You guys really need to stop and think this through. Lake Winnipesaukee is a TOURIST destination. Lots and lots of people come up here from all over the country. They spend lots and lots of money. Nobody wants to restrict or hinder that cash flow as it really helps out the economy of NH. Thats why we have rental boats...
Now you are proposing a boater license. Where or how is an out of state visitor supposed to get one? Not everyone who boats on Lake Winnipesaukee has a NH license or resides in NH. I would guess the majority of boaters on Lake Winni are not NH residents but from out of state, mostly from MA, who are day tripping or have family camps. Those that are staying in the motels are usually visiting for week or less. This is why the rental boat certificate program is administered the way it is. You state that the DMV is already in place. How is that supposed to work? Are we (citizens of NH) going to have to pay to keep a DMV office open on weekends to accomodate all of the people who visit and want to boat. There are only so many hours in a day to administer on the water boat tests. Then there are the legalities of attaching points to an out of state drivers license for boating violations....
Lets be realistic and not emotional. Boater Education works. We just need to get it phased in completely. I think a sticker is a nice non obtrusive way to give a clear visual indicator to all that the owner has passed the boater safety course. The lanyard thing might work, except that people tend to forget to wear them, or lose them, or they get stolen. A simple cheap sticker, right next to your bow numbers is highly effective, and you can get it by mail or at a marina when you register your boat. put a line on your registration so that the number of the safety sticker can be recorded, just like your registration sticker number. As for the fines, I don't think they need to be excessive. $500 first offense would never fly.
Be realistic and we can effect real change....
Woodsy
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