Had the USCG snooping around yesterday

[Jaxfishgyd]

I wasn't here, but two others said we had two USCG men taking 'well over one hundred" pictures of documented boats at the marina.... Heck, all told we have 6 documented boats.... One man held an aerial photo while the second one took many pictures of each boat...
When asked WHAT and WHY.... They said "in case you call in a mayday, we can pull up a picture".
That might make a bit of sense, but somehow none of us believe it's the entire truth...
There was also a small USCG rib riding up/down the waterway....
They also said they were doing this at every marina and waterway from Fernandina down to Cape Canaveral...... That's a LOT of area for two people...
Wonder what the REAL reason was?????

 

[magnawake]

I dont know for sure, but they were doing the same thing in Charleston during the spring. There's only one reason why they take pictures and write boat names down.. Taxes. In SC, if you are in the area greater than 6 months, they will require you to pay 6% property taxes on the value of your boat. People usually avoid this by marina jumping. They have gotten wise to this and search all marinas. They even have been seen at Osprey's marina south of Myrtle beach. Everyone knows Osprey's couldnt possibly be an entry port. Its the smallest hole in the wall you've ever seen up in the waccamaw river. They have to pipe in sunshine there (really). In NC at our marina, I've never, ever seen USCG snooping around. I bet you money, the USCG is working jointly with homeland security and trying their best to find boats marina jumping. Maybe they get a cut of the taxes paid somehow. Why dont they just trust the harbor master to notify them of strange boats that pull in. At our marina if a strange boat pulled in late at night, or day, someone would say something and get a record of them being there. Normally the harbor master has to keep a record of slip renters for tax purposes anyway. I know because they reported me and I paid my fair share last year. No big deal unless I was going from one marina to another. Hope yall dont think I'm crazy but the honest people get treated like criminals these days.

 

[GCSI]

In Tampa, I've seen a larger law enforcement (GC, Marine Patrol, Local Police) presence in the recent past than any time in memory. Makes me wonder if there is some sort of actionable intelligence that we are not privy to....

 

[Genesis]

I agree it's a tax-chase.

I bet the State is in cahoots with them and paying for the time, and/or there's a "revenue sharing" agreement of some sort.

They tried to "tag" me when I owned my Hatt; I bought it, paid the tax as due (bought in Florida, remaining in Florida) but then changed the boat's name. Well, a few months later they got a picture of me from a bridge while cruising, and in the mail comes a nasty letter from the FLDOR, no doubt addressed with the friendly help of the USCG's documentation records.

They got an equally-nasty letter back from me with a copy of the bill of sale showing that the tax was PAID, and they shut up.

There's plenty of money involved if they can catch people cheating.... so they do.

 

[Pascal]

The CG doesn't care about state taxes, I seriously doubt this has anything to do with taxes...

Most marinas I ve been at do daily round of the dock keeping track of the boats which are there, that I think would be the first evidence the state would collect.

 

[magnawake]

The CG doesn't care about state taxes, I seriously doubt this has anything to do with taxes...

Most marinas I ve been at do daily round of the dock keeping track of the boats which are there, that I think would be the first evidence the state would collect.

Yeah, I've seen them making rounds too. So why is the USCG doing it too. Very strange. All in the name of Homeland security. At least thats what they claim. There's some funny things going on. It doesnt make any sense at all. Thats why I say they are helping their tax collecting brethren.

 

[Genesis]

Yeah, I can't come up with a "Homeland Security" reason for this sort of thing -- certainly not in that fashion and scale. It's one thing if they're looking for someone or something, but then it would be focused, and this doesn't sound like it is.

They already have the documented vessel database, so.....

 

[Bob Bradley]

I can't imagine that they think our Hatts are much of a threat. They're too slow to catch up with anything other than a sailboat, and the hulls are so strong that explosives in them wouldn't have any effect on anything outside the boat.

 

[Tim Powell]

After reading this post i made a phone call. It is not tax related as the state gets the docks by just asking. In the past doccumented boats got by with no tax in NC. New laws comming in to effect soon so we will be loosing our edge on the tax dodge. However my fishing partner who has some CC rank said data base being made which will cross with pick to boat name and docc paperwork. It was asked by homeland security to stop the eligal import of immigrants.(supposely) Boat names with haling port was being studied. He thought there was another reason but this was what came down. He said they were taking picks of boats not only in harbors but on the move through the area. Also not only doccumented boats but as he said go fast boats. They are required to put date time and location of boats on the move. This has been going on for more than a year.
SPOOKEY AT BEST Next they will be putting a gps lockator on the boat. It is kinda like the health care deal feds already got out money info, location, personel info, now they gona get out medical info. What is left???
Bamahas looking better all the time you can come visit 5 to six months out of the year.

 

[Boatsb]

The idea is to track the Canadians. If the find them spending money they know there is something wrong.

 

[magnawake]

After reading this post i made a phone call. It is not tax related as the state gets the docks by just asking. In the past doccumented boats got by with no tax in NC. New laws comming in to effect soon so we will be loosing our edge on the tax dodge. However my fishing partner who has some CC rank said data base being made which will cross with pick to boat name and docc paperwork. It was asked by homeland security to stop the eligal import of immigrants.(supposely) Boat names with haling port was being studied. He thought there was another reason but this was what came down. He said they were taking picks of boats not only in harbors but on the move through the area. Also not only doccumented boats but as he said go fast boats. They are required to put date time and location of boats on the move. This has been going on for more than a year.
SPOOKEY AT BEST Next they will be putting a gps lockator on the boat. It is kinda like the health care deal feds already got out money info, location, personel info, now they gona get out medical info. What is left???
Bamahas looking better all the time you can come visit 5 to six months out of the year.

I wish you were correct about the tax in NC. I have paid two years so far and need to pay for 2013 by the end of the year. Mine is documented and not registered in NC, but home ported there. I will not even spend any time in SC due to their tax laws. Florida wants people to register down there and pay the sales tax. Where does it end?

 

[Boatsb]

I wish you were correct about the tax in NC. I have paid two years so far and need to pay for 2013 by the end of the year. Mine is documented and not registered in NC, but home ported there. I will not even spend any time in SC due to their tax laws. Florida wants people to register down there and pay the sales tax. Where does it end?

Register yes. Sales tax only if not paid otherwise. If you paid in another state its not an issue.

 

[Tim Powell]

I wish you were correct about the tax in NC. I have paid two years so far and need to pay for 2013 by the end of the year. Mine is documented and not registered in NC, but home ported there. I will not even spend any time in SC due to their tax laws. Florida wants people to register down there and pay the sales tax. Where does it end?

Did you report it. Find you a nice quiet marina or a resident slip hasd one in nc for almost 12 years no tax yet. But i belive they are cross checking now with feds. Are you paying county and city tax there or just county.

 

[magnawake]

I didnt report it. I really didnt even know what to expect the first year. Everyone I asked had a different story. The harbor master reported my boat as he should have. No hard feelings. I had to pay Brunswick county tax, Southport city tax, and a Doshier hospital tax. Its all rolled into one bill that is considered property tax. I can see docked at a home residence dock nobody would see you there.

 

[Boatsb]

I didnt report it. I really didnt even know what to expect the first year. Everyone I asked had a different story. The harbor master reported my boat as he should have. No hard feelings. I had to pay Brunswick county tax, Southport city tax, and a Doshier hospital tax. Its all rolled into one bill that is considered property tax. I can see docked at a home residence dock nobody would see you there.

I paid my share too. I also pay sales tax on items for my use even though I have a resale certificate.

I think I paid more sales tax on my boat than the original owner. I also pay yearly Florida registration and am documented. It's not that I enjoy it but unlike some I do not think myself above the law.

 

[Tim Powell]

Scott that is not how it worked in the backward states. We doccumented the boats parked them and no body said nothing. Untill about 4 to 6 years ago. The county made the Mariners report who was in their mariner on January one. The mariners were reporting and no body had a problen . Of course mariners got baren around the first of January. If the thing was behind your house and doccumented the county missed it. If you were in a mariner within the city limits you got hit twice one for county and one for the city, Boats with NC numbers were registered with state wildlife and county got a list.
Now our state has asked the feds to give a list of the doccumented boats they provide the county with the list and county bills. if the thing has a haling port of say Raleigh NC you are in wake county. The rate is very high. If your haling port is Morehead city the rate is almost half. If your boat is lockated in a city limits you will pay double the county rate the county sends the money to the city. That is botton line now.

 

[magnawake]

Well Charlie, you opened up a can of worms didnt ya. We are beating this horse pretty good huh? I still havent seen any CG personnel walking the docks or taking pics of fantail names. Southport, NC is a port of entry. I've seen people come in from all over the place and fly the Yellow flag. The customs office usually shows up soon after then clears them. There's also a CG station right here on Oak Island and I've still not seen the CG snooping around. They usually have their hands full with boats taking on water and medical emergencies.

 

[Tim Powell]

Well Charlie, you opened up a can of worms didnt ya. We are beating this horse pretty good huh? I still havent seen any CG personnel walking the docks or taking pics of fantail names. Southport, NC is a port of entry. I've seen people come in from all over the place and fly the Yellow flag. The customs office usually shows up soon after then clears them. There's also a CG station right here on Oak Island and I've still not seen the CG snooping around. They usually have their hands full with boats taking on water and medical emergencies.

You are correct i have only seen the orange rib with the big gun on the front in the main watter ICW looking around . But watch them the guy in the little house is taking picks..

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

there was a small USCG RIB here at the same time..... Know it stopped one small fishing boat (got them for a faulty fire extinguisher). The two guys also hit Tiger Point Marina (next to me) yesterday as well....
Will check and see if they have checked the main marina (Fernandina Harbor Marina) when I go there in a few days....

 

[Boatsb]

I think they're looking for new voters I mean illegals