Laws at sea...

This is likely the wrong venue, but what determines the laws and
punishments while at sea? Is it the shipping line, the Captain, the
country of registry? Laws for things like drugs, drinking, gambling,
age of consent and the like are not consistent from place to place.
How are these things determined? Just curious. GAR

On 10/13/2004 10:48 AM GAR plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and said:

This is likely the wrong venue, but what determines the laws and
punishments while at sea? Is it the shipping line, the Captain, the
country of registry? Laws for things like drugs, drinking, gambling,
age of consent and the like are not consistent from place to place.
How are these things determined? Just curious. GAR


Next time you sail, read your cruise line's contract. Prohibited
behavior and its consequences is clearly outlined there.

--
________
To email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

On 10/13/2004 10:48 AM GAR plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and said:

This is likely the wrong venue, but what determines the laws and
punishments while at sea? Is it the shipping line, the Captain, the
country of registry? Laws for things like drugs, drinking, gambling,
age of consent and the like are not consistent from place to place.
How are these things determined? Just curious. GAR


Next time you sail, read your cruise line's contract. Prohibited
behavior and its consequences is clearly outlined there.

--
________
To email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 18:48:36 GMT, Brian K
wrote:

On 10/13/2004 10:48 AM GAR plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and said:

This is likely the wrong venue, but what determines the laws and
punishments while at sea? Is it the shipping line, the Captain, the
country of registry? Laws for things like drugs, drinking, gambling,
age of consent and the like are not consistent from place to place.
How are these things determined? Just curious. GAR


Next time you sail, read your cruise line's contract. Prohibited
behavior and its consequences is clearly outlined there.

Thanks. Brian, I've been on only one cruise in my life (barring the
Service, on a troop carrierG). Is the Captain the 'absolute law',
or can the cruise line determine just what laws it wishes to enforce
and what statutes are/are not? If they. for example made the 'legal
age' on the ship 14 years, just what would happen there and
thereafter? Is it like the military, when you sign (pay for the
cruise), you are iron-bound by their rules?
Rest assured, I WILL 'read the manual' before my cruise next year
GAR

On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 18:48:36 GMT, Brian K
wrote:

On 10/13/2004 10:48 AM GAR plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and said:

This is likely the wrong venue, but what determines the laws and
punishments while at sea? Is it the shipping line, the Captain, the
country of registry? Laws for things like drugs, drinking, gambling,
age of consent and the like are not consistent from place to place.
How are these things determined? Just curious. GAR


Next time you sail, read your cruise line's contract. Prohibited
behavior and its consequences is clearly outlined there.

Thanks. Brian, I've been on only one cruise in my life (barring the
Service, on a troop carrierG). Is the Captain the 'absolute law',
or can the cruise line determine just what laws it wishes to enforce
and what statutes are/are not? If they. for example made the 'legal
age' on the ship 14 years, just what would happen there and
thereafter? Is it like the military, when you sign (pay for the
cruise), you are iron-bound by their rules?
Rest assured, I WILL 'read the manual' before my cruise next year
GAR

It is very complicated. Generally, the laws of the flag state apply while
in international waters. However, cruise lines have cooperated with United
States law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, in criminal activity
investigations, and have turned over alleged offenders to United States
authorities (but not always). As for the role of the Captain, he has final
authority as to what happens on board his ship. He can order someone
confined to quarters, or even locked in the brig (if one is present) if he
feels it is necessary for the safety and well-being of everyone else on
board.

Tom Smith


"GAR" wrote in message
...
This is likely the wrong venue, but what determines the laws and
punishments while at sea? Is it the shipping line, the Captain, the
country of registry? Laws for things like drugs, drinking, gambling,
age of consent and the like are not consistent from place to place.
How are these things determined? Just curious. GAR

It is very complicated. Generally, the laws of the flag state apply while
in international waters. However, cruise lines have cooperated with United
States law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, in criminal activity
investigations, and have turned over alleged offenders to United States
authorities (but not always). As for the role of the Captain, he has final
authority as to what happens on board his ship. He can order someone
confined to quarters, or even locked in the brig (if one is present) if he
feels it is necessary for the safety and well-being of everyone else on
board.

Tom Smith


"GAR" wrote in message
...
This is likely the wrong venue, but what determines the laws and
punishments while at sea? Is it the shipping line, the Captain, the
country of registry? Laws for things like drugs, drinking, gambling,
age of consent and the like are not consistent from place to place.
How are these things determined? Just curious. GAR

Thanks, Tom. It still seems to leave open which jurisdiction would
appply. In some states, the drinking age or age of consent or even
drug laws vary. To reduce it to the absurd (the U.S.A. for example),
a picture of a naked adults in some Southern states could result in
jail time, while in other states it could appear in a newspaper.
Indeed, it does seem to be quite complicated. It also seems to allow
quite a bit of 'flexability', as some of the 'flag states', Panama,
Liberia etc. have some, buy our standards, quite liberal policies
regarding prostitution, drugs and the like. I guess it's 'when in
Rome', but just where are we? "If it's Tuesday, it must be......"G
GAR


On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 02:12:36 GMT, "Thomas Smith"
-NO-SPAM wrote:

It is very complicated. Generally, the laws of the flag state apply while
in international waters. However, cruise lines have cooperated with United
States law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, in criminal activity
investigations, and have turned over alleged offenders to United States
authorities (but not always). As for the role of the Captain, he has final
authority as to what happens on board his ship. He can order someone
confined to quarters, or even locked in the brig (if one is present) if he
feels it is necessary for the safety and well-being of everyone else on
board.

Tom Smith


"GAR" wrote in message
.. .
This is likely the wrong venue, but what determines the laws and
punishments while at sea? Is it the shipping line, the Captain, the
country of registry? Laws for things like drugs, drinking, gambling,
age of consent and the like are not consistent from place to place.
How are these things determined? Just curious. GAR

Sorry about the error. It's 'by' not 'buy'. Damned spell
checkers!VBG
GAR

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 03:30:27 GMT, GAR wrote:

Thanks, Tom. It still seems to leave open which jurisdiction would
appply. In some states, the drinking age or age of consent or even
drug laws vary. To reduce it to the absurd (the U.S.A. for example),
a picture of a naked adults in some Southern states could result in
jail time, while in other states it could appear in a newspaper.
Indeed, it does seem to be quite complicated. It also seems to allow
quite a bit of 'flexability', as some of the 'flag states', Panama,
Liberia etc. have some, buy our standards, quite liberal policies
regarding prostitution, drugs and the like. I guess it's 'when in
Rome', but just where are we? "If it's Tuesday, it must be......"G
GAR


On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 02:12:36 GMT, "Thomas Smith"
-NO-SPAM wrote:

It is very complicated. Generally, the laws of the flag state apply while
in international waters. However, cruise lines have cooperated with United
States law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, in criminal activity
investigations, and have turned over alleged offenders to United States
authorities (but not always). As for the role of the Captain, he has final
authority as to what happens on board his ship. He can order someone
confined to quarters, or even locked in the brig (if one is present) if he
feels it is necessary for the safety and well-being of everyone else on
board.

Tom Smith


"GAR" wrote in message
. ..
This is likely the wrong venue, but what determines the laws and
punishments while at sea? Is it the shipping line, the Captain, the
country of registry? Laws for things like drugs, drinking, gambling,
age of consent and the like are not consistent from place to place.
How are these things determined? Just curious. GAR

GAR wrote in message . ..

Thanks, Tom. It still seems to leave open which jurisdiction would
appply. In some states, the drinking age or age of consent or even
drug laws vary. To reduce it to the absurd (the U.S.A. for example),
a picture of a naked adults in some Southern states could result in
jail time, while in other states it could appear in a newspaper.
Indeed, it does seem to be quite complicated. It also seems to allow
quite a bit of 'flexability', as some of the 'flag states', Panama,
Liberia etc. have some, buy our standards, quite liberal policies
regarding prostitution, drugs and the like. I guess it's 'when in
Rome', but just where are we? "If it's Tuesday, it must be......"G
GAR

Only the FBI can investigate violations of U.S. code that take place
in international waters, if asked to AND if they want to.
Realistically, this is only going to happen in the case of a major
crime (like murder). The state of Florida claims a right to prosecute
offenses that happen within 100 miles of its shores under certain
circumstances, but this does not apply if you have permission from the
captain to commit the act.

So the answer to your question is yes, the captain of the vessel is
the law when the ship is on the high seas. And yes, he can allow
anybody to drink if he wants. This is why the rules against
"underage" drinking aren't terribly well-enforced on cruise ships at
sea. Technically there aren't any laws against passengers using drugs
that I know of, but how would you get them on the ship in the first
place? And of course, if you still have them when the ship enters
U.S. -- and other countries -- waters, that is smuggling.