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View Full Version : Texas Sheriffs Form Checkpoints in Guadalupe River, Searching Inner Tube Riders




green73
06-25-2014, 11:24 AM
By Martin Hill

My wife and I were in Austin last week to visit some friends and family, and took a trip with my wife's cousin and their family to Canyon Lake. This is between Austin and New Braunfels, and we took a trip down the Guadalupe river. A lot of people go there for a leisurely float down the river in innertubes. It was a nice sunny Saturday and the place was packed. The river ride was (way) too slow for my tastes; when I heard 'river raft', I had a distinctly different and more adventurous idea than the snails-pace at which the tube floated. Nevertheless, off we went. There are a lot of websites on Guadalupe River tubing and some pictures here, here, and here.
It takes two hours to go from the drop-off point at the "top of the horseshoe" to the end. As we passed the middle of the ride, my wife says to me "honey look at all the cops!" Now, I thought she was kidding because she jokes around like that sometimes. I glanced towards the shore to look for the alleged cops, because there were a lot of rowdy partiers, etc. having fun. But she said "NO, right here! In the river!"

And I'll be damned, she wasn't teasing. Low and behold, there were six uniformed Comal County Sheriffs, wearing their hip-boots, forming a human blockade; a CHECKPOINT in the river, blocking every innertube from passing by. They had their sunglasses on, their hands on their hips and their arms folded, with smug attitudes. It was truly a "You gotta be shitting me" moment. Even I was shocked at the absurdity of it. I mean I've heard of checkpoints everywhere, but in a river floating in an intertube?!

Yes.

My wife's cousins had their own very extravagent raft since they ride the river a lot. It held two adults, their two kids, and had a special ice chest compartment in the middle. Our wives were tied to the big raft in their own innertubes, so they could sit together and chat. My wife's cousin was first one to approach the overly-eager sheriff in her tube. "YOU GOT ANY GLASS BOTTLES OR STYROPHOME?" he barked.

"Uhh.. no?" she replied,

"Okay I need to look", he said, as he gestured for towards the raft.

Unfortunately for him I was seated right next to the ice chest and I put my hand on it.

"You ever heard of the 4th Amendment?" I asked, very loudly.

cont.
http://libertyfight.com/2014/TX_Sheriffs_Warrantless_checkpoints_river_tubers.h tml

aGameOfThrones
06-25-2014, 11:37 AM
"Strength Through Unity, Unity Through Faith"

dannno
06-25-2014, 12:19 PM
Fucking River Cops.

That is one of the most absurd stories I have heard to date.

I have a feeling AF is completely right, it is just going to get worse from here :(

NorthCarolinaLiberty
06-25-2014, 02:39 PM
Hey man, people on forums have been giving the answer to this for some years now. If you don't like flying, then don't fly. If you don't like police river blocks, then stay at home in your bathtub.

dannno
06-25-2014, 05:13 PM
bump

WM_in_MO
06-25-2014, 05:37 PM
Fucking River Cops.

That is one of the most absurd stories I have heard to date.

I have a feeling AF is completely right, it is just going to get worse from here :(

I encountered river cops on the Meramec last weekend, they ruined a quiet relaxing Saturday afternoon of kayaking with their motorboat.

Me and another buddy parked it and made sure everybody in our group made it through unmolested.

Anti Federalist
06-25-2014, 05:38 PM
"YOU GOT ANY GLASS BOTTLES OR STYROFOAM?" he barked.

"Uhh.. no?" she replied,

"Okay I need to look", he said, as he gestured for towards the raft.

The rest of the story hurts my teeth...

"You ever heard of the 4th Amendment?" I asked, very loudly.

This seemed to take them by surprise and one of the sheriff's sheepishly replied "Yes, that's why we ask!"

"Good. No, you can't search nothin'," I replied.

We continued to float towards the sheriffs and our raft was about to bump into one of them, since the idiot wouldn't get out of the way. I said "Excuse me" and he moved out of the way before being bumped. I conjured up images of a trumped up "bumper boat assault on an officer charge" involved if the tube dared to bump the freak.

I then told them "have a nice day", to which not a single one of them replied. (Gee, I wonder why the nice officers didn't wish me a nice day?)

As we continued past the officers, my wife explained to her cousin that she is not required to let the police search her things. I added "yeah, but no one knows, so they just let them do it!" Everyone in the river was allowing the sheriffs to search their tubes and ice chests.

I then asked some young people in the river if they let the cop search their things and they said yes. As I explained, one young 20-something bikini-clad woman river-partier said "You don't have to let them!?" as if she was greatly surprised by such a notion. That was very sad.

"That's right, you don't have to allow them to search anything. Tell them to get a warrant," I said. "It's called the 4th Amendment!" I held up four fingers and repeated "4th Amendment. It's real short. Google it!"

She held up four fingers, copying my hand motion, and said "wow, thanks!"

I only wish I would have grabbed video of this river checkpoint. But who takes their spy phone in an inner tube?

If anyone is floating down Canyon Lake, you do not have to consent to let the Comal County Sheriff's search your belongings.

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Anti Federalist
06-25-2014, 05:40 PM
Updated 3:

Float down the river in a tube? Tube cops.
Swim in the town pool? Pool cops.
Relax at the beach? Beach cops.
Hike a hill? Park cops.
Waste time online? Internet cops.
Take a drive? Highway cops.
Fly off for vacation? Airport cops.
Do some fishing? Clam cops.
Cruise your boat? Marine cops.
Like to hunt? Game cops.
Take in some target shooting? Gun cops.
Do some home improvements? Code cops.
Maybe work at your business? Regulation cops.
Clean the house? Recycling cops.
Get out of the country? Border cops.
Try to blow your brains out at the insanity of it all and fail? Hospital cops.

Anti Federalist
06-25-2014, 05:43 PM
H/T to danno


Updated 4:

Compulsary school attendance? School cops.
Enroll in college? University cops.
Shop at the mall? Mall cops.
Cook food to sell or give to the homeless? Health cops.
Target shooting out at the old quarry? Quarry cops.
Build a shelter out in the wilderness? Forest cops.
Take advantage of bulk discounts in black market purchases of scheduled substances? Drug cops.
Float down the river in a tube? Tube cops.
Swim in the town pool? Pool cops.
Relax at the beach? Beach cops.
Hike a hill? Park cops.
Waste time online? Internet cops.
Take a drive? Highway cops.
Fly off for vacation? Airport cops.
Do some fishing? Clam cops.
Cruise your boat? Marine cops.
Like to hunt? Game cops.
Take in some target shooting? Gun cops.
Do some home improvements? Code cops.
Maybe work at your business? Regulation cops.
Clean the house? Recycling cops.
Get out of the country? Border cops.
Try to blow your brains out at the insanity of it all and fail? Hospital cops.

Anti Federalist
06-25-2014, 05:55 PM
Hey man, people on forums have been giving the answer to this for some years now. If you don't like flying, then don't fly. If you don't like police river blocks, then stay at home in your bathtub.

So simple, amirite?

DamianTV
06-25-2014, 06:11 PM
Doesnt seem to matter to Cops whether or not its a Cell Phone or an Inner Tube, they claim COMPLETE Authority over EVERYTHING at the cost of EVERY RIGHT of an individual.

NorthCarolinaLiberty
06-25-2014, 06:45 PM
Next up on the river: electrical current meets water with the tazing of YOU!

From the office of Hermann Goering, Texas: "It is regrettable that the boat riding schmuck drowned after we tazed him, but he refused to comply."

Henry Rogue
06-25-2014, 06:55 PM
"Okay I need to look", he said, as he gestured for towards the raft.

This seemed to take them by surprise and one of the sheriff's sheepishly replied "Yes, that's why we ask!"*
Except he didn't ask.

TomtheTinker
06-25-2014, 07:50 PM
Do they realize how ridiculous they are?

phill4paul
06-25-2014, 07:53 PM
Ha! It ain't gonna stop until we stop it. It'd be comical if it weren't so deadly serious.

tod evans
06-25-2014, 07:55 PM
What's the end game?

Borrowing money from foreign nations, debasing our own currency all to grow government........Why?

Public safety and the children be damned there must be a goal they're working towards but for the life of me I can't grasp it...:o

Anti Federalist
06-25-2014, 08:43 PM
What's the end game?

Borrowing money from foreign nations, debasing our own currency all to grow government........Why?

Public safety and the children be damned there must be a goal they're working towards but for the life of me I can't grasp it...:o

Seriously?

I don't think anybody really wants to know.

No, I am not kidding...

http://www.vosizneias.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/mass.jpg

specsaregood
06-25-2014, 08:54 PM
"YOU GOT ANY GLASS BOTTLES OR STYROPHOME?"

uhm, are glass bottles or styrofoam illegal to possess on a river?

mrsat_98
06-25-2014, 08:58 PM
Glass Bottles are $400 a piece fine, a twelve pack will net you $4800 fine.

specsaregood
06-25-2014, 09:04 PM
Glass Bottles are $400 a piece fine, a twelve pack will net you $4800 fine.

wth? is this some kinda of precrime logic to prevent littering? are aluminum cans acceptable? how about a keg?

LibForestPaul
06-25-2014, 09:16 PM
Ha! It ain't gonna stop until we stop it. It'd be comical if it weren't so deadly serious.

It does not stop until all peoples understand they are sovereign. Good for this guy for trying.

Anti Federalist
06-25-2014, 09:44 PM
wth? is this some kinda of precrime logic to prevent littering? are aluminum cans acceptable? how about a keg?

Why do you hate Mother Earth, comrade?

NorthCarolinaLiberty
06-25-2014, 10:48 PM
Except he didn't ask.

Yep. The are basic English rules for formulating a question. These people don't follow the same rules as everyone else. They are anarchists.

Yes, I must agree with all the conservatives out there. There's no way anarchy can exist for very long. :rolleyes:

kcchiefs6465
06-25-2014, 11:01 PM
It does not stop until all peoples understand they are sovereign. Good for this guy for trying.

Let me know how that natural rights > social contract theory works out for you. I'll be your pen pale.
..

oyarde
06-25-2014, 11:23 PM
I have been down that cold river before , long time ago , guess I should be glad it was before the water police .

TruckinMike
06-26-2014, 12:10 AM
The cops have been there for years. There is a picture floating around somewhere on the web with them carrying rifles... from a few years back. The city (New Braunfels) actually had a fee to float down the river until it was ruled illegal by the courts.
Trash is just another excuse for the police state, not unlike the war on drugs --- this is the war on trash. Funny thing though, every year there is a huge trash pickup day and contest. Scuba clubs from all over Texas participate. That has been keeping the river clean for decades. Its all a scam IMO. The squeaky wheel has been wealthy nouveau riverfront property owners(and political busy bodies). They buy a million dollar riverfront home on the freakin' Guadalupe (google gaudalupe river tubing )and expect it be serene and peaceful like some off the beaten path mountain stream. They squeak, the city/county responds with police state tactics.

And Recall, New Braunfels is where that young man with the FU t-shirt was arrested and also the place where the young man was arrested for terrorism for making a joke online about eating some school children's "still beating hearts".

Lots of German bloodline/heritage floating around there. Not kidding. FYI --> The old "Braunfels" is in Germany. :)

Anti Federalist
06-26-2014, 12:31 AM
http://deadhomersociety.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/bartsinnerchild12.png

“Springfield will have its first annual Do What You Feel Festival this Saturday, whenever you feel like showing up. It’ll be a welcome change from our annual Do As We Say Festival, started by German settlers in 1946.”

oyarde
06-26-2014, 12:42 AM
The cops have been there for years. There is a picture floating around somewhere on the web with them carrying rifles... from a few years back. The city (New Braunfels) actually had a fee to float down the river until it was ruled illegal by the courts.
Trash is just another excuse for the police state, not unlike the war on drugs --- this is the war on trash. Funny thing though, every year there is a huge trash pickup day and contest. Scuba clubs from all over Texas participate. That has been keeping the river clean for decades. Its all a scam IMO. The squeaky wheel has been wealthy nouveau riverfront property owners(and political busy bodies). They buy a million dollar riverfront home on the freakin' Guadalupe (google gaudalupe river tubing )and expect it be serene and peaceful like some off the beaten path mountain stream. They squeak, the city/county responds with police state tactics.

And Recall, New Braunfels is where that young man with the FU t-shirt was arrested and also the place where the young man was arrested for terrorism for making a joke online about eating some school children's "still beating hearts".

Lots of German bloodline/heritage floating around there. Not kidding. FYI --> The old "Braunfels" is in Germany. :)

Yeah , yrs ago I spent a lot of time around Bandera, New Braunfels , Boerne , Fredericksburg etc , good bier , good peaches , no cops back then , lol

oyarde
06-26-2014, 12:56 AM
Then , :) , have a few more beers , make the long drive down to Runge and China Grove, for some food , lol