Go'n to court

[BSMITH]

My ticket for "On ice when posted not safe" is $130.00. So, I'm contesting it. What a bunch of crap!

[Jim N]

Not sure if its the same as traffic court, but I've had some success in "pleading-down" fines etc. by having an informal meeting with the court clerk or D.A. before it goes to court...Then you have a better idea of what to expect in the formal proceedings....

[Paul F]

My ticket for "On ice when posted not safe" is $130.00. So, I'm contesting it. What a bunch of crap!

Good luck.

You would think you could argue kites are much safer than walking on the ice because the kite supports some of your weight and if the ice breaks the kite can pull you to safety.

I thought I would point out how they handle such things out here in OR. You can do almost any dangerous thing you want. Climb Mt. Hood, for example. You must pay for all rescue operations after you get in trouble, however. They assume you know what you are doing, I guess.

[deva9dad]

My ticket for "On ice when posted not safe" is $130.00. So, I'm contesting it. What a bunch of crap!

I've been sailing on Calhoun every winter since 1995, and have never heard of this happening before. I think we need to petition the Park board to demand that winter recreation is allowed on Calhoun, that there is consistant enforcement of rules, and that signage about ice thickness actually has some correlation to reality.
To have meaningless "Thin Ice" signs up, and then capriciously enforce them is inexcusable, especially when the fine is so high!

[Tighe]

That is really a good idea. Brian if there is a way we could all sign a petition let us know. Maybe if you did a document, we posted it here for people to print and sign and send to you. It would be separate copies but that shouldn't matter.

Also, as someone pointed out, the City of the lakes Loppet ski race took place on Calhoun only weeks before and as far as I know those same signs were up during the race. I know some of the coordinators of that race and could get you numbers of racers if you want. They also have a website: http://www.cityoflakesloppet.com


Here's a picture of the mayor on Calhoun during the race.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/mayor/a ... Loppet.asp

I think most of us would stand behind you in fighting this. Let us know how to best do that.

[BSMITH]

Well, if I have to pay one penny I'm going to go John J. ...and because I'm not a green beret I will be detained. So, you could all bail me out of jail.
If someone wants to make a petition I will gladly hand it to the judge! April 13 is my court date.

[steveb]

maybe some of the kiters who sailed calhoun could go to court with you and give evidence that the signs were there all season, that there was no thin ice, and that thousands of people including the x country race and mayor had used the ice while the signs were on the lake with no ticket.
For the race I'm sure the organisers had to have the help of the local law authorities.
good luck

[dave t]

I'm in on the get Brian out of jail plan.
There's no telling what damage could be done if he could see a flag whipping in the wind from his little cage.

I know all lakes are different but on Friday, March 19th (the really windy one when I missed out on the Hudson opener) the ice on lake Marion was still 18 inches thick.

I was walking off the lake after the wind wouldn't fly my soggy foil anymore and found an open fish hole. The tip of my ski didnt slip passed the bottom edge of the hole until just a bit before the binding.

It looks pretty scary now though and I'm ready for the water!!
Saturday is looking kinda good but I've got to go bend over for the tax man. That's a sure sign of good wind to come.

[Hank]

How did they catch you, on ice skates?

[Randy]

Yes, I too am ready to testify that walls thick enough have not yet been built to contain Brian on a windy spring day. Long range forecast looks like 4M weather for April 13.... Randy