A Fresh Start—No PFDs, No Photos
01-11-2026 | 12:38 PM
#61
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Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 710
Likes: 209
From: West Michigan
Driving a boat or a car is NOT A RIGHT. Its a privilege and it has rules. You can still choose not to follow them however then we get into consequences and personal responsibility. These are not popular terms today. I remember in the mid 70's (way before they were mandatory) during my first winter driving experience heading to the closest parking lot to turn doughnuts. It was a riot until the back tires caught traction and I ended up in the passenger seat. I have been wearing my seat belt from that moment on. I have in the last couple years been better at wearing my life vest. I float like a rock and my swimming for distance is sh!t. I would drown for sure. If you know going in that they won't publish your pictures if you don't wear PFD's and you do it anyway, you don't really have a leg to stand on "Karen"
01-11-2026 | 04:17 PM
#62
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,946
Likes: 6,418
From: Chicago
Seat belts have everything to do with government involment .. that was your whole post and that`s I was replying to.
Last edited by ICDEDPPL; 01-12-2026 at 01:37 PM.
01-11-2026 | 08:28 PM
#63
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 273
From: jenison mi
Some of us place a high value on personal freedom, something you may not fully appreciate. History shows that giving up freedom often starts small and grows into a slippery slope. I believe in minimal government involvement and don’t need it dictating my personal choices, particularly in my own vehicle. Wearing a seat belt should be a personal decision.
"no sense whinning about it " is exactly how weak men (not you in particular) create hard times for the rest of us.
"no sense whinning about it " is exactly how weak men (not you in particular) create hard times for the rest of us.
01-13-2026 | 08:55 AM
#64
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,757
Likes: 112
From: Sharkey-Images.com
For some reason I always thought that was the standard. As much as 24 years ago, Chuck Sprague and other NJPPC Planning Committee members came up with the 10 Poker Run Commandments. Wearing PFD’s was one of them. We would publish an NJPPC Calendar, and if someone didn’t have their PFD on they would never make it on the calendar or have their photos published in magazines.
I recall being contacted from Mercury Racing Marketing loving an image I had of a couple in their boat. They wanted to use it for one of their ads but was disappointed they had no PFD’s on. I said give me a few minutes and then I submitted the image with PFD’s on.
It was a simple staged shot taken at the dock so it wasn’t like they were running the boat without PFD’s.
But when it came to the ad, I made it appear to be a running shot and with the PFD’s, the image was given approval for the advertisement.
Other events over the years were more strict about PFD’s. If caught not wearing them during the Poker Run on plane you were banned from future events.
As for myself, I choose to wear one. It has kept me from more serious injuries in past incidents I have been involved in.
I recall being contacted from Mercury Racing Marketing loving an image I had of a couple in their boat. They wanted to use it for one of their ads but was disappointed they had no PFD’s on. I said give me a few minutes and then I submitted the image with PFD’s on.
It was a simple staged shot taken at the dock so it wasn’t like they were running the boat without PFD’s.
But when it came to the ad, I made it appear to be a running shot and with the PFD’s, the image was given approval for the advertisement.
Other events over the years were more strict about PFD’s. If caught not wearing them during the Poker Run on plane you were banned from future events.
As for myself, I choose to wear one. It has kept me from more serious injuries in past incidents I have been involved in.
