Coast Guard arrests a man trying to run a giant hamster wheel across the ocean | Hacker News Reader

Coast Guard arrests a man trying to run a giant hamster wheel across the ocean

npr.org

8 pointsohjeez7 comments

It might be a dumb thing to do, but my understanding is that this person was alone and not risking anyone else's safety. If that's the case, it doesn't make sense to me how someone can be arrested for this.

Logically speaking, if we want to retain freedom as a construct, shouldn't people be allowed to do what they want to do as long as they're not hurting anyone else?

Finally an article that explains the grounds for his arrest: failure to register his vessel (and his "vessel" is unregisterable under the rules). OK, so far, legit.

But seriously, there should be an opt out for a device that's not a boat, the way offfroad vehicles that can't be on a road typically don't need to be registered.

Or, though you can't offer it for sail, you can make your own hang glider.

Etc.

It may have also had something to do with his belligerent non-compliance, brandishing knives, and suicide/bomb threats, what do you say?

I mean why should they even approach him unless there is some crime to be suspected of, like smuggling or trying to sneak in. The knife thing (doesn't sound smart in an inflatable vessel) is after the fact of their arrival.

Well, if you're in the CG, and you spot a homemade vessel that's clearly not seaworthy, and it appears to be headed to parts unknown, do you

(1) let the guy get himself into a shitload of trouble to where he hits emergency beacon, and deploy a full-blown open ocean S&R?

or (2) approach homeboy close to shore so you can stop him and short-circuit the whole tragedy?

I know which one involves less paperwork.

In fact, since this isn't the first time that homeboy has pulled this stunt, dollars to donuts says that the CG knows him on sight.

I guess you're right: if this clown vanishes, or worse washes ashore drowned, there will be cries of "Why didn't someone do something???"

"I'm sorry, I thought this was America"

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