Coast Guard Fines Daredevil Who Jumped in To Bay From Fishing Boat

By Bay City News Service

The Coast Guard issued a $5,000 fine to a passenger who jumped from the fishing vessel Bass Tub into the waters off Muir Beach in Marin County last Monday.

The passenger allegedly jumped off the vessel as part of a dare from friends who were also aboard the vessel. The passenger was safely rescued and uninjured.

However, in this case, according to the Coast Guard, the crew’s attention was diverted away from the safe operation of the vessel, posing a danger to the other passengers as well as the one jumping.

Additionally, the Coast Guard stated that the passenger who jumped could have been at risk of being sucked into the vessel’s propellers or drowning from cold water shock, swimming failure, and hypothermia.

Commercial passenger vessel crews are responsible for the safety of all passengers aboard.

Jumping into the water from a passenger vessel is considered against the law. The act of doing so is recognized as interfering with the safe operation of the vessel, which violates 46 United States Code, Section 2302.

Violators may be fined up to $30,000.