Senators urged to defeat bill on boating speed limits

Thursday, February 18, 2010

This is a copy sent to the Senate of New Hampshire for immediate release.

Dear Senator,

We are contacting you regarding SB464, a bill that would eliminate the two-year study period of boating speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee, making them permanent immediately without the intended data and review.

In our discussions with New Hampshire’s Director of Safety Services, Division of Marine Patrol David Barrett, he has made it clear to us that because of the weather and economic downturn, the Marine Patrol was not able to gather enough data in the short boating season of 2009 to make a determination of whether this law is needed or a drain on limited resources.

WinnFABS, the group pushing speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee, issued a public statement in the Laconia Daily Sun August 3, 2009, that they would seek to make the law permanent. Between June 1, 2009, the traditional beginning of the boating season, and August 3, 2009, there were only 14 boating days on Lake Winnipesaukee, according to the National Weather Service. (A boating day is defined as a day without rain and a temperature of 70 degrees or above).

In spite of WinnFABS’ rush to make this law permanent New Hampshire’s boating experts, The NH Marine Patrol, say they don’t have the necessary data needed to make an informed determination. On January 21, 2010, The Laconia Citizen reported; “This past summer there wasn’t enough activity to get the real impact,” said Capt. Mark Gallagher of the N.H. Marine Patrol, who added that his organization has taken no official position on the speed limit issue.”

There is also the economic impact of allowing a law like this to become permanent without supporting data.

The New Hampshire Lakes Association released a comprehensive economic report on the effects of boating and fishing in New Hampshire. The report outlines the significant impact of these recreational activities on the state’s economy.

“The $379 million total sales contributed to the New Hampshire economy by fishing, boating and swimming exceeds that of many other revenue makers in New Hampshire, including Laconia’s Bike Week, two annual NASCAR events.”

In addition to the financial benefits of boating and fishing, those industries provide 3,026 jobs to New Hampshire residents! These are serious concerns and the risk of imposing a law that could potentially send a message to tourists and fishing tournaments that NH is an unfriendly place to visit, especially without any supporting data, is unadvised.

The bottom line is that New Hampshire’s boating experts, the NH Marine Patrol, say they don’t have the information they need so we implore you to defeat SB464 and allow the NH Marine patrol to collect the necessary data, review it and make their recommendations as the amendment creating this test period provides for.

“This amendment sets a 45/25 (day/night) speed limit and is designed to sunset on January 1, 2011. This interval will provide an adequate period of time to make pre/post speed limit comparisons.” – Rep. Howard N. Cunningham (D), Carroll County District 3, writing the majority committee report on HB 847.

SB464 has been assigned to the Senate Transportation and Interstate Cooperation committee and from what we have been told it may be scheduled for a hearing before that committee within the next couple of weeks.

For more information, including the 2009 NH Marine Patrol Boating Activity report, 2007 speed test survey on Lake Winnipesaukee and US Coast Guard Statistics, visit www.sbonh.org.

Thank you for your time and support,

SCOTT VERDONCK,

President

Safe Boaters of New Hampshire