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fatlazyless · 12-12-2006, 08:11 PM

Speed limit on large lakes proposed in new bill

45 mph/25 mph: Limits would be put on Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, Newfound, Sunapee and Wentworth lakes.

By Roger Amsden
Union Leader Correspondent

HOLDERNESS - A bill that would establish a daytime speed limit of 45 miles per hour and a nighttime speed limit of 25 miles per hour on New Hampshire's largest lakes has been filed by a state Rep. Sidney Lovett, guaranteeing that the hotly contested issue will once again be debated in the state Legislature.

Lovett, D-Holderness, said he introduced the bill last week at the request of the Winnipesaukee Family Alliance for Boating Safety, which spearheaded an effort which culminated with the 193-139 vote for the speed limit on all New Hampshire lakes earlier this year in the New Hampshire House. But the bill was defeated 15-9 in the Senate, where it received the vote of only three members of the Republican majority.

Lovett says that the bill, which would set speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Winnisquam, Newfound Lake, Lake Sunapee and Lake Wentworth, has a good chance of passage in both the House and the Senate, both of which are now controlled by the Democrats.

Only one large lake in the state, 6,700-acre Squam lake, currently has a speed limit - 40 miles per hour during the day and 20 mph at night.

Lovett said he is basically filing the same legislation that was passed by the house last year and was originally introduced by Rep. James Pilliod, R- Belmont.

"We're cleaning up the language about tidal waters," said Lovett, who noted that the original bill had included only Lake Winnipesaukee but had been extended to all lakes in the state by a House committee which held extensive hearings on the proposal during the summer of 2005.

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Thankyou Union Leader and Roger Amsden
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If this new proposed bill actually becomes law then maybe Lake Umbagog, way up north close to Errol NH, could become the go-to spot for the high horsepower performance boats. Lake Umbagog is very large, has a very undeveloped shoreline and is mostly empty of boaters. Senator John Gallus, R-Berlin, voted against HB162 last year so maybe he would welcome perfomance boats to his North Country district's Lake Umbagog.

A park for all-terrain-vehicle which will have 250 miles of ATV trails is just getting started in nearby Berlin so maybe the economy up north would welcome performance boaters as well. What with the paper mill in Berlin closing down, their economy can seriously use some help.

The North Country is a terrific place! It's still a lot like the old rural New Hampshire that no longer exists much in the central area of the state, down below the Notches.

12-12-2006, 08:11 PM	#12
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,759 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,013 Times in 738 Posts	from today's December 12th Union Leader Speed limit on large lakes proposed in new bill 45 mph/25 mph: Limits would be put on Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, Newfound, Sunapee and Wentworth lakes. By Roger Amsden Union Leader Correspondent HOLDERNESS - A bill that would establish a daytime speed limit of 45 miles per hour and a nighttime speed limit of 25 miles per hour on New Hampshire's largest lakes has been filed by a state Rep. Sidney Lovett, guaranteeing that the hotly contested issue will once again be debated in the state Legislature. Lovett, D-Holderness, said he introduced the bill last week at the request of the Winnipesaukee Family Alliance for Boating Safety, which spearheaded an effort which culminated with the 193-139 vote for the speed limit on all New Hampshire lakes earlier this year in the New Hampshire House. But the bill was defeated 15-9 in the Senate, where it received the vote of only three members of the Republican majority. Lovett says that the bill, which would set speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Winnisquam, Newfound Lake, Lake Sunapee and Lake Wentworth, has a good chance of passage in both the House and the Senate, both of which are now controlled by the Democrats. Only one large lake in the state, 6,700-acre Squam lake, currently has a speed limit - 40 miles per hour during the day and 20 mph at night. Lovett said he is basically filing the same legislation that was passed by the house last year and was originally introduced by Rep. James Pilliod, R- Belmont. "We're cleaning up the language about tidal waters," said Lovett, who noted that the original bill had included only Lake Winnipesaukee but had been extended to all lakes in the state by a House committee which held extensive hearings on the proposal during the summer of 2005. .................................................. .... Thankyou Union Leader and Roger Amsden .................................................. .... If this new proposed bill actually becomes law then maybe Lake Umbagog, way up north close to Errol NH, could become the go-to spot for the high horsepower performance boats. Lake Umbagog is very large, has a very undeveloped shoreline and is mostly empty of boaters. Senator John Gallus, R-Berlin, voted against HB162 last year so maybe he would welcome perfomance boats to his North Country district's Lake Umbagog. A park for all-terrain-vehicle which will have 250 miles of ATV trails is just getting started in nearby Berlin so maybe the economy up north would welcome performance boaters as well. What with the paper mill in Berlin closing down, their economy can seriously use some help. The North Country is a terrific place! It's still a lot like the old rural New Hampshire that no longer exists much in the central area of the state, down below the Notches.