interesting response to ceds stop

[centexorange]

) Lower Colorado River Authority: In response to 22 deaths on Lake Travis over the last three years, the LCRA stepped up random safety inspections and made 800 such stops in 2007. The crackdown apparently has extended into 2008, particularly for boaters named Cedric Benson. The Chicago Bears running back has been stopped half a dozen times in about the last year according to a friend, the latest time resulting in an arrest last weekend on a charge of boating while intoxicated. The amount of boat traffic required to generate 22 fatalities in three years must be immense, so 800 random stops in a year — barely two a day — is the proverbial drop in the bucket. If roughly one of every 150 to 200 inspections takes place on Benson's boat when there are so many other candidates on the water from which to choose, it's fair to ask if what authorities really meant to charge him with was boating while black.

 

[Valdemsi]

the whole situation smells to high heaven. It looks very bad for the police

 

[LongJohn]

Too little information to make a judgement, however, if he had 15 people on his boat like the news article said then that is reason enough for LCRA to do a check...regardless of skin color. I have been stopped by the LCRA a few times just for having a couple of families onboard and they do a life-jacket check.

A lot of people on a fast boat begs for closer inspection.

 

[Bevo5]

Might also be a safe bet that a professional football player's boat might be quite a party. Loud music, etc. etc. etc. Draws attention to himself.

 

[overmaars]

I would have to agree with Bevo5. Not saying that this isnt potentially a case of racial profiling but, a 32' Cobalt with a party on it is going to be conspicuous. Lake Patrol is naturally going to look for drinking where there is partying, especially at Devil's Cove. Undoubtedly though it seems that LCRA grossly mishandled this situation.

 

[shotgun427]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[LongJohn]

You're looking strictly at numbers. The LCRA is not going to stop all the random 20' SeaRays with a family of four onboard. They are looking for boats that seem to have too many people, or more people than life jackets, or that have the suspicion of alcohol. Combine that with being anchored in Devil's Cove, a notorious party spot, and you just dramatically increased your odds of being checked every time.

Again, I don't have enough info to make a judgment but it's not like poor Ced has been stopped six times while fishing alone for a few stripers up near Lago Vista!

 

[AstroVol]

This argument is predicated entirely on hearsay, which proves nothing. If Benson has been pulled over numerous times, wouldn't it be on public record, for the media to ooze all over?

 

[shotgun427]

"You're looking strictly at numbers."

Made up numbers at that. Make that so there are only 20 boats that the LCRA could possibly pull over and they pull over 2 a day. It would still be 1 in 1 million chance that his boat would be pulled over 6 times in a row randomly.

In reply to:

---

---

 

[Bookman]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[skihorn]

I have not been following this story all that closely. What is the source for six out of six stops? I saw Ced's quote on that. Any other corroboration? Any denials?

Personally, it would not suprise me either way. I wouldn't put it past some officers to profile that egregiously. Also would not surprise me that some athletes (I don't know Ced) could be that stupid and attract that much attention.

If it is true (a big if) that he has pulled over six times, and he was never even so much as ticketed that does make me wonder. Could he be attracting that much attention and not doing anything illegal? It also explains why he would be beligerant. I am a "yes sir, no sir" kind of guy when I am stopped for any reason. However, at some point I would get pretty ticked if (again big if) I was pulled over six straight times.

 

[Dark Star 1973]

Living on Lake Travis, I would say that LCRA has a boat on the water 50 days of the year. They check pretty much everybody on Saturdays, and can pull over anybody they want. Checking boaters that are partying in Devils Cove is a practice that is done EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND during the hotter months.

They need to be on the water more IMO.