ALERT !!! Speed Limits on NJ's Waterways
 

(From the NJPPC President)

"I am not sure if many of you are yet aware of Senator Sarlo's intentions to bring forward a bill that would require a 10mph speed limit at night on NJ's waterways?

New Jersey already has some of the toughest safe boating laws in the country. We also have laws against driving and drinking. We have laws that require proper lights on all boats at night. We have laws that require that you drive at a safe speed based upon current conditions.

New Jersey is doing a great job of protecting boaters through it's current laws and setting a great example to other states. I do not know why Senator Sarlo is convinced we need Speed Limits on the tidal waters at night?

If someone drinks and drives a boat at night, or takes drugs and drives a boat at night, or drives at any speed without running lights, or operates a boat without a proper legal certification they are already breaking current laws. Senator Sarlo is trying to penalize the many for the possible sins of a few. Those that wish to break the law will not be any more careful because of the potential new law.

I make no assumptions or accusations in this current tragedy on the Metedeconk River because we do not know the facts.

We believe that the real issue at hand is that the State Police Marine Bureau is currently way under funded and they have a limited or non-existent current presence on the water. We believe that additional funding is needed so that there can be a greater State Police presence on the water to enforce all of the existing laws. That we believe would make all of NJ's waterways safer."

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From Sharkey:

I would like to take this time to make you all aware that the Boating Regulation Commission mainly Roger Brown is ready to put a Speed Limit on NJ's Waterways.

"I'd very much like to push it (a speed limit) through," Roger K. Brown of Brick, commission chairman and a boater, said Tuesday. Brown said he will bring copies of news stories about the fatal accident to the other eight members of the commission. The panel next meets at 10 a.m. Sept. 10 in Margate.

This comes just 3 days after the boating accident on the Metedeconk River in which State Police Sgt. Julian Castellanos said, " the victims were not speeding" "They were traveling at a normal speed," Castellanos said.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...=2008808040345


State Police Sgt. Stephen Jones has said, "the preliminary evidence indicates that both boats were moving at the time of the crash," with no comment as to whether speed-ing was involved.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...=2008808060401

We all had to stop this back in 2003 and now we need to ban together to keep it from happening again. If you think it will only be for night time, think again. Once they get part of the pie they are going to want the rest of it eventually and they will get it if we don't stop them now.

Please help us in this fight, before all New Jersey waterways become all No Wake Zones.

Next meeting:

Martin Bloom Community Pavilion
101 South Huntington Ave
Margate, NJ 08402




http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/maritime/meetings.html

Thank you !

:mad:

I already sent an email,got no response.Were in Margate is this meeting?

Martin Bloom Community Pavilion
101 South Huntington Ave
Margate, NJ 08402




http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/maritime/meetings.html




.

WOW ! :eek:


Is it not worth the fight anymore ? :confused:

"A long-debated attempt to impose speed limits on the Barnegat Bay and other waterways in New Jersey gained new life today when a state senator suggested restricting night-time boat speed to 10 mph."

Or perhaps people did not see that the senator wants to impose a:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...rums/10mph.jpg

Thanks Tim A. !!! :ernaehrung004:

Is there anything us in other states can do to help? We already have a statewide 55 mph speed limit in Michigan on all natural waterways. Not sure if us sending messages would help or hurt.

Here is the link to all the stats from 07 which may provide some help. Speed related collisions are way down the list of causes.

http://www.auxbdept.org/pdf/2007Recr...Statistics.pdf

I just finished reading the comments in the APP. thread which say we are all a bunch of guidos from North Jersey who run around with our gold chains on. I love the one "these boats go past at 100 mph 20 feet away when I am anchored at Tices shoal" I highly doubt that but it shows the class of people that hate us

Damn! I feel like OSO imposed a super slow speed limit on my browsing ability... sooooooo slooooow!

What can I do to help our cause since I'm unable to make the 10am meeting on Wednesday 9/10?

Thanks,
Dan

Knee Jerk...
 

Said to see... As stated : Next will be day time restrictions.... I Agree police presents would be far better....

tim sent a letter to all as i did then and did now. off to trenton we go again. im there in margate. all abord!

10mph Speed Limit - I need your HELP!!!!!!!!

Toms River, NJ - August 14, 2008

YES! I NEED YOUR HELP - TODAY!

You have all seen the news stories from the last week and a half. Fortunately we have received som every fair and unbiassed press which I am very thankful for.

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Over the last 48hrs I have learned that there are ALOT of emails coming into the press and the Boat Regulation Commission that are in favor of a 10mph night time speed limit. With that said....we need to ACT AND ACT NOW!

Our Position: "Increased Funding For The State Police To Enforce Existing Laws is the answer to Safer Boating In NJ - not new laws that would not be enforced just like the existing ones."How can you help me fight this "mis-information campaign?"

SEND AN EMAIL TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE NOW!

Mary Ann Spoto - Star Ledger [email protected]
Margaret Bonafide - Asbury Park Press [email protected]
Roger Brown - Chairman NJ Boat Reg. Comm. [email protected]
Briana Vannozzi - NJN News
[email protected]

You can write your own letter to these people or if you wish, you can copy and paste this sample letter (see below) and just add the name it is addressed to and your name at the bottom.

Take the time to help today to we can win this fight tomorrow!!!

Thank you!
Best Regards,
Dave Patnaude
President
NJ Performance Powerboat Club
Dear____________;

It was with great regret that I learned of the boating tragedy that recently took place on the Metedeconk River that resulted in a fatality. While I did not personally know any of the boaters involved, my deepest thoughts and prayers go out to all involved. It was truly a tragedy that is upsetting in many ways, not the least of which of how some people are trying to blame all power boaters in New Jersey. The State Police and the prosecutors office have not finalized their investigation at this time, yet people are making several assumptions:

Do we know if any of the drivers were not carrying a valid boat safety certification card?
Do we know if anyone was drinking that was involved?
Do we know if either boat had legal running lights on?
Do we know if the boats were on plane in a no wake zone?

If we are to follow the logic of a few, then if someone dies in a car accident at night, we should ban cars from driving at night, or reduce the speed limit on the New Jersey Turnpike at night, or the Garden State Parkway at night? How many people die in car accidents at night? If a plane crashes at Newark airport in the evening, should we ban night flights or maybe ask them to land their planes a bit slower? New Jersey is one of the largest boating communities per capita in the United States and it's safety record is one of the VERY best. So how is it when there is one terrible and regrettable accident that comes to the public's attention, some people try and penalize everyone else.

New Jersey has some of the toughest safe boating laws in the country. We also have laws against driving and drinking. We have laws that require proper lights on all boats at night. We have laws that require you drive a boat at a safe speed based upon current conditions. New Jersey is doing a great job of protecting boaters through it's current laws and setting a great example to other states. So why is it that some people are convinced that we need Speed Limits on the tidal waters at night? If someone drinks and drives a boat at night, or takes drugs and drives a boat at night, or drives at any speed without running lights, or operates a boat without a proper legal certification, will a 10mph law have any impact on them; most likely not. Those that wish to break the law will not be any more careful because of a new night time speed limit law.

The real root of the problem is enforcement of current laws that already exist. Due to the budget crisis that the state of NJ is in, man power hours have been greatly reduced in the ranks of the State Police on the water. That is a fact.

Toms River, Mantoloking and Brick's Police Departments have all admitted on the record that they have had or have tried to have their own marine patrols but due to budget issues they have had to either eliminate them or cut them back significantly. That is a fact.

On a national level, according to the United States Coast Guard 2007 Accident Statistics, excessive speed is attributed to only 12% of all boating accidents and only 7% of all fatalities. That is a fact.

The State Police have already testified, on the record, that trying to measure and enforce a speed limit is extremely difficult on the water with current radar equipment. That is a fact.

So how do we make NJ's waters safer for all boaters that includes Power, Sail, Canoe, Kyack, Personal Watercraft? The answer is increased funding for the State Police to have a much greater presence on the water from Memorial Day to Labor Day. If our existing laws were enforced better, we would have safer waterways and I am sure there would be increased revenue to the state from the summonses that would be written to those who break the existing laws.

The facts prove that enforcement of the current laws will make NJ boaters safer, not an additional law that will not be enforced just as other current laws on the books are not enforced.

Sincerely,

_____________________

e-mails sent

I just got off the phone with the A.P.P. 732-922-6000.I told them that the comments in the forum from the article about the boating accident were inappropriate and insulting.I was told to go through and report any post that has wording that is insulting or racial and I consider being called a guido racial.Every one else needs to do the same we have a big problem here and we need 300 people min at this meeting it can't just be Dave and Tim.We also need to do letters to the editor that will be printed in the A.P.P. AND STAY ON OUR SEANATORS.The people who are against us have been waiting for this chance,its now or never guys

Emails sent. Thanks for your hard work, DaveP & NJPPC!

This is a copy of an email I sent tonight

Mr Brown - I am a member of the New Jersey Performance Powerboat Club and a safe boater. This email is sent to you to offer my opinion about a proposed 10 mph night time speed limit on Barnegat Bay. I don't boat at night, so one would say this does not affect me, but it does. The reason being that this speed limit is uneforceable and will only be observed by responsible boaters. Boaters who do not operate the vessels in a safe manner will just add it to the list of laws they are already breaking. And accidents like this will happen again. My solution is to drastically increase the NJSP Marine Police budget by adding a $10.00 surcharge to every boat registered in NJ. This will enable the many existing laws that are currently not able to be enforced due to severe manpower shortages.
During the last 10 days since the tragic accident in Bricktown, NJPPC has been sent several emails calling us "murderous scum". These are totally unwarranted, as the alleged driver of the hit and run boat was not a club member.
Most high performance boat owners are experienced operators, proof of that is that it's rare for us to have an incident such as this in NJ. Most fatalities are people who were fishing either inshore or offshore. But, for some reason, high performance boat owners are considered murderers.
A perfect example of my thoughts is alcohol related vehicle accidents. In the not too distant, past they were much more common. Strict enforcement of existing laws, not new laws, changed that. I sincerely hope that we can work together to make NJ safe for all boaters.

Timothy A. Sharkey

E-mails Sent!!! Keep us updated so we can help when needed. Doris

emails sent yesterday...

Do you need a boating certificate/license to operate a vessel in NJ?

Emails sent.

Yes

Latest story from the Press of Atlantic City:

Boaters find a lot wrong with proposed speed limit

(Published: Friday, August 15, 2008)
Local boaters are taking issue with legislation that is being drafted by a state lawmaker who wants them to slow down in Barnegat Bay and inland waterways.

A speed limit on the water is only as effective as its enforcement, and State Marine Police manpower is a problem, officials said.

Roger K. Brown, chairman of the state Boat Regulation Commission, said he would not have a problem with state Sen. Paul Sarlo's proposed legislation that would restrict nighttime boaters to speeds as low as 10 mph in inland waterways and Barnegat Bay.

"You lose visibility at nighttime, and we need slow speed at night," Brown said.

There are no speed limits on those waterways now, except for buoys marked "no wake" and "slow speed."

Sarlo's legislation comes after a boating accident Aug. 3 on the Metedeconk River that killed one man and injured four others.

"You better believe you'll need an increased police presence with a speed limit," Brown said. "You don't see them out there. I've lived here for 40 years, and I've seen problems over the years, but we have a problem now and it is manpower."

Brown said every Saturday during the summer the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association has a course in local waterways. But State Marine Police are nowhere in the area.

"Generally you'll see one little patrol go through. Years ago they placed patrols above and below our course, but now they don't have the manpower," said Brown.

State Police Sgt. Valentino Borrelli said that reduced manpower within the Marine Bureau is an issue with patrols in the waterways.

Russ Cohen, boater and owner of Boatboy Marine Training, in Moorestown, Burlington County, trains boaters in Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties. Imposing a speed limit on the water will not solve the problem, he said.

"It's an absolutely terrible thing. But what if all of sudden accidents increased on the (New Jersey) Turnpike and they said you can only do 30 miles per hour? Would you be happy with that?" Cohen asked.

According to Cohen, imposing a speed limit could cause problems for boaters with smaller vessels. Most boaters on vessels 25 feet or shorter would not be able to tell how fast they are going because the boats do not have speedometers, he said.

"It's foolish," Cohen said of Sarlo's proposed legislation.

Also, 90 percent of boat speedometers on all size vessels do not even register a speed until it reaches 20 mph, he said.

Most boats that go 10 mph leave a foot to a foot-and-a-half wake in their path, according to Cohen, still a pretty big wake for a no-wake section of the water, he said.

"Boats are made to do 10 to 100 mph. I've seen people killed at 10 miles per hour and 100 miles per hour. There are already laws in place," Cohen said.

Cohen said all of those laws were broken when Robert Post, 49, of Essex Fells, was killed on the Metedeconk River when the boat he was on was hit by another vessel.

"He shouldn't have been speeding at night, and he should have had several lookouts," Cohen said of whoever was driving the boat that hit Post. "But when I see the Legislature jump into action here, it's ridiculous."

A 27-foot Imperial speed boat belonging to Anthony Digilio, 29, of Brick Township, is now a focus of the investigation into that collision. The State Police Marine Bureau is still investigating the crash, and no one has been charged, Borrelli said.

Dave Patnaude, president of the New Jersey Performance Powerboat Club, said he is not too happy about everyone's rush to judgment.

"It's an injustice when everyone jumps up with a pitchfork when we have no idea what happened with that accident," Patnaude said.

Patnaude cited U.S. Coast Guard statistics that 12 percent of boating accidents are due to excessive speed.

"So there are 88 percent of other reasons for accidents," Patnaude said. "Sarlo talked about floating cocktail parties and unskilled boaters. Why don't we focus on police presence to get that under control so we don't have to have a 10 mph speed limit?"

Patnaude has written to Sarlo about his proposed legislation. In the letter, Patnaude writes that the real root of the problem is lack of enforcement of laws that already exist. "Due to the budget crisis that the state is in, manpower hours have been greatly reduced in the ranks of the State Police on the water," he wrote.
John Schwartz, chairman of the Tuckerton Borough Waterways Commission, agreed.

"Rules are only as good as enforcement. The rules are already there, but the problem is we have too many boaters with too few law enforcement," said Schwartz.

Schwartz lives on a lagoon in Tuckerton along with 50 other homes with over 2,500 feet of waterways. No one speeds in that lagoon, Schwartz said.

The speeding problem is in Tuckerton Creek where the speed limit today is a no-wake zone, according to Schwartz.

"Just this last weekend we had a sport boat that went full throttle up and down the creek three times. It was so bad people were actually throwing rocks at him. That's why accidents happen like the one in the Metedeconk River."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

E-mail Donna Weaver:

[email protected]

Boating accidents

In the United States last year, 5,191 reported boating accidents resulted in 685 fatalities, 3,673 injuries and $53,106,496 in property damage. These are the top 10 contributing factors in U.S. boating accidents:

1. Operator inattention

2. Careless/reckless operation

3. Passenger/skier behavior

4. Excessive speed

5. Alcohol use

6. No proper lookout

7. Operator inexperience

8. Machinery failure

9. Weather

10. Equipment failure

The number of boating-accident deaths dropped from 710 to 685 from 2006 to 2007. However, other casualty figures increased: Accidents rose from 4,967 to 5,191, injuries rose from 3474 to 3673, and damages rose from $43,670,424 to $53,106,496.

The most common vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats, 44 percent; personal watercraft; 24 percent; and cabin motorboats; 15 percent.

The number of deaths associated with the use of canoes and kayaks increased to 107 in 2007, compared with 99 in 2006.

Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 21 percent of the deaths.

Sixteen children age 12 and younger died while boating in 2007, compared with 29 children in 2006 and 21 children in 2005. Eight of the children who died in 2007 died from drowning.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard

What is Sarlo's proposal for commercial vessels? There are many on NJ waters.

[QUOTE=DaveP;2654630]Latest story from the Press of Atlantic City:

John Schwartz, chairman of the Tuckerton Borough Waterways Commission, agreed.

"Rules are only as good as enforcement. The rules are already there, but the problem is we have too many boaters with too few law enforcement," said Schwartz.

Schwartz lives on a lagoon in Tuckerton along with 50 other homes with over 2,500 feet of waterways. No one speeds in that lagoon, Schwartz said.

The speeding problem is in Tuckerton Creek where the speed limit today is a no-wake zone, according to Schwartz.

"Just this last weekend we had a sport boat that went full throttle up and down the creek three times.



This only proves our point.If existing laws are not obeyed why does anyone think those who disobey them will obey the new ones

[QUOTE=Expensive Date;2654690]
LAWS LAWS LAWS!!! WE NEED MORE LAWS!

When will these people wake up and just hold individuals responsible and stop punishing the masses. A sad situation but there are laws in place right now for just about anything you can think of and no one to enforce them.

[QUOTE=GoFastSonic;2654911]That's the irony of it. People calling for a speed limit even in areas that are marked No Wake Zone. If you look beyond what they sate in these speed limit discussions, you'll see that the speed limit isn't their primary intent.

Just as on another lake that recently had a SL law passed, their intent is to have the GF boats leave. They can't put it that way of course, because no law would be passed on that basis. So, they lie.

In NJ Laws are in place "Speed Limits" will just ad another law that moron boaters will not pay attention to. The only boaters that will get effected by a speed limit law would be us, Performance Boaters because we stand out and run louder then a normal boat. Below is the NJ law taken out of the State Police operating Manual.
__________________________________________________ _
Rule 5, LOOKOUT
Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out
by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate
in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so
as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of
collision.
Rule 6, SAFE SPEED
Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that
it can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and
be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing
circumstances and conditions.

Email sent
 

Thanks to Dave,Frank and Tim

I just found this this morning on another site:


If the powerboaters of NJ don't do something soon, rest assured there will be a limit on how fast you can go on the waterways of NJ.:mad:

I can see it now that if a night time speed limit is passed, boat traffic and speed will remain status quo. Same goes for a daytime speed limit. The State Police currently do not stop and ticket those that motor through a no wake zone. Enforcing a speed limit at night or in the open areas of the bay will be impossible given the current presence of State Police and the Coast Guard. As Dave P. said, the problem is lack of enforcement of the current laws. No new laws are required.

Sharkey, is there something more we can do to help curb the proposed legislation? I already wrote the letters and emailed them to everyone you and Dave P. suggested.

30 MPH Day Time Speed Limit !!!!
 

How does everyone feel about doing 30 mph on all NJ Inland Waterways during the day ??? :eek:

According to Save Barnegat Bay's President Willie de Camp, "People who need to go faster can go out in the ocean."

Anyone that can possibly make it to the NJ Boating Regulation Commission meeting please do so. Now is the time to stop this from going through.

I have already sent a care package for this meeting. It will certainly open some eyes but I am not sure if it will keep them from passing the new law of 30 mph speed limit.

Read the full story from today's Asbury Park Press:

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...=2008809090345

Good luck, wish we could help. That's all we need, 10mph at night and 30 mph in the daytime. Hopefully that is so stupid they will get laughed out of the room.

OK!!!!! We have completed the "TRUTH ABOUT BOATING ACCIDENTS AND WHY SPEED LIMITS ARE NOT THE ANSWER TO SAFER BOATING IN NJ!" 36 pages in length!

This is what I am presenting tomorrow morning to the NJ Boat Regulation Commission as well as printing hundreds of copies to share with every State Senator and Assemblyman to spread the FACTS not some half baked idea by an opportunist politician!

VISIT www.njppc.com and download your copy!

PS...Sharkey thanks for the pics! :D

Anytime Dave !

And I will note, the photos were taken in the No Wake Zone that was specificly extended after the Mayor of Mantoloking was asking for the entire town be a No Wake Zone back in 2003 when they were pushing for speed limits.


The presentation looks great Dave !:ernaehrung004:

A victory for today but now it is time to tackle Senator Sarlo!

September 10, 2008


State Boat Regulation Commission considers speed limits on Barnegat Bay

KIRK MOORE
STAFF WRITER

MARGATE -- Advocates and opponents of proposed boat speed limits on New Jersey coastal waters made their arguments to the state Boat Regulation Commission today, and commission chairman Roger K. Brown said he thinks it unlikely that a broad speed limit can be imposed on Barnegat Bay.

Brown said it's more likely that the commission might recommend expanding no-wake zones, as it did in 2003 when powerboat enthusiasts and critics last grappled over speed, noise and traffic on the bay.

"Maybe we need to look at that again...but to put a speed limit on the whole of Barnegat Bay doesn't make sense,'' Brown said, after a crowd of about 25 boaters spent the morning making their views known to the advisory panel. The commissioners did not take any action and they will discuss the issue again at their November meeting, Brown said.

The Aug. 2 death of Robert Post of Essex Fells in a boat collision led to renewed calls for speed limits, and an announcement from state Sen. Paul sarlo, D-Bergen, that he will proposed legislation to establish a 10 mph nighttime speed limit.

Five weeks after the crash that killed Post, "we know nothing more than was initially reported,'' said David Patnaude, president of the New Jersey Performance Powerboat Club, speaking against speed limits. "But yet three days later...Senator Sarlo came out and said it was necessary to have a 10 mph speed limit at night.''

Speed limit supporters, most of them from northern Barnegat Bay towns, said a speed limit is needed for safety and to reduce the inimidation felt by small-boat sailors and parents.

Reckless boating in the northern bay is "at a crisis level,'' said Jim Cadranell of Point Pleasant. ""On the Metedeconk River....many powerboats weave their way through small boats at 40 to 50 mph.''

"Reckless boating in the northern bay is "at a crisis level,'' said Jim Cadranell of Point Pleasant. ""On the Metedeconk River....many powerboats weave their way through small boats at 40 to 50 mph.''

yeah it is But it has nothing to do with the majority of boaters in the Metedeconk or the northern bay--- It all has to do with what we commonly call " A**HOLE ON THE RIVER ". jetskiers pleasure boaters, people tubing. etc etc . No wake zones aren't enforced enough running a 32 ft cruiser on plane through the canal and swamping others as they pass. It's all due to not enough man power. This summer increased patrols on the metedeconk seems to have led to more people being pulled over for infractions then I have seen in 30 years. Speed limits aren't the answer. Common sense and good boating habits save lives. I have seen 3 people die infront of my house since 1 was 13. all because they were stupid not because they were going to fast. I have seen boats swamped in the no wake zones. Not because of going fast but because of a Guy with a "My Boat is bigger than yours get out of my way" attitude. Go fasts are just what people point to cause they can be heard, seen and it just takes one of us to do something wrong and the finger gets pointed at all. Last week --- a donzi-- he knows who he is -- decided to wizz past Digillio's house . at 60 he made a turn into land was to close to the shore and to fast in the turn to attempt it ---he almost lost it. Came within 20 feet of running into a dock. Neighbors came out " Damn we need a speed limit"/---- sorry for the rant -- It's just ----Stupid shows-- and people point fingers. YET 99% of all the crap on this river isn't by GF's It's by A**HOLE on the river" :waffen093:

I can just imagine how rough and dangerous the Bay would really get with the Sportfish boats and everyone else maintaining 30 MPH. Most hulls won't even be on plane.

That was one of the thoughts I was hoping to be brought up as well.

To all the tree huggers, tell them how worse off things would be when you have every vessel not running at its best fuel efficiency. (halfway on plane). Burning more fuel than necessary to get from Point A to Point B. The giant wakes left behind because they are not on plane.(Damages the shoreline)

Lack of visibility because most bows would be up in the air most of the time.

Less control of the boat because of only being halfway on plane.

How about the fact that not every vessel has a speedo or GPS.
Not everyone can accurately know how fast they are traveling.
Especially on a PWC.

Accuracy of a radar gun on a fiberglass boat has had a history of errors.

There are 1000's of reasons this would not work.

The NJBRC has made the right decision once again! At least for now anyway....

And talk about a hazard ! :eek:

http://sharkeyimages.zenfolio.com/im...72177652-3.jpg

good job guys.. i wish i was there to support ya....