On 31 Oct 2007 16:03:01 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:
On Oct 31, 8:53?am, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:
On Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:17:12 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:
USA Today reports this morning that Homeland Security has ordered one
of its divisions, (the USCG) to define a plan to positively identify
boaters.
Old news - in fact, I posted something about this a couple of months
ago.
You scooped USA Today by a couple of months? Good job. :-)
Actually, yes.
So did you in fact - in 2005.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.b...eb23c907f2d3f2
This is very problematic both in terms of concept and execution.
Ain't gonna happen.
Don't be so sure. There are calls for a "national ID card" from a
number of sectors right now. Lots of people want to know just who the
"real" Americans are.
Lage vessels are already required to carry transponders by the A.I.S.
system. Extending that to all vessels wouldn't be an entirely
ridiculous possibility.
That's all fine and good - you are talking about a huge number of
small boats that aren't even efficiently controlled by state statute
never mind Federal.
A perfect example was the Newport Bridge fiasco. DHS, USCG and Navy
closed off the Newport Bridge to any boat within 500 yards of any
piling and/or abutment. No exceptions.
When it was pointed out that the narrows is only 1,200 yards wide and
that any and all traffic would be prevented from entering or exiting
Narragansett Bay, it kind of went away.
Proposals like a ID card or transponders isn't workable for any number
of reasons including enforcement. They can't enforce the rules now as
they discovered with the Newport Bridge - how the hell are they going
to enforce universal ID or get the money for computer support for
transponders?
And think of the technical challenge with transponders. On any given
summer day, there are thousands of boats with easy access to power
plants, airport runways, bridges, shipping - you name it.
The reasonable approach would be to allow a stop and check ID - which
would be a state driver's license or similar boating license.
Any other approach is just plain silly.