Back in 2002, NJ tried to impose a 35mph speed limit on all of the inland tital and non-titdal waterways. After a year long battle, we (and we were the minority in numbers) won and instead convinced the legislature to put through a mandatory safe boating law. All boaters must now show proof that they have passed a safe boating class.

How did we win our fight?

1) Stick to the facts and present them with proof! See the attached file outlining the 2005 USCG Boat Accidents Report. 70% of all accidents nationally were cause by lack of formal boating education / knowledge (not speed) . 70% of the fatalities died by drowning (not speed), etc..

2) It has been proven that Radar / Laser does not work well on boats (see attached testimony from me and a State Police Trooper confirming this)

3) Not all boats have speedometers and if they do most are inaccurate unless they are GPS (see attached testimony).

4) Pick a local radio station with morning talk radio and EMAIL BOMB the radio station with your boat club members. This will hopefully get you PRIME TIME exposure to debate this issue (it worked for us!)

5) Call and make an appointment to visit your local legislators. Present the facts and figures to them (you are in their office and they have no choice but to listen!)

6) Offer a different plan for a solution (like mandatory USCG Safety Course for all boaters)

7) Bring up the potential economic impact of less boaters coming to the area to boat because of speed limits.

See the attached USCG Report on Statistics and the Testimony from 2002 when myself, my dad and Rick Engstrom testified before the pannel here in NJ.

Link to USCG 2005 Boating Accidents Stats: http://www.uscgboating.org/statistic...stics_2005.pdf

GOOD LUCK WIH YOUR FIGHTS AND NEVER GIVE UP!

Great info Dave - thanks, I'm going to print this out and include it in my stuff for this years go-round!

Mark

Thanks for the info.. Unfortunately we have a majority of liberal democrats in the house after the last election.. Even though this was most likely due to the Iraq war issue. The speed limit proponents are actually claiming it was due to the fact that the speed limit didnt pass. PLEASE !
NH is being invaded by Massachusettes Liberals. More laws and more taxes are all that will come from putting these socialist in office

Unfortunately here in NJ we are loaded with liberals too. John Bonjovi and Springsteen lead the list!

Like I said in the post, we were the MINORITY here in NJ and we still won! hey received 10 letters from sailboaters for every letter from powerboaters.....and we still won on the facts!

The last great act of defiance....

hey I want to get rid of them too the dems, a lot of us stuck down here are crying with this new gov, gets his wife atag a long at 75,000 ayear a caddy. I want to move but the wife said no . hope you win, I'll right sign or write to fight it.

Can you believe Duval in office for a week and spends 200+K state money for bobbles. IMPEACH