House approves speed limits for boats on the state's waterways: 45 miles per hour during the day and 25 miles per hour at night. Boaters convicted of speeding would have the violations reported on their driving records
The debate that produced what would be landmark curbs on fast boating was anything but……Lawmakers argued, drifted and occasionally foundered for three hours…..A good part of the time was devoted to parliamentary maneuvering in furtherance of two basic points of view……For the bills lead sponsor, Belmont Republican Jim Pilliod, the question of limiting boat speed boiled down to a single word.
"Fear……Thousand and thousands of people are in fear of the lake now -- That's not right……It isn't the data on accidents…..It's the fear….fear….fear…. that's driving the bill."
Critics arguments were almost as basic.
"While we may have a perceived problem…..Speed is not a problem."
That's Merrimack Republican Chris Christensen….He insisted that there is no evidence that speed limits would improve safety……Others opponents took a different tact..Stoddard Democrat Dan Eaton, told colleagues the proposed law fails on two counts……it doesn't reflect reality on all lakes…..and it doesn’t contemplate it's implementation.
"You have a bill before you to change the standards on every lake in the state of NH for what may be one hundred boats which need enforement that wont happen if you wont have preseces it you don’t have presence is to have well triained officers out of marine safety services…..Mr. Speaker we are setting up a bill that won’t accomplish the purpose."
But to supporters, the bill accomplished a key purpose -- it reflected the publics will……They pointed to a june survey that found 65 percent of state residents favored limiting boat speeds on state lakes while just 22 percent opposed speed limits….Both points of view were well represented yesterday in the house gallery……The bill was subject to intense lobbying by professionals and citizens alike…….
"The legislators have said of all the issues they have never heard as much feedback from their constituents."
That's Sandy Helve……of the Winnipesaukee families for boatings safety…….or Winfabs…..Helve says the if the bill becomes law -- the legislature will have served the needs of the majority.
"It will be enable more people to enjoy the lakes as they deserve to enjoy them."
Those on the other side, weren’t so sure…..They said lawmakers who voted to support speed limit were shortsighted.
"They just wanted to stick to an arbitrary number and they hurt everyone in the lakes region by doing it."
Jimmy Wentworth wouldn't say how fast his 39 foot speedboat will go at full throttle. But the Plaistow resident who boats out of Center Harbor did allow that targeting so-called performance craft is misguided on two counts…….First, he says, because owners of such cigarette-style vessels tend to be experienced and capable mariners, and second because policing a ban on high speed boating will further tax an already underfunded enforcement system.
"We didn’t' have enough marine patrol out there on Saturdays and Sunday for existing traffics…..They won't be in the congested areas and that's where the problem is in the congested areas….safe passage is the problem, it's not he speed."
The bill now moves to the senate, where the lobbying effort is only expected to intensify…….
