Thursday, September 14, 2006

US Federal Judge Declares Boating Illegal

In what has to be one of the strangest court rulings we have heard, Judge Robert James of the US District Court, Western Division of Louisiana, ruled that it is criminal trespass for the American public to boat, fish, or hunt on the Mississippi River and other navigable waters in the US. His ruling in the case of Normal Parm v. Sheriff Mark Shumate, Judge James ruled that federal law grants exclusive and private control over the waters of the river, outside the main shipping channel, to landowners. Based on his ruling, fishing and boating in most of the country's navigable waters are now illegal. While we are sure that this bizarre ruling will be quickly overturned, we thought everyone would appreciate a little humor. More on the ruling is available from the International Boat Industry News site.

Archive Link 0 Comments Tell a Friend