I didn’t call the Niagara County sheriff’s department because a middle-aged man waved his arms, suggesting we slow down, as we slowed, he yelled “the speed limit is 5 mph”. An embarrassing experience. But it’s one of the rules of the CG and if that’s how the administration wants to communicate this rule to their guests, it’s their prerogative. It’s an extremely poor management style. We were going over the speed limit on the access road and may have been going twice or maybe three times the speed limit, we were in the wrong and middle-aged man was not wrong in identifying us as going over the 5 mile an hour speed limit. We could show our dissatisfaction by selecting a different CG next time. It’s a non-confrontational approach we tend to favor. I did not call the sheriff’s office because of this.
Once back in our campsite, I walked over to the restroom. Upon my return there was an older man standing at the door of my camper conversing with my wife. When she saw me coming, she called out: “This man is harassing me and will not leave.” I called out for him to step away from my camper. Which I needed to repeat. I was approaching through an empty adjacent campsite which he stormed over to and began berating me for speeding within the hour and for another incident where it was reported that we had sped past a golf cart going 40mph. As this happed so abruptly, I was attempting to process what had actually happened with the added accusation and respond calmly, while mindful that I was, without warning, thrust into a public altercation with plenty of witnesses.
I must of sounded befuddled, because I was, as I addressed his concerns. I tried to relay in a cogent fashion, that we had exceeded the 5mph speed limit coming in to the CG which had already been addressed, but in no way did I ever pass a golf cart going 40mph. It must have been another truck. The man was animated, raised voice and standing quite close to me, seemingly challenging me to fisticuffs. He told me that he didn’t know whether he believed me. I told him I was a Christian, that I don’t lie, to which he had the temerity to repeat himself: “I don’t know if I believe you”. I told him he was impugning my character and questioning my veracity and I need him to leave. We were on a vacant slip as he declined. I moved over on my camping spot and to his golf cart parked next to my truck. I asked him his name and he responded” Charles X?. I asked him to leave. He said he didn’t have to because his golf cart had a light on top. I decided to take my case to the office.
As I approached the office, there was a white-haired older lady, the same man who waved his hands and shouted the speed limit at my wife and me, along with a woman standing with him. I spoke loud enough for all three to hear me. I asked to speak to the owner. The white-haired woman said, “he is the owner” pointing to the man on the golf cart following me down the road (the older man haranguing my wife and me. I turned and said: “you are the owner?!” I said, “you have ruined our vacation and I want a refund”. He said no and asked the other man if my wife slowed down after he waved her down. He said, no. This was not true. She slowed to a crawl and was going less than 5mph when he yelled at her. I reiterated my objection regarding Mr. Charles questioning my veracity. His wife? (white-haired lady) said to him, “let’s go in, your dinner is ready”. I said, “now you are walking away from me, Mr. Charles”. To which he replied, “at least you are showing me some respect”. I retorted: “I’m the only one showing respect in this conversation”. I didn’t call the sheriff for anything that I have mentioned to this point.
I returned to my wife. She told me, “Mr. Charles” came to the camper and knocked on the door. She didn’t answer. He knocked again, more forcibly to which she opened the door. He began admonishing her for speeding, to which she acknowledged exceeding the speed limit, apologized and said she would watch her speed going forward BUT he continued to admonish her and brought up the passing a golf cart at 40mph, to which my wife pleaded ignorance. Not satisfied the man continued to badger my wife, to which she said: “sir you need to back up”. “My husband, is not here”. He didn’t. She repeated: “sir you need to back up”. He refused. My wife reached out to close the door and Mr. Charles, GRABBED THE DOOR, preventing her from closing it. Thankfully at that time, I returned from the wash room.
Several days later I called the sheriff. Having left the area, the sheriff told me I can’t file a formal complaint over the phone. He could however record the incident and if anyone issues another similar complaint, they will have This on file as supporting evidence. In addition, the next time I enter Niagara County, I can file a formal complaint. As an aside, the sheriff said his deputies are not allowed to prevent a citizen from closing their door.