[#0000FF]'Bout time. The notorious "Barney" of Mantua has finally achieved national recognition for his dedication and skill at writing tickets. There was an Associated Press article in today's Salt Lake Tribune.
[url "http://www.sltrib.com/news/2468854-155/northern-utah-town-of-mantua-known"]LINK TO ARTICLE[/url]
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What a way to get your town highlighted in the news.[crazy]
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Ha! I heard the teaser for this story on the radio, but didn't get the chance to see it on the news. Thanks for posting this. Lesson learned: Don't speed through Mantua, and always have your fishing license on you.[laugh]
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Well there's no doubt about it, I don't speed at all in Mantua or Smithfield, both towns have kangaroo courts out to rape those that try to push any rule slightly beyond the black and white... no mercy in either town as far as I've seen... the
part is I see major offenders never get caught in both places but if you're 5 over watch out you're likely to get a ticket... doesn't seem fair, but I guess if you break the law you deserve the penalty even if they are dumb laws at times... Later J
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A word of caution as well to those launching from the ramp from a float tube, a few years ago I launched there and thought it'd be a good idea to open up the reel as I kicked out and drag a rapala behind me. Long story short it was a $150 ticket and waste of time trying to fight because I was fishing within 100' of the docks. This was on a weekday without another person on the reservoir, and I'm convinced I was further out than 100'. Tried to fight it, but since a police officer is a trained professional at visually estimating speed and distances the burden was on me to prove I was further than 100' from the docks. Lesson learned on that one.
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I got a ticket from that chump for going 7 mph over the limit. Interestingly, as I approached where he was sitting, he waved for me to stop, so I slowed down and pulled off to the side of the road maybe 200 yard past where he was parked. I waited and waited and waited ..... finally I backed my truck down to where he was parked. He seemed generally annoyed at the notion that he was going to have to drive his car 200 yards from his hiding spot to where I had pulled off of the road. He asked why I didn't pull in to where he was when he waved me in.
Yes I was breaking the law and yes I'm not a fan of the town of Mantua.
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[quote TubeDude][#0000FF]
'Bout time. The notorious "Barney" of Mantua has finally achieved national recognition for his dedication and skill at writing tickets. There was an Associated Press article in today's Salt Lake Tribune.
[url "http://www.sltrib.com/news/2468854-155/northern-utah-town-of-mantua-known"]LINK TO ARTICLE[/url]
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I don't know about you, but isn't it kind of odd to have police offers checking fisherman for fishing licenses? The end of the article said the next most common citation was for fishing w/out a license...
I am sure there is a law / loophole somewhere that gives police officers jurisdiction over fish and game laws.... but don't they have more important things to do?
In WY you will never have a police officer check your license.... every couple of years you'll have a game warden do it[
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[quote Dgallen]A word of caution as well to those launching from the ramp from a float tube, a few years ago I launched there and thought it'd be a good idea to open up the reel as I kicked out and drag a rapala behind me. Long story short it was a $150 ticket and waste of time trying to fight because I was fishing within 100' of the docks. This was on a weekday without another person on the reservoir, and I'm convinced I was further out than 100'. Tried to fight it, but since a police officer is a trained professional at visually estimating speed and distances the burden was on me to prove I was further than 100' from the docks. Lesson learned on that one.[/quote]
That would infuriate me so badly!!!
I can't believe that even happened. If this guy keeps up this "act" for long enough, I can't help but think someone is going to retaliate against him eventually. You can't live your life as a bully and not expect some kind of retaliation. Whether your a police officer or not.
The BEST police officers / law enforcement officials realize that there are times when they need to turn a blind eye to minor infractions. If a police officer is worried about someone fishing 100' from the dock, his attention is being diverted away from much more important things. The good and smart cops know this and they will let small things go as long as it isn't affecting the public in general.
But as for speeding.... you can make a sound argument that it does affect the public (safety). I don't really mind the speeding tickets... tons of small towns across the country create a lot of funding through "speed traps" that go through their small communities.... at the end of the day though if you are speeding you are liable to get a ticket anywhere in Utah.
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[quote Gemcityslayer]
But as for speeding.... you can make a sound argument that it does affect the public (safety). [/quote]
The thing that gets me every time, is that he sits past the turnoff to his town when headed up the canyon. I could at least respect his actions if he were to haunt some place that he was preventing speeding through his town rather than trying to catch those who have already endangered the citizens in his jurisdiction.
The only "protection" provided to residents of Mantua by his placement is that they may not have time to accelerate to forbidden speeds before they pass him. That way he doesn't have to justify ticketing his neighbors, city council, mayor or what have you.
Edited for accuracy: Apparently the police chief is the mayor.
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Maybe the DNR could borrow him for a while, and station him at the Willard Inlet during snagging season[:p]
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[#0000FF]I have never had the "pleasure" of a runin with Barney. But I have been a firsthand witness of his browbeating and intimidation tactics. And I have heard endless stories of tickets issued for questionable infractions...that were upheld by the justice of the peace because "I can't believe all the stories from those who get tickets". They have a system that allows them to write as many citations as possible with little potential for having them dismissed. In short, a license to steal from the public.
I personally know several anglers who love to fish Mantua but who have vowed to never return because of how the system works there...and because it is overrun with big boats that seemingly get away without ever being hassled. But that doesn't register with the powers that be.
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Thanks for the warning, Also, wasn't aware of the 100ft. thing!!! Is that in the proclamation and is it enforceable????
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It cracks me up that this is a big story. People upset about getting tickets for breaking the law? God bless America.
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I support him for writing tickets to people fishing without licenses. Those that fish without licenses are just common thieves stealing from all of us that purchase licenses.
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[quote FishMcFisherson]It cracks me up that this is a big story. People upset about getting tickets for breaking the law? God bless America.[/quote]
[#0000FF]There is the "letter of the law vs the spirit of the law" at work here. In most cities and on most highways motorists are allowed a few miles over the limit before they get stopped...and often get only a warning if the infraction is not too great. In Mantua the ticket happy cop hides is a favorite spot and nails people only going a couple of miles over...and always gives them a ticket...as well as a lot of lip. A real public relations guy for Mantua.
I have heard stories from reliable sources about the guy following someone off the freeway. Watching for them to coast through the stopsign and then arbitrarily stopping them along the 25 mph stretch of road around the lake. If they don't dispute his claim they were going over the limit...TICKET. A lot of folks don't watch their speedometer and just accept that they were speeding...even if they weren't.
Ditto for the bogus tickets he writes boaters for nebulous infractions of possibly fictitious regulations. No warnings ever. Just tickets. He relies on the fact that most people will just pay them rather than take time off work to drive back to Mantua to dispute them.
If you clearly violate a law you should be punished. But the main punishment at Mantua is just being there and getting to meet Barney.
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I went to Mantua last weekend and could probably have gotten tickets for all the things mentioned here. I certainly don't recall there being a sign telling you not to fish within 100 feet of the dock. Remember that it's your right to film the police, as long as it doesn't interfere directly with their job. If they have no reason to restrain you or the recording that you're doing doesn't capture sensitive information, you can make a recording of the entire encounter. I for one will do just that if I ever have an encounter with this guy, and immediately put it on Youtube when I get home.
On the other hand, I will note that there no are no day use fees for Mantua, which is cool. Maybe they should start charging a $5 day use fee and use it to pay this guy's retirement?
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Uh.. There is a $5.00 day use fee to launch at Mantua. Or $50.00 for an annual pass.
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Yep I got a ticket from him for having a paper license, I ordered my fishing license the previous night online, printed out the receipt. Right on the receipt it says this can be used until I receive my license in the mail. Left for Mantua in the morning I hit the lake was just about to paddle out when he came rushing down the boat ramp and asked for my license.
Showed him the paper license letting him know I just purchased it the night before .. he walked back to his truck was on his CB for a minute then he walked back with a ticket pad stating they didn't have record of my license heres a ticket and I needed to get my actual license before I fished.
I told him It says right on the receipt this can be used as a license...He didnt care the day ruined and gas wasted Anyhow about a week later I received my official fishing license and had to drive all the way back to Manuta to show them I had and actual license and it was purchased before I fished. Bunch of BS
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I tend to walk in or use non-motorized craft.
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