish I was. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to mess with you, I just don't have any money."
Cop (with a very heavy eye roll): "Get back in the damn car."
They drove me around for another hour, even went on another call, before dropping me off in a Wal-Mart parking lot at 1 AM. An eventful evening, that did not end a poorly as I had thought when I first saw those flashlights. A friend was just getting out of work at a restaurant and came and picked me up.
The real kicker was when I got back to the dinghy in the morning, the tide had come up during the night and crushed my engine between the floating dock they put her on and the gangway ramp. The pull cord wouldn't pull, so I rowed back to Soveraine and spent the next hour disassembling the housing and bending it back into shape.
So, what did we learn here? Not to do it again, I guess, whatever that is. I'll row if I've had anything to drink in the future, for the record.
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