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Woodsy · 03-01-2006, 11:58 AM

I do think the "Reasonable & Prudent" wording is a bit difficult to enforce in court, but not impossible. However, using that standard allows the MP to intercept a boat and question the operator. They may not write a ticket, but it does give them a chance to talk to the operator, see if he has his SBC, determine if he has been drinking, and conduct a safety inspection.

If you read some of what the proponents of HB-162 have written in other threads, they don't see the need for a large enforcement of the speed limit, and certainly don't want to spend the money needed for training, signage, court costs etc. In fact thier much touted Lake George only writes 5-6 speeding tickets a year, mostly to PWC's that are on-plane within 500" of the shoreline. In fact some of the HB-162 supporters seem to think that a speed limit will be self-enforcing. If thats thier position, why spend all that time & money to train MP officers in the use of radar, especially when the logistics and enforcement are questionable? I think we should spend the money where it is needed.

Actually, a portion of the boat registration fee is earmarked for the Navigation Fund. It does not go into the general fund. The Navigation Fund is where the MP get thier funding from. There is a bill in comitte right now to increase the registration fees and earmark the monies to the Navigation fund. I think a higher MP presence would be a good thing, especially on busy holiday weekends.

Woodsy

03-01-2006, 11:58 AM	#17
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,966 Thanks: 80 Thanked 980 Times in 440 Posts	I do think the "Reasonable & Prudent" wording is a bit difficult to enforce in court, but not impossible. However, using that standard allows the MP to intercept a boat and question the operator. They may not write a ticket, but it does give them a chance to talk to the operator, see if he has his SBC, determine if he has been drinking, and conduct a safety inspection. If you read some of what the proponents of HB-162 have written in other threads, they don't see the need for a large enforcement of the speed limit, and certainly don't want to spend the money needed for training, signage, court costs etc. In fact thier much touted Lake George only writes 5-6 speeding tickets a year, mostly to PWC's that are on-plane within 500" of the shoreline. In fact some of the HB-162 supporters seem to think that a speed limit will be self-enforcing. If thats thier position, why spend all that time & money to train MP officers in the use of radar, especially when the logistics and enforcement are questionable? I think we should spend the money where it is needed. Actually, a portion of the boat registration fee is earmarked for the Navigation Fund. It does not go into the general fund. The Navigation Fund is where the MP get thier funding from. There is a bill in comitte right now to increase the registration fees and earmark the monies to the Navigation fund. I think a higher MP presence would be a good thing, especially on busy holiday weekends. Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.