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

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.

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

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

-Greg

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

Link fixed now....

emails sent

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.

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

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

Thanks Ted, I just sent mine out.

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.