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Originally Posted by Alton Bay
I read with interest all the points being taken on both sides of the debate. However, the fact is, the House has passed a speed limit bill. I have to wonder how many legislators have ever even been to the Lake? Rather than beat this issue to death, have people been contacting their state senators? They hold the speed limit bill in their hands. Does anyone know where they stand?
Last time I checked we all have to have boater certification certificates by this summer. We should all know about the safe passage law, bwi and other issues. Rentals remain an huge issue in my mind.
Also, interesting that most Alton businesses do not support a speed limit. Ask them ( and Alton residents) if they support a noise limit and they would say "yes" and... you know what?? We have a law regarding noise. Is it enforced?? I can tell you it's very noisy in Alton (maybe cuz it's narrow?) and it certainly isn't just from GFLB. Let's enforce the laws on the books.
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Contacting Senators may not be as effective as contacting Representatives. Reps are supposed to vote the way they feel thier constituents would vote; they are the voice of the people and are not supposed to vote with their own opinion. If they do, they are not necessarily representing us. Senators are supposed to vote based the "correctness" of the bill, not the popular opinion. They are supposed to be the voice of reason in these situations, just in case the popular opinion is bad. Some feel we need more government control than we presently have, some think we need less.
My gut says the current majority in the Senate would LOVE to pass a law that takes away accountability from us and gives power to the state, especially if it costs money to implement. Count on this bill passing, regardless of what you tell your Senator. With luck, our Governer will veto the bill if it does pass, and perhaps we can get rid of some of the folks in the House and Senate that seek to add dumb laws before the next poorly-thought-out speed limit bill is introduced.
If you seek to blame anyone after this bill passes, blame the GOP, the very folks who generally oppose the bill. The GOP irritated the US population so much recently that folks voted them out and voted in the sort of people that seek to add laws and spend money.
FWIW, I oppose THIS speed limit bill. 45 is really slow, I've exceeded it several times on a bicycle (Pingree Hill Road). If a need for a reasonable speed limit is ever proven, I would not oppose it. 25 or 30 at night seems like a good idea, I have no issue with that, but then I've never seen anyone exceed it either, unless it was brightly moonlit. I also strongly support strict noise law enforcement, I really dislike loud boats, cars and motorcylces. Loud jet fighters rock though...