Diving near bridges ILLEGAL???

[belairbrian]

I was down to the LDS to pic up my daughters tanks and mentioned we were headed to FL.

Got to talking about dive sites and one of the guys said diving under bridges or around pilings was against Florida law. when I asked where he heard that he said the FL marine police told him Homeland Security had passed the law so we wouldn't drill holes in bridges to blow them up.

First the guy hasn't been diving in about 10 years. second I'm pretty sure DHS can't actually pass laws. Third Why would it only pertain to FL?

Thought about bringing up the Blue Heron Bridge dives but decided to just leave.

[Scuba_Noob]

I don't think it's illegal, based upon reading this thread on another forum Diving near bridges... illegal since 9-11?? (USA) - DivingForMe.com (http://divingforme.com/topic/diving-near-bridges-illegal-since-9-11-usa) .

However, if there is normal boat traffic under the bridge, then it might be illegal but not because it's a bridge.

[awap]

You don't really think that an LDS employee might have said something that was not correct, do you!!!:(

[kombiguy]

I dive the Blue Heron Bridge almost weekly. During the dive I'm under one or the other bridges. Nobody there seems too worried about it. I call BS on the dive shop guy.

[TMHeimer]

I've often dived the bridge at Destin (FL panhandle). There is a sign saying divers must use a flag. I recently dived a bridge in Mississippi and one in Alabama. Never heard of a law specifically naming bridges.

[captain]

There should be a law against dive shops saying dumb things. But then that would eliminate about 90% of them.

[Skydiver1]

There should be a law against dive shops saying dumb things. But then that would eliminate about 90% of them.

How do aircraft carriers protect themselves from rebreather divers with explosives. I think I read somewhere that they deploy a protective net around the vessel , not sure tho

[mike_s]

How do aircraft carriers protect themselves from rebreather divers with explosives. I think I read somewhere that they deploy a protective net around the vessel , not sure tho



If someone wanted to blow something up, a bridge, ship, etc... no "paper law" is going to stop it.


All these "paper laws" do is keep is restrict law abiding citizens.


Yeah rebreather divers could attach explosives to a ship. Even if there were nets, they could cut through them. Our military has cut through nets to get into harbors with divers.


Even if the Coast Guard has a small RIB center console out patroling around a ship, chances are that if some is determined to blow up a ship, they still can. It happened to the USS Cole in Yemen.



Back on discussion of the original poster, I did some searching in Google and couldn't find anything saying you can't dive under bridges. (or at least anything that quoted an actual law. )

I remembered a thread here a couple years ago where a dive shop owner in PCB said you couldn't dive under Hathaway Bridge. Found it and it didn't quote any law either. I do know if you speed over Hathaway bridge you will likely get a ticket though. last time I drove over it, cops sitting running radar at the far ends.

[rha600]

considering the popularity of Blue Heron Bridge dives alone, I'm pretty sure that we're safe saying there is no law.

[cbrich]

If a cop wanted to be an ass (I am talking a really big ass); he will give you a ticket for diving under a bridge.

[adurso]

If a cop wanted to be an ass (I am talking a really big ass); he will give you a ticket for diving under a bridge.

And which ordinance, code, or statute would be quoted on the ticket?

[KWS]

i would assume that there is a list of "targets" that fall under the security umbrella of DHS. and that all bridges are under thier jurisdicton but may not be important enough to warrent the additional prohibition of certain pracatices that the DHS may impose. IE a bridge in mid kansas on some country road vs. a bridge supporting a main highway that carries trafic to stratigic areas, military areas, power plant access roads, waterways if blocked would prevent passage of ships, evacuation routes ect. And which ordinance, code, or statute would be quoted on the ticket? violation of DHS act ##.##.#### or patriot act clause ####. Anoher example is you may be able to malinger in a city park but not at a community water supply/resavoir or refinery under similar provisions.

[debajo agua]

Don't dive with your turban on and you're good to go.

[SC_Hoaty]

Don't dive with your turban on and you're good to go.

:no:

That would be profiling!


:rofl3:

[adurso]

i would assume that there is a list of "targets" that fall under the security umbrella of DHS. and that all bridges are under thier jurisdicton but may not be important enough to warrent the additional prohibition of certain pracatices that the DHS may impose. IE a bridge in mid kansas on some country road vs. a bridge supporting a main highway that carries trafic to stratigic areas, military areas, power plant access roads, waterways if blocked would prevent passage of ships, evacuation routes ect. And which ordinance, code, or statute would be quoted on the ticket? violation of DHS act ##.##.#### or patriot act clause ####. Anoher example is you may be able to malinger in a city park but not at a community water supply/resavoir or refinery under similar provisions.

There is no such code as "DHS act" nor "patriot act clause".

Local police can only enforce local and state codes, not federal.

Reservoirs are often used for fishing and diving.

Refineries are private property.

[SC_Hoaty]

There is no such code as "DHS act" nor "patriot act clause".

Local police can only enforce local and state codes, not federal.

Reservoirs are often used for fishing and diving.

Refineries are private property.

Stop spoiling the paranoia!

http://www.stuffistumbledupon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/funny-pictures-cat-man-tinfoil-hats.jpg

[adurso]

Sorry, I had too much coffee, it brings out the rational in me...

[mike_s]

Stop spoiling the paranoia!

http://www.stuffistumbledupon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/funny-pictures-cat-man-tinfoil-hats.jpg



Ever notice that guy looks a LOT like someone we know....

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/249842_10150631605155711_6192898_n.jpg

[ADeadlierSnake]

If a cop wanted to be an ass (I am talking a really big ass); he will give you a ticket for diving under a bridge.

Now why would a cop EVER do that........? :dontknow:

To answer the question though, I believe diving under bridges can be illegal. I know it was illegal to dive around the I-90 bridge in Washington a number of years after 9/11. Im not law expert, so I couldnt tell you who made the laws, but the general consensus among divers seems to be that the laws were there. Call the sheriffs department for the county of the bridge in question. They may be able to answer it or direct you to someone who can. I called about the I-90 bridge and they linked me to a list of all the diving regulations. That bridge was not listed as one as of 2012. Good luck figuring it out!

[adurso]

If a bridge is posted one cannot fish, swin, dive, or crab around it.

It is very straightforward, there will be a sign on the abutment listing what cannot be done and the authority to do so.....

The Feds cannot create trespass law for non fed property

[mike_s]

The Feds cannot create trespass law for non fed property


I know you're a cop and that you know that...


but it's surprising the number of cops that have no clue about the law.



A few years back we had a rise of prostitution in parts of town where we live. They were trying to flag people down on the streets to pick them up. Lots of residents complained. So they police went out set up a big "sting operation", caught them "red handed" on video tape, etc. and arrested them.

Turns out we didn't have any law on the books that made prostitution illegal.

The cops went to all this effort, but never bothered checking the law for what they were charging them with. go figure.

[adurso]

I know you're a cop and that you know that...


but it's surprising the number of cops that have no clue about the law.



A few years back we had a rise of prostitution in parts of town where we live. They were trying to flag people down on the streets to pick them up. Lots of residents complained. So they police went out set up a big "sting operation", caught them "red handed" on video tape, etc. and arrested them.

Turns out we didn't have any law on the books that made prostitution illegal.

The cops went to all this effort, but never bothered checking the law for what they were charging them with. go figure.

I am retired now...yuor post did cause me to spray my monitor as I had amouthful of coffee.

I actually have seen jurisdictions that do similar dumb things.

I watched another jurisdiction arrest a bunch of "B girls" and then let them all go because they had no actual charges..

(B girls are the ones who sit in your lap and solicit "champagne" (apple cider) for 100 dollars a pint, then pick the change up and pocket it)

[captain]

Open carry laws are one that a lot of LEOs don't know or care about. Recently a guy was arrested for legal open carry, he sued for illegal arrest and the police department ended up buying him a new motorcycle.

[mike_s]

Open carry laws are one that a lot of LEOs don't know or care about. Recently a guy was arrested for legal open carry, he sued for illegal arrest and the police department ended up buying him a new motorcycle.

Yeah.. I've noticed that in arrests, videos on TV, etc... that when a person they stop legally has a gun on them, or in a car, they make a capital case out of it.

I remember a video (dash cam) of a guy up in I think Ohio or Indiana that the cop abused him after he found out he legally was carrying a gun.



The guy got arrested, his civil rights violated. Luckily the dash cam was able to help save him. I think the cop was fired.

---------- Post added ----------

Here's the video of the incident I was referring to.


During the stop the cop told the guy


“as soon as I felt your gun, I should have took two steps back, pulled my Glock 40 and just put 10 bullets in your ass and let your drop. And I wouldn’t have lost any sleep. Do you understand me?”



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kassP7zI0qc





It took a while, but he was finally fired for what he did.
http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x638339306/Daniel-Harless-fired-from-Canton-police-force


Although he violated the guys civil rights. No charges were ever filed against the cop. :shakehead:

[NavyGuyAN]

Just make sure you have a dive flag with you...lol. The last time I dove the Blue Heron Bridge the sheriff's officer was giving out tickets to divers on the shore for not having dive flags. Was told its $75 for not diving with a flag. He was filling out a ticket for another diver and called me out of the water too...after I asked him a ton of questions, he told me to go drop my gear and come back. Needless to say if a cop tells me to go drop my gear before he gets my info; I aint coming back!...lol

[KWS]

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE that someone can miss the entire intent of a comment. perhaps you should read the laws that grant the authorities to DHS. You would probably find they have the authority to do such things. DHS act.... Is just a substitute name/phrase for the actual authority they operate under. I guess when all else fails NIT PICK


There is no such code as "DHS act" nor "patriot act clause".

Local police can only enforce local and state codes, not federal.

Reservoirs are often used for fishing and diving.

Refineries are private property.