Basejumper.com - archive

 

I took the U.S.P.A. sticker off my cars window at the advice of a Mr.Hookitt a wise decision I believe.
~J

I've long intended to get a BASE579 personalize license plate.

I'll apply for it just after I give up jumping.

Other than certain national parks, on the west and east coast. I would say 99percent of the population wouldn't have a clue as to what it was or meant. I've had my number on my tag since I got it 98 and can say it has never gotten me busted. Now I don't take it to certain areas except certain times of the year, but other than those "warm" places, no local sheriff or tower engineer would make the connection. Now it your tag said "BASEJMPR" that might bring down the heat. I would worry more about exposed packing in known areas than someone's tag. I am oppessed to all the skydiving stickers I see though. That does draw way too much attention. Big crowds on special nights at "warm" objects is enough of a drawback to not even go in the first place :P

peace
MIke

I do have a nice photo of my tag that the speeding camera caught and sent me in the mail! BASE-515 clear as a bell and no mention of my bad habit was atttached to it

Imagine driving into the valley with a plate reading "BASEXXX". I'm looking forward to doing that after I stop jumping. Ought to be good for a few laughs. Or maybe BASE will be allowed by then...

 

Having a "BASEXXX" license plate is one thing - but using that vehicle for ground crew is another.

Yes, one of these days I'm gonna drive through Yosemite with my BASE428 license plate and then spread my Mojo 280 out in El Cap meadow and give 'er a good long pack job. I'm not going to jump though. They'd probably lock me up for that.

Actually I think it is illegal to even bring a parachute into a National Park. Or is it National Monument...or both. Hmm...anyone know?

I've heard that as well. I think it's one of those rules that isn't enforced that much. But my real question is what would they charge you with? There is illegal aerial delivery, but is there conspiracy to commit illegal aerial delivery as well? Anyone know the code on that one?

I feel sorry for the newbie skydiver who stops by a National Park and forgets he's got a USPA sticker on his bumper and a Wonderhog in the trunk.

As you hand the ranger at the gate your $20 they hand you back a receipt. With the receipt is a pamphlet of information about the park. Listed in this pamphlet, is a list of activities that are prohibited in in Yosemite.

Nowhere on this list will you see BASE jumping, paragliding, or parachuting.

Anyone have a copy of this pamphlet?

Conspiracy? Since conspiracy takes two, you can't get that if you're alone.

Still, they'd likely get you for attempt, loitering, criminal mischief, trespass, illegal clamming, etc..

So maybe I should get XBASE now? No wait. I was just an ASS jumper. Never mind. I don't like the sound of that one.

tom when do you plan to stop ?

I would have thought this is more drawing attention than being low key. By the sounds of your area it is more an urban jump, guessing at night. You would draw more strange looks having camo than it would help. IMHO.

Simply packing my parachute in El Cap meadow in no way means a jump will be made. I've packed my base rig at many airport terminals in the past, but that doesn't mean I'm going to pull a DB Cooper.

Perhaps one of the rangers who monitor this forum could enlighten us as to the type of charges that would be filed?

Also, anyone who wears camo on a BASE jump is also asking for trouble. Unless you're a hunter, the wearing of camo is a dead giveaway in most parts of the country.

I believe conspiracy to commit illegal aerial delivery would be a felony, even if the underlying charge was a misdemeanor.

I agree about not wearing camo (unless you are a hunter, militia, weirdo, etc...)

__________________________________________________

Didn't Clint have a thread where he said he was charged with having a parachute in his possession 'with intent of committing aerial delivery' into NPS lands? Mind you he was hiking around looking for an exit point when caught, I think....

Must be a lot of them in this part of the US (southeast). If I'm out roamin around in the woods (for some reason), I'll stand out more in city gear like jeans or whatever -- camo is expected. In town, jeans would be fine, although there's a lot of camo in town, too. People here like to advertise that they're a hunter/outdoorsman or whatever.

"Must be a lot of them in this part of the US (southeast). If I'm out roamin around in the woods (for some reason), I'll stand out more in city gear like jeans or whatever -- camo is expected. In town, jeans would be fine, although there's a lot of camo in town, too. People here like to advertise that they're a hunter/outdoorsman or whatever"


I'm not saying camo cant' be acceptable attire for everyday life, out in the woods or in town. I was just having fun with the "weirdo part"

When a person is sneaking around an object in the dark with a backpack on there going to look suspicious no matter what there wearing or what state there in. But our meeting points where we plan the load and pile into the GC's car could possibly draw unwanted attention if we were wearing camo. Which over time could lead to unnecessary heat.

Rangers don't bust otherwise innocent vacationing skydivers anymore as they know a Prism from a Vector, and that's because they do Flash Card drills . . .

"Atom!" That's a skydiving rig, sir!"
"Very good, probably a tourist, okay, try this one?"
"Vertigo!"
"Be specific."
"A Wizard! Sir."
"Excellent, this one?"
"Early classic flap rig, sir, possibly BR, maybe CR, an old schooler, sir!"
"Anything else?"
"Old schoolers all limp, and they are easy to catch, sir"
"Outstanding, now watch this one, it's tricky?"
"I got it, sir, that's a Sorcerer!"
"Very good, and this one?"
"It looks like a big X, sir!"
"That's correct, we don't know what they're up to, so we call it rig X.
"Alright, gather up, the next class is how to spot the BASE jumper in a sea of Beaver Cleavers . . .

BASE jumpers are easy to spot because they always . . . ?

NickD
BASE 194

Walk around doing practice touches even when they're not wearing rigs?

Transition from boxman to a track while walking down supermarket aisles (while making a whooshing air sound)?

Stop at the top of stairs and assess conditions before going down (while doing practice touches)?

Or maybe that's just me. Do I win?

Me too
~J

Haha!!
I'll try the supermarket aisle later. I use curbs as 'exit' points regularly. And yes with said 'wooshing' sounds.

nic

call skydivers "whuffos"
dressed in Cammo.
Lasing everything above a 100'.
having cypres fires.
getting up at 3am.
used to being constantly shocked by static electricity.
got the legs in a cast.
sold all their skydiving rigs.

That's a good one Chad

 
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In Reply To

BASE jumpers are easy to spot because they always . . . ?
.............................................................................

.> You are all wrong .<

BASE jumpers are the ones that are always Hiking up to the top on
those lovely and well policed NPS Big-Walls, just before Dark.

And every other Geek Hiker that passes Him going down asks him the Same Stupid Question.

.... "Do you have a Flashlight with you to see to Hike Down !... It's going to be Dark soon."....

The BASE Jumper is always the one breathing hard, with the Cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
and running behind schedule.... Who Always Answers.....

..." No...but I don't need a Flashlight... I will not be Hiking down.... Thank You."...
.
.

I believe the line is "no, we've got all the gear we need. Don't worry about us."

You betcha they'll attempt to charge you with Conspiracy. History shows us from this old post:

---
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VS. AVERY BADENHOP (1999)
The Government had charged me (Avery Badenhop) with Aiding and Abetting and Illegal Aerial Delivery, additionally, I was charged with Conspiracy, apparently for my involvement with planning the protest.
Initially, Dan Horner, an NPS criminal investigator contacted me by e-mail back in August of this year. The premise of the e-mail was about a rumor that there was going to be a mass protest jump in Yosemite, following the death of Frank Gambalie III at the hands of the NPS in June. At that time I had no involvement whatsoever with any plan to protest in Yosemite. NPS officials were aware of my standing in the BASE community, and sought me out as a go between the jumpers and the government. I did agree to take on the task. At that point, in privacy, I contacted various factions of BASE jumpers, to get the scoup on the mass jump. I was able to quell that situation, in exchange for a more structured one. I did inform the NPS that a protest, including jumps from El Capitan would take place on October 22, 1999. They did participate in the planning, and coordination of that protest. This was a protest of NPS policy, a policy of refusing to give permits to us, so we may jump from the cliffs in the National Parks.
On the day of the protest, NPS officials did indeed set up a landing area for us in El Cap Meadow, and even went as far as placing an autographed ranger hat on the center of a target. In our negotiations, the NPS seemed sure that we would not be able to control our landings as well as we said. I am a National Champion in BASE Accuracy, and assured them I could nail the bulls-eye. I was to be the last jumper off El Cap that day, but my opportunity did not materialize. The first three jumps went without any glitches, all three jumpers, Henry Boger, Joe Weber, and Mick Knutson all landed in the designated landing area. The fourth jumper, Jan Davis then jumped, but failed to deploy her parachute. She died as a result. We did not ever contend that BASE is a safe sport, we contend that it is dangerous, but we have a right to participate in the sport nevertheless. I did not jump, I walked back off the mountain. My parachute was confiscated. The three men who jumped were charged with Illegal Aerial Delivery, and Conspiracy. Their gear was confiscated, they were cited and released, as per agreement previously by the NPS.

Not a lawyer, but I think lawrocket was just saying that it takes two people (or more) in collusion in order for there to be a "conspiracy" charge.

If you go there all by yourself, and no one else worked with you to develop a plan to get you there and/or jump, then you wouldn't expect there be any conspiracy charge. However, there could still be an "intent" charge (presumably).

And I agree with both you and lawrocket. However, I was simply posting some info I found that related to my original post about being charged with conspiracy to commit aerial delivery. I'm not sure about there having to be two people for conspiracy (I'm not a lawyer), but if you read the definition of conspiracy, it doesn't mention anything about two or more. Maybe the law books define it as such. I'm sure the NPS defines it however they please.

Anyway, at least we now know the NPS has used the conspiracy charge in the past.

[/end NPS rant]

A criminal conspiracy occurs when two or more people commit to just about any illegal act, and then take a step towards its completion.

So if you and Snuffy decide to jump El Cap (I know, site naming) and you head to Yosemite with your rigs, you may have a conspiracy. If you hike up to an exit point, you probably will be guilty of a conspiracy. If you invite the press to cover it, then you KNOW there is a conspiracy.

If you guys back out of making a jump because winds are wrong, there is STILL a conspiracy.

I DID jump ElCap with one other person and got busted. We didn't get charged with conspiracy.

Maybe if we hadn't jumped we would have been charged with conspiracy since they'd want us to get in trouble for something.

So what's the worse of the two? If conspiracy is a felony, you're better off jumping. Seems funny if conspiracy to commit a misdameanor equals a felony.




Edit:typo

Does that mean everyone who gets in a car with me can also get a ticket for "conspiracy to drive over the speed limit?"

But "they" have to be able to prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" your INTENT, don't they? Having an unpacked rig in the car when you drive through the valley isn't a crime, is it? Which begs another question for you lawyer types:

hypothetical situation:

I make an illegal BASE jump. I land, take whatever evasive actions are necessary, and make it to the vehicle with my gear undetected. As I'm driving away from the area, at some point I get pulled over. The [ahem] "law enforcement" officer asks if I've seen any BASE jumps/parachutes/whatever, and let's say somehow ends up searching my car. As I get out of the car I'm thinking "great--there goes my gear...he's SURE to find a full stash bag in the car!"

What are my rights here? Firstly, it's always seemed to me that if there was a witness to an "illegal" BASE jump, then there would be some beta on the canopy color, right? So is there any way to ask the cop/ranger/MP/whatever specifically what he's looking for? "Oh--you're looking for a parachute, officer? What colors? It seems like if _before_ he searches your car, you can get him to be specific about what he's looking for, and he's wrong, (eg: he's looking for a blue and black canopy and the one in your car is red and black) then you're potentially off the hook when it goes to court--

Also--what are the laws concerning videoing your run-ins with police? Do they have to consent to being filmed or recorded? Could I just throw my camcorder on the dash and let it run, even if it's just for the audio? Would it be admissable in court as evidence when the ranger/cop/MP/whatever spews his bold-faced lies about me, the fine, upstanding citizen that I am??

"Transition from boxman to a track while walking down supermarket aisles (while making a whooshing air sound)?

I really have done that.

i was hard up for some jumptime what can i say

My apartment got ripped off - we caught the theif a few blox away and taped the whole thing. The denver pd didn't care. Interesting tape...

No. Of course, maybe my wife nagging me to drive faster would be.

Yes.


No.

As to your hypo - I could write a book of several volumes on your rights.


I have no idea, but it seems to me it would be okay, maybe even fun, to do so.

I hate to beat a dead horse about the cammo situation... but here it goes:

Assuming people in my area don't normally walk around wearing cammo, I understand the risk of being confronted while wearing full NAT-Gear and cammo'd rig... however, I am the sort of person who isn't too keen on being confronted! The only way I'm going to be seen wearing anything, is if I'm seen in the first place!

There are some objects were cammo will make you stand out, and others where it's your only hope of NOT BEING SEEN.

In my opinion, the objects where you have to army crawl in full cammo for several hundered yards, amongst guards and high security, are far more entertaining than those where you just mingle with the general public or hope your display goes undetected.

All I am saying is that cammo has it's place in BASE jumping!