----- Original Message -----

From: Bill Becquart

To: red_dirt_paddlers@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 12:25 PM

Subject: IMPORTANT - Kayaking at Lake Hefner

 

----- Original Message -----

Several members have reported that there is a problem

that our kayakers are having with one Lake Patrol Officer at Lake Hefner

who appears to have a hostile attitude toward kayakers (in general) at Lake Hefner

 

Kayakers are being told by him 
    one or more of the following three things

 

1.    That kayaking at night on Lake Hefner is not allowed...at all

 

2.    or...That to kayak at night on Lake Hefner they must have a red/green light

       attached to the front of their kayaks

 

3.    That the OKC Ordinance requiring red/green lights on kayaks on OKC area lakes
        is a NEW Ordinance and has not yet been printed

 

The OKC Outdoor Network has gone back (to Nov 2008) and looked at the Agenda's for the
OKC Parks and Recreation Department and the OKC Game & Fish Department

and could not find where the red/green light issue has even been brought up for discussion

much less...made into a city ordinance !!!!

 

 

********************************

 

The Current OKC City Ordinance

    in regard to boat lighting on area lakes

OKC Municipal Code 2007 Codified through Ordinance No.23852, adopted May 5, 2009. (Supp.No. 2, Update 5)

    Chapter 38 PARKS, RECREATION, CULTURAL AFFAIRS, ETC.*

        ARTICLE V. LAKE RESERVATIONS IN GENERAL

            DIVISION 5. BOATING*

                PART A General provisions

                    § 38-224. Lights

 

§ 38-224.  Lights.

All motorboats and sailboats operating at night shall be equipped with combination red and green lights placed in the fore part of the boat, in such position as to be clearly visible at all times to the occupants of other boats in the vicinity. All motorboats operating at night shall also be equipped with a white light in the stern, placed in such a position as to be clearly visible to occupants of other boats in the vicinity. All motorboats propelled by a motor in excess of five horsepower shall be equipped with headlights illuminating the forward path of such boats.
All other boats operating at night shall display a white light while such boat is in use on the lake.
Lights shall be kept burning at night at all times while the boat is in use, whether running or anchored in the lake.

(Code 1970, § 23-47(e); Code 1980, § 38-224)

State law references:  Lighting on boats, 63 O.S. § 4207.

 

********************************

 

About 5-6 years ago...members of the OKC Outdoor Network where told
by a Lake Patrol Officer at the Lake Overholser/Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge
that red/green lights were required on our kayaks.

 

One of our members was an attorney and she contacted the OKC "City Attorneys Office "

and the issued was resolved.

 

********************************

 

Currently (in regard to our kayakers on Lake Hefner)

    the procedure we need to follow

        in getting this issue resolved is

 

If you feel you have been harassed

or are being told something contrary to the current OKC Ordinance

for boating on OKC area waters...

 

PLEASE !!!!

 

Contact the OKC Patrol Division at:
271-1000
(generic department phone number)

 

Ask for:

 

Major Nees
(# 1 man - in the patrol division)

 

and if he is not available ask for

 

Captain Willoughby

 

and let them know what happened in your situation

 

 

If enough people will call in and report

what this guy is doing on Lake Hefner

we can get this fixed !!!!

 

I know we all want to follow the rules when out on OKC area lakes.

 

But, to have one person enforce his own version of the rules is just plain wrong !!!!

 

**********************************

 

OKC Outdoor Network
www.OkcOutdoorNetwork.org