Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Do you believe this crap??? If you boat in MD or come to MD occasionally to boat you need to make your voice heard to anyone that will listen.

MD HB 140 would mandate the use of PFDs. A hearing is scheduled for February 8 in the House Environmental Matters Committee.


******************
This bill requires an individual operating a recreational vessel to wear a personal flotation
device (PFD) that is securely and properly attached. The bill prohibits an individual from
operating or allowing the operation of a vessel while there is present in the vessel an
individual not wearing a PFD that is securely and properly attached. The prohibitions
apply regardless of age or size of the vessel. The mandatory PFD provisions would not
apply to a vessel moored or anchored or to an individual below deck or in an enclosed
cabin.

Summary
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/fnote...000/hb0140.pdf

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

(I) AN INDIVIDUAL OPERATING A VESSEL MUST WEAR A
PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE THAT IS SECURELY AND PROPERLY ATTACHED TO
THE INDIVIDUAL; AND
(II) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT OPERATE OR ALLOW THE OPERATION
OF A VESSEL WHILE THERE IS PRESENT IN THE VESSEL AN INDIVIDUAL NOT
WEARING A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE THAT IS SECURELY AND PROPERLY
ATTACHED TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

You can find out who your reps are here: http://mlis.state.md.us/

We have to get this stopped before we need to wear a jacket and helmet to take a bath :rolleyes:

Disclaimer: I am not against safe boating practices in general, just the mandatory need to use PFD's to make some politician feel all warm and fuzzy inside because he's "protected" us.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

top link isnt working ted, I went to the MD site to email my rep and got no email add, any ideas?

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Thanks for the heads up. Just sent e-mails to all 3 state reps.

-Greg

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

sent to my reps and Gov and Lt gov...

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Link fixed now....

emails sent

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

5.1 Million to hire 40 new DNR officers to enforce the proposed law. 40 officers isn't dick for the whole bay. The Socialist Republic of Maryland stopped collecting trash in all the state parks about 5 years ago therefore you must take your trash with you when you leave. Oh and by the way they hand you a whopping 2 plastic grocery bags for your whole families trash at the entrance gate. I propose the 5.1 million goes to start trash removal again, or turn our Socialist legislature into crab bait for our traps and hold new elections. :D :D

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

I wonder how mandatory PFD's would go over with the Annapolis sightseeing boat and water taxis? I didn't see an exception for them, did I miss it?

-g

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Yeah, it deals with recreational boats only-which really is not where the problems of last year were.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Thanks Ted, I just sent mine out.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Just curious, how many boaters are against this type of law, but support the manditory seatbelt and helmet laws? I hate seatbelts with a passion, but only wear it to avoid the hassle of being stopped. To many laws made to protect ourselves from ourselves. I honestly can't believe I have lived to be 42 without all these do good laws. Chit happens, sometimes for the worst. I can accept the consequences of what may happen to myself from my choices.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Ted
Thanks for the heads up. I wonder how this would effect Va. boaters that use the Potomac River. The river is MD to the high tide mark.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Speed Limits will be next... :rolleyes:

Keep an eye on these people!

They probably don't even own a boat and yet they want to legislate it to death.... :mad:

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Someone I spoke with familiar with this proposal tells me it's a result of the taxi tragedy. This is a "feel good" kind of bill from a policitian with no clue. Had the passengers been wearing PFD's in that blowover, there would have been more fatalities as a result of people not being able to exit the capsized vessel.

If you live in Maryland, you should send an email to your representative and come to the next CBPBA meeting on Tuesday to voice your opinion.

Tim is right, speed limits and more 6mph zones are right around the corner.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Do we know who is sponsering the bill, or wrote it?

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Delegates Pugh, Anderson, C. Davis, Goodwin, Harrison, Kirk, Marriott,
McIntosh, and Paige

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Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Trevor is my brother-in-law. He and my sister just sold their cuddy cabin last year and bought a 17' boston whaler since they live way back in a 6 knot zone for boats over 18'. Needless to say, he got real upset about the idea of this.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

just in from Senator Dyson;

Dear Mr. Freeman:
Thank you for contacting me regarding this matter. I am absolutely opposed to this House bill and will do everything I can to fight it if it comes to us in the Senate. It is bad public policy.
Once again, thank you for participating in the democratic process and letting me know how you feel about bills of importance to you in Annapolis.
Sincerely,
Maryland Senator Roy Dyson

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

We heard last night at a club meeting that Marine Trades is involved and now the delegates say they made a mistake when they wrote it. It is likely to be amended to include passenger boats like water taxis, but not recreational craft. It could still make life difficult for charter captains and dinner boats though. There doesn't seem to be any support, but you never know what the nannies will do next.....

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

exactly, it makes no sense to legislate the whole bay based upon an accident that happened a year ago. If I remeber correctly it was the wind that did it, they may as well try to legislate the wind:rolleyes:

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

here's one
Let me make it very clear – I fully support mandatory seat belts and other safety equipment for automobiles. However, I have consistently resisted laws that try to impose common sense on folks. I have taken Boaters’ Safety courses and make my children wear PFDs, but I choose not to wear one constantly while boating. This is a well intended, but misguided piece of proposed legislation that I will work hard to defeat.



Let me repeat: I DO NOT FAVOR IMPOSING THIS RESTRICTION ON BOATERS!



I appreciate your thoughts on this issue and trust that you will continue to respect the waters and use good judgment on your own without the State imposing this law on you as a reaction to a tragedy that occurred in a freak accident on an overloaded water taxi at the Inner Harbor a few years ago.



Thanks for contacting me with your opinion and let me know if we can ever be of assistance to you. In the meantime, I will work to defeat this bill, but seriously doubt that it will ever see the light of day beyond the committee to which it has been assigned. Thanks.



Delegate John Bohanan

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

is it me or has goverment lost there mind
this is bullchit

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

I just got the same one...looks good, hope it keeps up.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Hey!!!!!! Leave us out of this!!!!!!! :D :evilb: :drink: :evilb:

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Craig
Just wanted you to know whats going on. Before you may have out run the Marine Police, not sure now!!!! :evilb: :D :evilb: :D

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Some good news....

Update:
Maryland House Bill 140 on Mandatory Life Jacket Wear

Feb. 8, 2006

BoatU.S. Government Affairs VP Margaret Podlich testified before the Maryland House Environmental Matters Committee today on H.B. 140, a bill that originally proposed to require everyone on the outside of a boat to wear a life jacket. The bill was introduced by Baltimore Del. Catherine Pugh. BoatU.S. also submitted written testimony on behalf of more than 34,000 BoatU.S. members in Maryland, to oppose this bill.

Yesterday, BoatU.S. spoke with Pugh’s staff that there would be substantial changes in the bill. These changes were not made available in writing prior to or during the committee hearing. However, at the beginning of the hearing there was clarification from Del. Pugh on her intent to address safety issues of water taxis only.

Because of the potential impact on recreational boating, the hearing room was packed and, in addition to BoatU.S., there were representatives of many boating groups, commercial captains and dozens of boaters. Of three pages of witnesses signed up to testify, no one supported H.B. 140 as introduced. Because the bill had substantially been altered from its previous draft, much of the verbal testimony that recreational boating representatives planned was shortened, however BoatU.S. made a point of thanking the committee for its work to remove recreational boaters from the bill.

Last year, an accident with multiple fatalities occurred in Baltimore Harbor when a water taxi capsized. Del. Pugh wants to require safety briefings and demonstrations on how to don a life jacket at the beginning of water taxi trips of any length. At the hearing, representatives of water taxis and tour boats presented information on existing U.S. Coast Guard regulations requiring safety briefings to passengers. In the event of shorter trips (less than 15 minute segments), the taxi is allowed to display this information on written placards. This is existing law, and commercial captains work with their local USCG inspectors to assure compliance. Differences between federal law and Del. Pugh’s bill will have to be worked out.

BoatU.S. appreciates the high level of interest and involvement that members have shown on this issue in the last two weeks. BoatU.S. will continue to monitor this bill and insure that any rewrite of this bill, or newly introduced bills, are acceptable to boating interests.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

That is good news.......

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

If anyone's interested in the topic, my brother in law, the guy who wrote the article about "the nanny state" is going to be a guest on WBAL radio today at 3:30 to talk about the PFD bill and whats wrong with the state trying to govern every aspect of our lives.

you can listen online at http://www.wbal.com/shows/smith/

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

on now...

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

I just received another response and attached wwere the list of the sponsers, not surprisingly. They are all from Baltimore City, more than likely dont own or have been on a boat in years (assumption on my part). But it goes to show how narrow minded they are to think that ALL of the state of MD lives in there little city. Click the links and see some of the other special interest bills they are "doing" for their city at our expense....

http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/hb0140.htm
Delegate Catherine E. Pugh, District 40
Delegate Curt Anderson, District 43
Delegate Clarence Davis, District 45
Delegate Marshall T. Goodwin, District 40
Delegate Hattie N. Harrison, District 45
Delegate Ruth M. Kirk, District 44
Delegate Salima Siler Marriott, District 40
Delegate Maggie McIntosh, District 43
Delegate Jeffrey A. Paige, District 44

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

Local Paper

Life jacket bill watered down after waves of protest
By DAVID ABRAMS, Staff Writer
A Baltimore delegate yesterday threw overboard most of her bill requiring use of life jackets on boats, after being confronted with scores of e-mails and calls from angry boaters.

About three dozen people lined up to testify against the bill in Annapolis, but most of them never got to speak because the bill was being gutted.

Democratic Del. Catherine E. Pugh initially called for passage of a new law that would require all passengers on water taxis and charter boats to wear life vests. The bill was in response to the nationally publicized accident in the Baltimore Inner Harbor two years ago, when a water taxi capsized killing four people.

But yesterday she drastically revised the measure to require only that water taxi captains instruct passengers how to wear life vests, with their use optional.

"We're not requiring they put it on," Ms. Pugh said. "We're giving them the option to wear it or not wear it."

Instead of testifying against the bill, representatives of charter boat and fishing boat companies just stood up and thanked the committee for changing the bill.

Del. Virginia Clagett, D-West River, said her office had been deluged with complaints about the bill, since Anne Arundel County boasts more than 400 miles of shoreline and thousands of boaters.

"I can't even calculate how many calls and e-mails and letters we got - and people passing me on the street," she said after the hearing.

The Capital carried a front page story about the bill on Monday.

Some people who came to testify were miffed even though the parts of the bill they opposed were removed.

They complained that state lawmakers were trying to overregulate them, that it was sufficient merely to keep life vests on board boats. There were also no copies of the amendments available to review, which irked many of the those who came to testify.

"It was difficult for me to think that anyone who knows the facts would put in this bill," said Michael Orders, marine operations manager for Pintail Yacht Charters, operating out of Annapolis and Baltimore.

Ms. Pugh said the intent of her bill was to make transport of the public by water safer, and bills are often drawn broadly before being fine-tuned.

"We wanted to let them know what the issues are," Ms. Pugh said.

She said she rode on five water taxis in the last two weeks, and none of the operators offered instructions on how to use life vests.

Federal regulations don't require instructions on water taxis. For trips of 15 minutes or less, only a placard is necessary if the captain thinks instructions are impractical.

"This is still a terrible bill," said Richard Novotny, executive director of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen's Association.

Most of the people gathered for the hearing were just glad that the bill wouldn't be a problem for them anymore. Oddly enough, the lights in the committee hearing room blacked out as soon as the testimony was over.

"Uh oh, we don't have our safety lights on," quipped Paul Foer of Annapolis, a licensed boat captain for 26 years.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

I am glad to see that some of the larger groups like Boat US got involved to help us here in MD. I have been a member for years and just renewed my membership again last month. After seeing them go to bat for us, there is no doubt that I will continue to be a member for a long, long time.

Re: Attn. MD Boaters!!!!!
 

I second that