Captain Les’ message below is a follow-up to an earlier series of postings here on the Net’s “Eastern Florida” section about ridiculous enforcement of no-wake restrictions on the Haulover Canal. HOWEVER, this account shows that sometimes speed restriction enforcement IS a good idea!

Subject: NASA R.R. Bridge and Haulover Canal N. of Titusville
Cruising News: As we headed to the Haulover Canal, a gray center consol O.B boat with STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT written on its side gave us a friendly wave as he passed. We were doing 8 knots in the channel. As we approached the canal, my wife noted that said Law Enforcement, who had been standing just off the channel, went behind us to challenge an approching high speed express cruiser. She observed them side by side and assumed that they were conversing. We entered the haulover at 3.7 knots. It was crowded with small craft. The strong S. wind was now blocked by the land on each side. Quite suddenly, with no warning, said express cruiser passed us on the starboard rolling us quite a bit. Seconds later, the Law Enforcement boat speed by us, also without warning, and stopped the cruiser. We carefully passed them both and were quite glad they were apparently and appropriately nailed. Shortly after we were N. bound on the Mosquito Lagoon, the same cruiser sped by us again. Obviously, this is NOT inappropriate law enforcement
Les Rothman
M/V Autumn Saga

It seems unfortunate that law enforcement would SPEED through Haulover to catch a speeder – doubling the chance of hitting a manatee. I wonder if their procedures might call for caution radio calls, and catching the violators at a later time’¦.
opsailor