Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - More financial pressure on the NH Marine Patrol

Woodsy · 04-29-2008, 08:12 AM

Airwaves...

I totally agree with you! I have been writing about the COST of HB-847 since its inception! The proponents keep saying HB-847 costs nothing, when in fact that is an absolute unabashed falsehood!

1. Radar Certification Costs: There will be a cost to have the NHMP Officers Radar Certified! A key provision of HB-847 is that a speeding violation will affect your driver's license. There is a HUGE difference between Radar Trained and Radar Certified! A Radar Certification is REQUIRED in order for the officer to testify in court. The NHMP will need to send some officers to attend the radar class @ NHSP Academy. This will cost some $$$.

2. NHMP Resource Costs: The NHMP testified at the House Committee hearing in Franklin, and stated quite clearly in the Boat Speed Report that safety dictates that 2 NHMP officers be assigned to a boat on a radar patrol. This is another drain on NHMP resources... instead of 2 officers in 2 patrol boats you have 2 officers in 1 patrol boat. Which is the better use of the limited NHMP resources? The NHMP testimony agreed with the House Committee that this was EXPENSIVE!

3. Court Costs: Because a boat speeding ticket can possibly affect your drivers license, most people will fight the boat speeding ticket and this will require the NHMP officer to testify in court. This will cost the NH Courts both time and money, sucking up court resources and it will cost the NHMP time & money, taking an officer off the lake to testify in court!

4. Enforcability: The NHMP testified at the House Committee hearing in Franklin, that while the outcome of the Boat Speed Study was that radar did work on the water, it worked only in certain situations, and there was a concern about meeting the Burden Of Proof in court!

Make no mistake, there is definitely a COST associated with HB-847. The current state of the economy coupled with the high cost of gas will no doubt have a negative input on boat registrations. This in turn will have a negative impact on the NHMP budget. HB-847 asks the NHMP to do ALOT more with ALOT less money!

Given the current state of the economy, do we really want to enact a rule that makes ANYONE take thier boat elswhere?

Woodsy

04-29-2008, 08:12 AM	#2
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,966 Thanks: 80 Thanked 980 Times in 440 Posts	There is a COST! Airwaves... I totally agree with you! I have been writing about the COST of HB-847 since its inception! The proponents keep saying HB-847 costs nothing, when in fact that is an absolute unabashed falsehood! 1. Radar Certification Costs: There will be a cost to have the NHMP Officers Radar Certified! A key provision of HB-847 is that a speeding violation will affect your driver's license. There is a HUGE difference between Radar Trained and Radar Certified! A Radar Certification is REQUIRED in order for the officer to testify in court. The NHMP will need to send some officers to attend the radar class @ NHSP Academy. This will cost some $$$. 2. NHMP Resource Costs: The NHMP testified at the House Committee hearing in Franklin, and stated quite clearly in the Boat Speed Report that safety dictates that 2 NHMP officers be assigned to a boat on a radar patrol. This is another drain on NHMP resources... instead of 2 officers in 2 patrol boats you have 2 officers in 1 patrol boat. Which is the better use of the limited NHMP resources? The NHMP testimony agreed with the House Committee that this was EXPENSIVE! 3. Court Costs: Because a boat speeding ticket can possibly affect your drivers license, most people will fight the boat speeding ticket and this will require the NHMP officer to testify in court. This will cost the NH Courts both time and money, sucking up court resources and it will cost the NHMP time & money, taking an officer off the lake to testify in court! 4. Enforcability: The NHMP testified at the House Committee hearing in Franklin, that while the outcome of the Boat Speed Study was that radar did work on the water, it worked only in certain situations, and there was a concern about meeting the Burden Of Proof in court! Make no mistake, there is definitely a COST associated with HB-847. The current state of the economy coupled with the high cost of gas will no doubt have a negative input on boat registrations. This in turn will have a negative impact on the NHMP budget. HB-847 asks the NHMP to do ALOT more with ALOT less money! Given the current state of the economy, do we really want to enact a rule that makes ANYONE take thier boat elswhere? Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.