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    How Many Miles Off-shore Is Considered US Territory?

    I think the answer is either 3 or 6 or 12.

    asked 3 months ago

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    "For general purposes, it is enough to realize
    that in the United States there are four distinct zones to which jurisdiction (in a formal legal sense) applies.
    The FIRST ZONE is for formal county jurisdiction (e.g., the
    county sheriff can arrest you) and is limited to three miles offshore.
    In California, these lines are listed in excruciating detail in
    the California Government Code.
    The SECOND ZONE is official state jurisdiction (e.g., Calif. Fish
    & Game officers can arrest you). It is also limited to three
    miles offshore except across a "closed bay in which case the state
    can have much more extensive jurisdiction. For example, the Supreme Court found in "U.S. V. California, (1965) 381 US 139, 14 L.Ed.2d 296,
    that Monterey Bay was a "closed bay and thus the State of California
    had jurisdiction well beyond the usual 3-mile limit (goes to about
    12 miles offshore at mid-Bay).
    The THIRD ZONE is a zone of official United States sovereignty
    (the FBI can arrest you). Under international law this is now
    12 nautical miles from the nearest point of land (including islands;
    sometimes farther when "closed bay lines are involved).
    The FOURTH ZONE is the zone of internationally recognized
    jurisdiction [the "Exclusive Economic Zone" or EEZ]
    over seabed and fisheries resources. Although any nation's ship can transit the waters under the doctrine of "freedom of the seas, the nation with the jurisdiction may regulate fishing, seabed mining, oil drilling, etc.
    This jurisdiction is 200 nautical miles from the nearest point
    of land, including islands." - Don Roberson

    answered 3 months ago

    Hey Don R, Thanks so much. I was wondering why Oil Companies needed government approval to drill for more oil in the Gulf Of Mexico. Your last sentence seems to answer that question

    comment made by Weberskm 2 months ago    Report

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      That's not quite true, else the ChiComs wouldn't be drilling 60 nautical miles from the coast of Florida.

      Generally the territorial zone of a country is 12 nautical miles, but this can be modified by regional or international agreements.

      answered 3 months ago

      Good point. Their drilling just chafes my a** too.

      comment made by BillZBub 2 months ago    Report

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