[Lakegeezer]

Originally Posted by Fat Jack

It appears that all of the 9% of NH voters who oppose HB162 are hanging on this forum. Were one to use only this forum as a basis, one might mistakenly believe that HB162 does not have overwhelming popular support among the rest of NH's voters. Aren't NH's voters the ones who elect our Senators to "represent" them?

The poll has nothing to do with representation. There was no massive outcry by a majority of the people to pass another speed law (remember, we already have one). Instead, there was a poll crafted and paid for by the group that is sponsoring and lobbying for the law. Slanted polls are part of the political action committee process. You can buy a laws. But our senators are supposed to be smart enough to realize that (unless they have been paid off behind the scenes). This forum is more representative of boaters, and while the discussion has been heated, its pretty clear that the logical winner is "no additional speed limits required". This is a bad law. It encourages disrespect of other boating laws by safe boaters, because it is stupid to ask someone to stick to 45 on a wide open lake in the middle of the week, when there is no traffic. They will look around and wonder "why". Some will wonder if the 150 rule is based on similarly purchased opinions. The current laws we have about reasonable speed - and especially the 150 passage rule - should be enforced in the crowded and undisciplined area of the lake (where I think most of the sponsors of the additional speed law tend to hang out). This law makes no sense to safe and experienced boaters - and every new law that makes no sense means that the rest of the laws (even those that do make sense) deserve less respect. Normally, as citizens, we are encouraged to tattle on scofflaws. I will still watch in awe and enjoyment when boats scream by at 60+, and hope they get away with safely going so fast. I will continue to wish bad karma on those come closer to me than 150 feet and who pull skiers or kids on tubes through crowded travel lanes.