Shore Thing

Please read this and send an email if you do not want this thing to get off the ground. It's just the start of taking decisions out of the captains hands and putting the decisions in the states hands. No responsible boater wants the state to tell them how to operate their vessel.

House bill 140: would require an individual to wear a personal flotation device wile onboard a boat 21 feet and smaller. More information is in the links below.

10 sponsors for this bill, all of which are from Baltimore City. This is probably a response to the tragic water taxi accident that happened a couple of summers ago but oddly it exempts commercial vessels. Contact your representative now! The hearing is on 2/8 @ 1pm

http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/hb0140.htm


http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/bills/hb/hb0140f.pdf

Here's contact info for state legislators from St. Mary's County...

Delegate John Bohanan: [email protected]
Delegate John Wood: [email protected]
Senator Roy Dyson: [email protected]'
Senator Mike Miller is head of the senate and a supporter of St. Mary's County. He can be reached at...
[email protected]

If we don't ***** this will get out of the house.
When you write to your senators, you need to tell them that it is only a house bill now, but it may get to the senate.

Spicy

www.cbpba.com I have had two Delegates respond back to my e-mails already today!!!!!!! Read there responses below.... I like delegate Herb McMillan, he says this is just plain "silly"....

House Bill 140 is a silly bill. Government cannot, and should not, attempt to "protect us from ourselves." Current law is more than adequate. I will do what I can to kill this bill.

Warm Regards,
Delegate Herb McMillan
District 30, Anne Arundel County
152 House Office Bldg
Annapolis, MD 21401
#410-841-3439


Dear Mr. Dolan:


Thank you for taking the time to tell me your thoughts regarding HB 140 - Personal Flotation Devices - Mandatory Use. The bill will be heard before the Environmental Matters Committee of which I am a member on February 8 starting at 1:00 p.m. Please do not hesitate to attend and testify. Should you decide to testify, call the committee - 410-841-3990 - for instructions.

Again, thanks for your input.

Sincerely,

Virginia P. Clagett

Spicy

If you live or boat in Maryland, YOU NEED TO BE SHOOTING E-MAILS TO THESE DELEGATES!!!!!!!!!

offshoredrillin

just sent 4 more out

Sloman

4 more out the door

hpoffshore

I saw that DNR projected over $5M to get it up-and-running. Boater contacts for enforcement are predicted to quadruple, and they'll need as many as 20 more boats for patrols. I don't think the bill will get any support from them(DNR). Everyone I've talked to considers this bill nothing but an inefficient way to waste paper. I hope so.

Shore Thing

I contacted boat/US and they said that they agree (with us) and that they will be testifying in the hearing.

I agree that it is HIGHLY unlikely to pass. But better safe than sorry.

SOX

So far the responses are good,


Mr. Bowersox,

Thank you for your email concerning HB 140, Public Safety - Personal Flotation Devices - Mandatory Use. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views and some of the reasons why you oppose this legislation. I greatly appreciate hearing from citizens on legislation before the General Assembly.
I believe that wearing PFD's should be a matter of individual choice and not mandated by the government. If this legislation should come before the full House, I do not plan to support HB 140.
Again, thank you for contacting me.

Sincerely,
David Rudolph

Delegate David Rudolph
405 Lowe Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-841-3444