Make sure those thru-hulls are locked down, and be ready for the “potty patrol” as you cruise south from Daytona Beach. It is obvious from the many reports below that the Florida “Potty Patrol” is out in force!!!! Make sure those thru-hulls are locked down!!!!
By the way, some of the messges below were contributed directly to the Cruisers’ Net, while others were copied from the T&T (Trawlers and Trawlering) mail list.

We were greeted by the Volusia County Sheriff’s boat on our way south today (11/24/09). I told the officer in the boat’s bow that we have a Type I MSD, he said `A LectraSan?’, I said `yes, a Raritan LectraSan’, and that was it. The officer in the bow said `He’s got a LectraSan’ to another officer in the boat, they hit the throttle, and were off after the boat in front of us. End of story.
P.S. as I write this, anchored near G `39A’ south of the Memorial bascule bridge, a `potty patrol’ boat is in the anchorage near R `44’³.
Rick Emerson

Yes, the `Potty Police’ are out in force, but just doing the right thing. We were boarded today by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Dept. just South of Rockhouse Creek (a wonderful anchorage, by the way). Very polite. After we told them our macerator thru-hull was in our stern locker (and secured!) plus that I was a Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Examiner, they were satisfied. We asked them what % of the boats they boarded were in violation they said about 40% and most were sailboats. To our fellow sailors, please secure your Y valves or macerator thru-hulls and DON’T pump waste overboard. Dilution is not the solution to pollution!!!
s/v MicMac

Subject: potty police
Cruising News: The potty patrol are up and running at the coranado lift bridge on either side. They got me last year and I was stopped again on the 10th/nov. I guess the message worked,because my heads were wired shut this time.
Martin

I got stopped this morning on the Mosquito Lagoon by Florida Wildlife for inspection of my head. I have a LectraSan system and they were happy with that. All was polite and non-threatening etc, but, of course, being boarded, itself, is upsetting
Tom Murphy
s/v Monday Morning.

Subject: Potty Police
Cruising News: We were boarded by Florida DNR yesterday after just passing through the L.B. Knox bridge. They wanted to ensure that our Y-valve was locked to the holding tank position. We had put a small cable with a padlock around it when we entered Florida waters. They approved and proceeded to board all of the sailboats in front of us. They want the valve to be locked…and not just with a wire tie!
S/V Moondance

Looks like things are going to get even more strict. See
http://openregs.com/regulations/view/100494/marine_sanitation_device_discharge_regulations_for_the_florida_keys_national_marine
Paige

Just a note …. most boaters are aware that their “Y” valve, if installed, must be wire tied or locked in the holding tank position. If you have a pump out (e.g.: macerator) the thru hull for this system must ALSO be wire tied or locked in the closed position. Being boarded with any valve allowing overboard discharge in the ICW or Atlantic waters inside a 3-7 mile limit (counties vary) will stand the chance of a ticket and a heavy fine. Most of us would not pump out or discharge overboard in these waters, but the county governments are short on cash and will issue summonses where ever they can.
Peter

Saturday, working on the boat, in my slip at Halifax River Yacht Club, up walked two Fl Fish & Wildlife officers, in uniform, guns and all. (previous conversation at lunch, I had heard that they were patrolling the docks at Halifax Harbor, and had given out at least two $250 fines because the boat did not have a tie wrap to secure their valves)
Asked if I had heads on board: Answer, “yes, two”
Asked if I had lectrasan: Answer: “No”
Asked if the valves were locked: Answer: “yes”
Asked if they could come on board and look, Answer: “yes” (I don’t think “no” would have been accepted).
One of the officers followed me to the aft cabin, I asked if he had a flashlight or should I get one, he answered that he had a light. I opened a locker, and showed him a Y valve with a padlock on it, he was satisfied. We went to the engine room, again, I showed him a second Y valve with a padlock, he was satisfied.
He then asked to see FL registration, checked it and they left.
After they left, I got to thinking about the “inspection”.
They did not check to see in what position the Y valve was locked. They did not check to see what the Y valve was connected to (or if it wasconnected to anything, other than some pieces of hose).
They did not check to see what thru hull was attached to the output of the Y valve and if that thru hull valve was open, closed, or locked. They did not check the output thru hull valve on the overboard discharge pump. Apparently, seeing two valves with a lock was good enough for them.
Chet