If You Don’t Want To Rock The Boat Don’t Arrive In One
I’m the head lifeguard of a beach, and we don’t allow boats to dock or drop anchor within a hundred feet of our swim area and beach. It’s partially a safety thing, because boats can drift and if people are fishing, the hooks could come into the swim area (never a good time). It’s also because the sheriff needs to have full access to the beach, which is made more difficult on days when boats surround the beach.
A family comes to dock RIGHT OFF THE BEACH, right alongside the buoys and lining that separates the swim area from the lake. I had just gotten off the lifeguard stand, so I immediately walked over to them.
Me: “I’m sorry, but you’re going to need to move your boat.”
The mom starts swearing at me, and then saying:
Mom: “My husband is the president of the homeowner association for [Neighborhood across the lake]!”
Me: “The other side of the lake is another city, but the whole lake is owned by this city, the one that I work for. But it doesn’t matter who you are, it’s a city ordinance and county ordinance that you can’t bring your boat so close.”
The dad begins to threaten me.
Dad: “What’s your name sonny-boy? You’re going to regret taking that tone with me.”
I immediately radio a coworker to call the police.
Mom: “Call your manager too! We’re getting you fired!”
Me: “I’m actually the head lifeguard at this time, not just for this beach but the entire park behind it.”
The mother is so incensed by this that she jumps out of the boat (which is trespassing because you have to pay to enter the beach and park) and gets in my face to start threatening me and pushing me.
Luckily, the police station is fairly close to the park, so as she is doing this, the police pull up into the parking lot. My coworker and several patrons have begun to record all of this as well.
One of the children on the boat notices that the police are walking towards us, and she starts crying:
Child: “I don’t wanna to go to jail!”
Me: “Ma’am you are now officially trespassing. If you continue to yell at me I will press charges for assault.”
She books it back into the boat and they take off, but the police take down the serial number of the boat. I was later informed by the police officer (they come by a lot) that due to overwhelming video evidence, they had to bring forward charges of trespassing, assault, and threatening a city worker.
