Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

Rusty · 05-05-2011, 05:50 AM

Mary Hutchins has worked real hard to make our beautiful Lake a safe place for everyone.

This well written article is in today's LDS

Reps who voted against SB-27 talked to Lakes Region people

To the editor,

Tuesday the N.H. House Transportation Committee went into executive session to vote on SB-27, which was to increase the speed limits in the" Broads" on Lake Winnipesaukee to 55 mph. Out of 14 actual members voting; 11 opposed SB-27 and three supported it. The total was actually 11 to 6 when 3 "ringers", not hearing any testimony, were added to vote in the vacant seats. Only Rep. Hikel testified to support SB-27 and all 11 who opposed it testified with their reasons.

All 11 opposed to SB-27 felt it was an overwhelming number that testified — opposed SB-27 (7 to 1), as those that came to sign in opposed the bill (11 to 1) . They all reiterated that the overwhelming number opposing SB-27 sent e-mails and phone calls giving their personnel reasons to oppose SB-27, but the supporters had mostly form letters. Two representatives stated that even though they loved speed, Winnipesaukee was not the place to speed. The increase to 55 mph was a 20-percent increase in the speed limit and using the Coast Guard studies, that would increase the danger by 33-percent from the current 45 mph on the entire lake.

It would actually be greater because of human tendencies of feeling it is okay to go 5 to 10 mph above the speed limit. One further stated that the best conditions for speed was exactly the same conditions that swimmers, water skiers, small boats, canoes, kayaks etc… come out very calm days, increasing the danger by pure numbers trying to use the same water.

Reps opposing SB-27 mentioned that they have talked with many of the representatives who surround Lake Winnipesaukee and businesses, with the overwhelming majority opposing SB-27, and support the current law of 45/30 mph on the entire lake. Residents surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee overwhelmingly opposed SB-27, as indicated in a professional poll recently. Some of the veteran representatives reiterated that just last year there was a compromise to increase the speed at night and it was unanimously supported by the bi-partisan committee … all feeling that that was absolutely the final vote for permanent speed limits, 45 mph daytime 30 mph at night on all of Lake Winnipesaukee — no more compromises. Another member stated that with the current financial state of N.H., who was going to pay for the new markers outlining the speed zone and who would pay for the installation and maintenance of them plus the increase in Marine Patrol to patrol that strip of speed. I thought of how many lakes that already have 45/25 speed limits stated that at least 95-percent self patrol themselves with no need to increase patrols on the lake and all tickets that were issued were supported in the courts.

Representative Hikel tried a very last minute amendment to further study the current 45/30 speed limits. It was voted down. He had only received the amendment one hour before the committee meeting and Chair Packard said he had only seen it one-half hour ago, leading many to ask who actually wrote it. After six years, I believe it has been thoroughly studied and discussed in four House committee hearings and votes. The initial RR&D House Committee's supported the 45/25 after three hearings around Lake Winnipesaukee, then a hearing that was so large it was held in the House Chambers. In the past The Transportation Committee has voted to support the 45/25 in 2009 and then the 45/30 just last year . Today's vote made it the fourth time it has passed the committee hearing. The entire House has voted three times to support 45/25 then 45/30 speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee. It really has been thoroughly vetted through the N.H. legislative process.

Rep Hikel is attempting to represent a small group of go-fast boaters who want to eliminate the speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee for their personnel indulgence, some having bought their off-shore performance boat after the speed limits had actually passed.

Next week the House will vote on this bill again and hopefully it will support those that listened to over four hours of testimony with no lunch at the hearing that opposed SB-27. Hopefully last year's bi-partisan unanimous vote to compromise the speed limits to 45/30 were permanent and permanent meaning at least more permanent than one year!

Mary Hutchins

Laconia
.

05-05-2011, 05:50 AM	#33
Rusty Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,028 Thanks: 603 Thanked 687 Times in 425 Posts	Mary Hutchins has worked real hard to make our beautiful Lake a safe place for everyone. This well written article is in today's LDS Reps who voted against SB-27 talked to Lakes Region people To the editor, Tuesday the N.H. House Transportation Committee went into executive session to vote on SB-27, which was to increase the speed limits in the" Broads" on Lake Winnipesaukee to 55 mph. Out of 14 actual members voting; 11 opposed SB-27 and three supported it. The total was actually 11 to 6 when 3 "ringers", not hearing any testimony, were added to vote in the vacant seats. Only Rep. Hikel testified to support SB-27 and all 11 who opposed it testified with their reasons. All 11 opposed to SB-27 felt it was an overwhelming number that testified — opposed SB-27 (7 to 1), as those that came to sign in opposed the bill (11 to 1) . They all reiterated that the overwhelming number opposing SB-27 sent e-mails and phone calls giving their personnel reasons to oppose SB-27, but the supporters had mostly form letters. Two representatives stated that even though they loved speed, Winnipesaukee was not the place to speed. The increase to 55 mph was a 20-percent increase in the speed limit and using the Coast Guard studies, that would increase the danger by 33-percent from the current 45 mph on the entire lake. It would actually be greater because of human tendencies of feeling it is okay to go 5 to 10 mph above the speed limit. One further stated that the best conditions for speed was exactly the same conditions that swimmers, water skiers, small boats, canoes, kayaks etc… come out very calm days, increasing the danger by pure numbers trying to use the same water. Reps opposing SB-27 mentioned that they have talked with many of the representatives who surround Lake Winnipesaukee and businesses, with the overwhelming majority opposing SB-27, and support the current law of 45/30 mph on the entire lake. Residents surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee overwhelmingly opposed SB-27, as indicated in a professional poll recently. Some of the veteran representatives reiterated that just last year there was a compromise to increase the speed at night and it was unanimously supported by the bi-partisan committee … all feeling that that was absolutely the final vote for permanent speed limits, 45 mph daytime 30 mph at night on all of Lake Winnipesaukee — no more compromises. Another member stated that with the current financial state of N.H., who was going to pay for the new markers outlining the speed zone and who would pay for the installation and maintenance of them plus the increase in Marine Patrol to patrol that strip of speed. I thought of how many lakes that already have 45/25 speed limits stated that at least 95-percent self patrol themselves with no need to increase patrols on the lake and all tickets that were issued were supported in the courts. Representative Hikel tried a very last minute amendment to further study the current 45/30 speed limits. It was voted down. He had only received the amendment one hour before the committee meeting and Chair Packard said he had only seen it one-half hour ago, leading many to ask who actually wrote it. After six years, I believe it has been thoroughly studied and discussed in four House committee hearings and votes. The initial RR&D House Committee's supported the 45/25 after three hearings around Lake Winnipesaukee, then a hearing that was so large it was held in the House Chambers. In the past The Transportation Committee has voted to support the 45/25 in 2009 and then the 45/30 just last year . Today's vote made it the fourth time it has passed the committee hearing. The entire House has voted three times to support 45/25 then 45/30 speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee. It really has been thoroughly vetted through the N.H. legislative process. Rep Hikel is attempting to represent a small group of go-fast boaters who want to eliminate the speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee for their personnel indulgence, some having bought their off-shore performance boat after the speed limits had actually passed. Next week the House will vote on this bill again and hopefully it will support those that listened to over four hours of testimony with no lunch at the hearing that opposed SB-27. Hopefully last year's bi-partisan unanimous vote to compromise the speed limits to 45/30 were permanent and permanent meaning at least more permanent than one year! Mary Hutchins Laconia .