A California Senator is proposing to require peace officers onboard cruise ships visiting California. These "ocean rangers" would be onboard to to monitor (prevent?) pollution and/or serious crimes while the ship is in California's "marine waters." A copy of the bill is available here.
Novel idea. My quick read showed some issues - most cruise ships don't stay in California waters (three nautical miles from shore) for very long, ergo any law enforcement would likely occur extra-territorially. Manning of vessels is a federal, not state, regulated activity. State officials are within their authority to board vessels in State waters, but I don't get the sense that the California Senator is concerned about pollution or crimes within three nautical miles from shore.
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