Police fine men for rescuing deer, say they should be thankful they didn't arrest them

Washington Post
Dec. 21, 2010

Two men who rescued a deer trapped in Patapsco River ice were each fined $90 by a state Natural Resources Police officer because they did not have life vests aboard the inflatable boat they used to reach the animal. [...]

Hart said the Natural Resources Police officer issued him and Abusakran $90 citations for not having personal flotation devices on board. State law requires that all boaters have a personal flotation device with them at all times on any navigable body of water, though they are not required to wear them unless they are younger than 16.

Abusakran said he had two personal flotation devices in his boat and that he repeatedly told the Natural Resources officer that.

Albert said the men could have faced a stiffer charge: disobeying a lawful order.

"They could have been arrested and taken before a commissioner," Albert said. "Our officer erred on the side of the least invasive action that he could take at the time."

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