snip
These personal freedom folks who don't wear
motorcylcle helmets, car seatbelts, PFD's, ad infinitum, fully expect the
rest of society to suck up the social and actual costs of
their rescues and injuries when they occur. All these rhetoric about
personal freedom being a reason to not use safety devices would
be fine if these same people would sign and follow some type of
exculpatory agreement that the rest of society would not be burdened
with rescue costs, subsequent follow up long term medical care, and most
of all ligitations against the deepest pocket public
agencies they or their families attorneys can find. Many, many motorcycle
crash victims or others sue the state or local
municipalities over road conditions or etc. Even if they loose, the legal
costs to taxpayers can be huge. Personal freedom should
come only with personal responcibility, but the reality is just the
opposite.

Fact is we all routinely give up personal freedoms every day for the
greater good and smooth functioning of society.

snip

As one who "always" wears a seatbelt - except in very low-speed maneuvering,
generally off the public roads - and "always" wears a lifejacket - except in
very controlled conditions - I would be concerned with a "mandatory" life
jacket rule.

For starters, who would have to wear one? Fishermen? Lifeguards? Divers?

When would it be allowable to remove it? Below decks? at anchor? at a
dock? not underway? within XX feet of shore? just before jumping in? when
changing clothes? In less than 4' of water? In still water? While
peeing/pooping? while boarding/debarking? air temp over 90 degrees F?

Would it depend on boat size/type? If so, what would be the rationale for
requiring wear on, say 20' while exempting 21'? How do you define boat, as
opposed to toy, or float?

Presumably commercial/inspected vessels would be exempted - like the pontoon
ferry in Baltimore, or the Duck boat (was that in Tennessee?) a couple years
ago.

I guess I put more trust in my judgement than in a bureaucracy's. And yes,
I have seen plenty of idiots out there, including 3 adults and a big dog in
a 10' jon boat with a little outboard, thick fog, heading out the mouth of a
major river, a snow shovel for a paddle. I was worried for the dog -
perhaps mandatory PFD's for pets should come first...

Sal's Dad