Marine Patrol to Enforce Shoreline and Navigation Light Violations

[BroadHopper]

I don't see any exceptions for commercial vessels. Perhap the Mt Washington fleet and the Bell are violating the law?

[Webbsatwinni]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

I don't see any exceptions for commercial vessels. Perhap the Mt Washington fleet and the Bell are violating the law?

Or the law is improperly defined?

[B-Laps]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

I don't see any exceptions for commercial vessels. Perhap the Mt Washington fleet and the Bell are violating the law?

Actually the rules posted only apply to Class A,I,II and III boats which covers boats up to 65 feet in length.


In addition the definition of boat is

270-D:1 Definitions. – In this chapter:
I. "Boat'' means every description of watercraft other than seaplanes, capable of being used or used as a means of transportation on the water and which is primarily used for noncommercial purposes, or leased, rented, loaned or chartered to another for such use.

Seems to me that the Mt Washington or Winni Belle don't have to abide by any laws referring to "Boats"

[BroadHopper]

So that is why the leased pontoons are cruising around with their dock lights glaring!

[Webbsatwinni]

Aren't those boats considered charters as they sell tickets to passengers?

[jrc]

The law is being interpreted to give the MP the most opportunity to stop suspicious boats at night. Just obey the MP guy when he says "turn off those cabin lights". What he is really saying is, are you sober enough to understand me?

Its not right, but until you want to fight it in court just obey.

[Webbsatwinni]

Originally Posted by jrc

The law is being interpreted to give the MP the most opportunity to stop suspicious boats at night. Just obey the MP guy when he says "turn off those cabin lights". What he is really saying is, are you sober enough to understand me?

Its not right, but until you want to fight it in court just obey.

So we are all ok with that? It's not enforced fairly, and we are in fear of getting pulled over because it's vague?

[Kamper]

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

So we are all ok with that? It's not enforced fairly, and we are in fear of getting pulled over because it's vague?

I'm not okay with that. At the moment it's a case of "You get the justice you can afford." .

[TiltonBB]

In my opinion the lighting laws need to be changed.

Anyone who has boated at night will tell you that it is sometimes difficult to see boats and that some boat lighting blends in with the shore. A few more lights on the side of a boat similar to the marker lights of a large truck would help a lot.

I had a flybridge cruiser on the lake for many years. After too many close calls at night, when approaching boats did not seem to see my boat, I decided to leave some of the cabin lights on at night. It eliminated the problem.

I would respectfully suggest that unless additional lighting was a hazard to navigation it should be ignored by the Marine Patrol. Citations and warnings should be used to solve a problem, not generate activity and revenue.

[Webbsatwinni]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

I would respectfully suggest that unless additional lighting was a hazard to navigation it should be ignored by the Marine Patrol. Citations and warnings should be used to solve a problem, not generate activity and revenue.

Agreed, and to me cockpit lighting helps visibility and doesn't hurt navigation as in most cases, its lower in the cockpit and not like a docking light that shines directly at other boats.

Off topic:
I have also heard rumor that the noise ordnance is now being tested at the scene and is you are over the limit at idle, they tow your boat, how can that be???

[Seaplane Pilot]

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

Agreed, and to me cockpit lighting helps visibility and doesn't hurt navigation as in most cases, its lower in the cockpit and not like a docking light that shines directly at other boats.

Off topic:
I have also heard rumor that the noise ordnance is now being tested at the scene and is you are over the limit at idle, they tow your boat, how can that be???

Guilty until proven innocent - the NH way. Live Free or Die

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

Off topic:
I have also heard rumor that the noise ordnance is now being tested at the scene and is you are over the limit at idle, they tow your boat, how can that be???

I have wet mufflers. At low speed and when the motor is cold there is very little water passing through the devices. I have more noise at idle. But at planning speed and higher the water passing through really quiet down the exhaust. I have a piece of paper that says I passed back in the 90's when the law says to test at WOT. Now your telling me the laws have changed and I am not grandfathered?

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

I have wet mufflers. At low speed and when the motor is cold there is very little water passing through the devices. I have more noise at idle. But at planning speed and higher the water passing through really quiet down the exhaust. I have a piece of paper that says I passed back in the 90's when the law says to test at WOT. Now your telling me the laws have changed and I am not grandfathered?

One thing that makes me unhappy about NH is how they change laws or application of the laws without any hearings or notice. Not at all customer friendly.

R2B

[Descant]

The legislature holds lots of hearings, but they're held from January to May when they are in session. Belonging to an association, NHLAKES, Gilford Islands, Bear Island, Marine Trades Assoc., etc will put you on a mailing list. Even if you live out of state in the winter you can provide input through your association or through the Rep. or Senator where you spend your lake time.

[Webbsatwinni]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Now your telling me the laws have changed and I am not grandfathered?

I have the same situation on the mufflers, I have never been tested. I will not go into who, but this is what I was told by someone that was stopped, tested and if not for being near their dock, was told they were getting fined towed and now allowed on the lake until its fixed and retested.

[tis]

Broadhopper, what Webbsat said is exactly what I was told. These people were stopped despite the fact that they had the paper from a previous experience. That means our paper could be no good either. We always carry it in the boat with us but seems like now it might be just a useless piece of paper. I didn't hear anything about the towing though.

[AC2717]

What I don't understand is how Marine patrol has jurisdiction on land. If they have no jurisdiction on a boat once it is tied up to private property (dock), how do they have the right to tell me what to do/use on land?

[Kamper]

Originally Posted by AC2717

What I don't understand is how Marine patrol has jurisdiction on land. ... ?

To specifically answer your question, It's written into the statute.

There was a lengthy thread a few years ago where it was explained that almost any NH sworn police officer can act if observing a crime. Woodsy provided insight on the details.

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by Kamper

To specifically answer your question, It's written into the statute.

There was a lengthy thread a few years ago where it was explained that almost any NH sworn police officer can act if observing a crime. Woodsy provided insight on the details.

without going into detail and also a search, is it s crime? (again just looking for insight, not questioning

[LIforrelaxin]

I have decided to send a letter to the Marine Patrol, for clarification on how noise violations are dealt with. I will post the reply here when I receive it.

As for a certificate showing that you passed the noise certification. I would think after a year or so it would not be valid. Mainly because, there is no way to know how the boat has or hasn't been modified in that time. I am not saying that it isn't worth keeping on the vessel, because, an officer may look at it and decided that maybe it isn't as loud as he initially thought. But just like we have cars checked yearly for safety... Things can and do change.

[Rich]

Perhaps start a new thread? I thought this was was about lighting.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

Off topic:
I have also heard rumor that the noise ordnance is now being tested at the scene and is you are over the limit at idle, they tow your boat, how can that be???

This is surely just what you state a rumor. The problem with rumors is that they create confusion.

Now they may test your idle noise level to verify a suspicion that you are over the law at idle. That I will believe. And if you are over the legal limit at idle, they will probably ask you to get your boat off the water until a formal test can be conducted both at speed and at idle. This also gives you the time to correct the problem, so that hopefully when you show up for the test you have a boat that will legally pass.

I doubt very much that they would tow your boat. The Marine Patrol will not even tow a distressed boat, unless it is in immediate danger.

Now what may have been witnessed is a repeat offender of the law, getting caught. If that is the case then I would suspect that they have the right to impound the boat, to prove that the boat was brought into compliance, for a date at some point, and was then found to have been tampered with and brought out of compliance currently. This however is conjecture on my part....

Rumors are Rumors. If there is truly concern about this happening, I would suggest someone correspond directly with the Marine Patrol.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

In my opinion the lighting laws need to be changed.

There is no doubt the law governing recreational boat lighting need to be revisited. Cockpit and cabin lights are usually not a problem. However the now popular underwater accent lights can be an issue, as they can drowned out the nav lights from a distance. I have noticed this several times this summer. As for dashboard instrument lights, they are just like instrument cluster lights in a car... they are not a problem, unless the effect your night vision. Even the rules for cars don't detail the instrument cluster lights.

And oh by the way that is the difference when you look at the Mount, it is a commercial Vessel and laws are different.

[Orion]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

There is no doubt the law governing recreational boat lighting need to be revisited. Cockpit and cabin lights are usually not a problem. However the now popular underwater accent lights can be an issue, as they can drowned out the nav lights from a distance. I have noticed this several times this summer. As for dashboard instrument lights, they are just like instrument cluster lights in a car... they are not a problem, unless the effect your night vision. Even the rules for cars don't detail the instrument cluster lights.

And oh by the way that is the difference when you look at the Mount, it is a commercial Vessel and laws are different.

One moonless dark evening, I detected a boat in my path solely by the dash lights as he didn't have ANY nav lights! With the availability and now lower cost of LED lighting, I would like to see an acceptable standard allowing for a lighted side stripe, perhaps running the length of the boat, maybe in the green and red colors per the bow light rules. With the low power consumption of LEDs they could even be tied into the ignition to operate any time the motor is operating and the shifter is in gear (sort of like daytime running lights in a car). I often see boaters who put their anchor light on instead of their nav lights or forget to put any on at all.