[fatlazyless]

In the political legislative process of making a new law, sending a proposed bill to a committee for further study is often used as a ploy to delay and hopefully stop the proposed law.

In Sept '06, the NH Lakes Assoc filed an initiative petition w/ at least 25 signatures from every Winnipesaukee waterfront town with the DOS as specified by NH rsa in an effort to effect a 45day/25night mph speed limit on Lake Winnipesaukee. The Dept of Safety held public hearings on the issue and decided in March '07 to conduct on-the-water, in-the-summer, studies by the Marine Patrol for a period of eight years.

The unanswered question is: Was the intent to study or to delay?

Proponents and opponents of the speed limit include NH Lakes Assoc, WinnFABS, NH Marine Trades Assoc, and NH Recreatioinal Boaters Assoc, and of course many individuals from the Winnipesaukee area.

In 1989, 2005, 2006, and 2007, all attempts to create a Winnipesaukee speed limit have died in the NH legislature. With the big political change that took place in the Nov '06 election, and the March '07 retirement of DOS Commissioner Richard Flynn, the outlook for a speed limit to pass have never been better.

...time will tell, it always does.