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08-13-2008, 11:32 AM | #1 |
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Safety certificates to buy gas?
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...wreply&p=78748
The above post is from the recent (and still active) "Major Bonehead" thread, which I did not want to hi-jack. It mentions a display of an obvious lack of competence on a boat operator at a fuel dock. I wonder if it might be useful to the boating community, if fuel docks required a "Safe Boating Certificate" to be shown when fueling a boat that requires one for operation. This suggestion is not targetted at any particular boat category just those people who feel they will get the card after they get caught. Would it be effective as a law? Do you think businesses would support it as a suggested procedure? |
08-13-2008, 12:03 PM | #2 |
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On the surface, not a bad idea. However, I doubt any business would want the responsibility of enforcing a law. Let me give you a scenario.
Non-certified boater gets gas at a marina. Gas attendant checks certificate, but doesn't realize the certificate is not for the person driving the boat, it is someone elses that he stole. Boater goes out and rams another boat (at 44 mph), and kills someone. Dead persons family sues boater, as well as the marina who was supposed to check the validity of the certificate. My assumption would be that no business would want to be in the law enforcement business, one reason being liability. As I am typing this, I am thinking of all the bars and restaurants across the state who have to check ID's in order to sell booze....not that they want to, but they have to.
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08-13-2008, 12:16 PM | #3 |
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Civilians shouldn't be in the law enforcement business, period.
That said if NHMP wanted to take it a step further they, with the business owners permission, could have an officer or two go from gas dock to gas dock checking certificates. They may have to make an announcement prior to doing it along the lines of the SP announcing sobriety checkpoints in advance. But unless the NHMP has found a large number of boaters operating without a certificate then what's the point? Not being able to dock a boat, while expensive, is not illegal. If a business owner notices sales are off he/she might approach the state and see if they would partner with a promotion to give gas discounts to boaters on a limited basis between the hours of X and Y that produce a boating certificate, or maybe a safety inspection decal. That would certainly be a more tourist friendly way to do it. |
08-13-2008, 12:34 PM | #4 | |
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Better yet, the MPs could ticket-punch the certificate when a stop is made. Multiple punches would point to a problem boater. At some point, the card would not start the pump. A well-meaning concept, but there would be too much resistance from problem boaters. I don't see it happening. |
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08-13-2008, 02:36 PM | #5 | |
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08-13-2008, 03:48 PM | #6 |
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08-13-2008, 04:01 PM | #7 |
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Do we really need more laws, more rules and more regulations?
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08-13-2008, 04:30 PM | #8 |
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I don't believe you learn how to dock a boat in the NH boating classes. I didn't. The classes focus primarily on rules and regulations as well as some practical knowledge. When you get a drivers license you have to demonstrate the ability to actually drive a car. Same with a motorcycle, but not so with a boat.
And then what kind of boat would you be tested on? I bet many small boat operators don't know what scope is. If you're going to anchor a boat though you should know what it is. |
08-13-2008, 05:50 PM | #9 | ||
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Last edited by Airwaves; 08-13-2008 at 06:10 PM. Reason: stings and litigation |
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08-13-2008, 07:03 PM | #10 | |
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08-13-2008, 07:18 PM | #11 |
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Actually, there was a time when you could take your SCUBA bottles to a dive shop and just get them refilled. For some time now ..maybe decades..you need a Dive Certificate to get this done.
Automobiles..for the sake of getting a licence.. are pretty much the same..some are a little bigger than otheres..but all "handle" about the same. Boats on the other hand are..handling wise..are all over the ball park. A "Captain" canidate would have to show up for the test in his own boat and demonstrate his competency. SO: Lets say he passes. Next year he gets a new bigger..different boat..would he be required to pass the "behind the wheel test" with every new boat? Probably not very practicle or realistic. So we would still have a problem. |
08-13-2008, 07:46 PM | #12 |
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08-13-2008, 07:51 PM | #13 |
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You're right we can play this all night. However in the case of a liquor store owner, law enforcement is targetting the store, not the patrons and the store owner has his/her investment and income at stake. What will the NHMP do to a marina? Shut them down like a liquor store?
In the case of a liquior store owner, in the vast majority of cases they just turn folks away when they are underage....they don't do the enforcement part of law enforcement and hold them for the police to incarcerate. So are you really suggesting that you want the NHMP to conduct sting operations on gas docks?...this goes back to my comments about the differing attitudes between one state that relies on summer tourism and the attitudes of another. |
08-14-2008, 04:41 AM | #14 | |
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08-14-2008, 04:49 AM | #15 |
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Originally Posted by Lakepilot
I don't believe you learn how to dock a boat in the NH boating classes. You may be right, BUT it does give one many ideas that one can try and help them getting started. That's more than having nothing and trying to dock a boat. |
08-14-2008, 08:50 AM | #16 | |
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In the long run, this may not be a viable strategy or it might be better to expand it to other service providers like commercial ramps and launch services. I see this could become a "camel's nose" sort of thing but it might cut down on the folks who dont even know the Rules-Of-the-Road. You can't outlaw stupid but you can try to limit ignorance. |
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08-14-2008, 10:49 AM | #17 | |
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Like I said above, I would rather see rules such as the 150' rule being enforced as well as give way etc. It is my opinion now that all boaters supposedly hold certificates (except for a ridiclous loophole that allows a 2 week temporary certificate (given by rental shops, etc who have a vested interested in those boaters passing)) that this process is as useful as a screen door on a submarine. I have seen no increase in the level of competence on this lake. This is not the fault of the MP- it is the fault of those that put their fun ahead of all of our safety! |
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08-16-2008, 06:38 AM | #18 | ||||
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More Eyes for the MPs Needed
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It would make more sense to attach a Breathalyzer™ to the pump, but that's not going to happen either. Quote:
...and... Quote:
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What we have instead are "civilians", if you get my drift.
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08-16-2008, 07:50 AM | #19 |
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Makes as much sense as requiring a driver's license to fill up one's car.
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08-16-2008, 11:44 AM | #20 | |||||
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APS...welcome back! You wrote:
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Of course I haven't heard that the NHMP has found non-compliance with the boating certificate law has been a problem. Another solution in search of a problem? Last edited by Airwaves; 08-16-2008 at 11:46 AM. Reason: Solutions and problems :) |
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08-16-2008, 12:01 PM | #21 |
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