Quote:
Originally Posted by Seaplane Pilot
I have contacted my state rep encouraging them to introduce a bill requiring safety flags on all kayaks. That’s a REAL safety issue, unlike the useless speed limit law.
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When we were going through the speed limit stuff ~2009 a couple of reps on the RR & D committee took all the safety issues that people complained about that had nothing to do with speed, and put them into a separate bill. Flags for kayaks, canoes, whistles, etc. Amazingly, people like the Camp Directors Association fought this stuff because while they were trying to teach safe boating, they were concerned that if you gave a kid a whistle, he would blow it. There's a real eye roller.
Historically speed limit bills go to the Transportation Committee and prior to 2008 there had been ~18 bills that had failed. Speed limit advocates did two things. They found a committee chair on their side who convinced the Speaker to assign the bill to his committee, not Transportation, but RR & D. Second, instead of using lobbyists, they ran a series of public surveys that showed that statewide, 62%(?) of the population thought speed limits would improve safety. Then they went around to newspaper editorial boards and convinced them to print editorials in favor of speed limits (SAFETY). Any Rep or Senator who had no personal boating experience was hard pressed to "vote against safety." It was a good strategy and it worked, even though there were no statistics demonstrating a link between speed and accidents. (On the highway, there is some evidence that weaving around and tailgating cause accidents, but speed is easier to enforce, so speed limits and radar guns get the nod.)
My recollection is that there were a handful of GFBL boats with obnoxious operators that really pushed the desire to get rid of them and speed won even though many people didn't like the noise. Noise bills were successfully passed, but the speed people apparently didn't want anything to dilute their successful message. In any event, most of the noise is gone along with the high speeds. Or, maybe the high speeds are still there, but since they're quiet, nobody notices enough to call in a complaint? Time to focus on wake boats and loud stereo as the new enemy.