"The Real Doctor" wrote in message
...
On 17/10/12 20:49, Wilbur Hubbard wrote:
Any law that says it's illegal to go through a
bridge (I assume you mean a bridge that opens) under sail power is an
unconstitutional law and needs to be challenged.

Really? Which clause of whose constitution, precisely?

Ian



"Section 2 of Article III of the United States Constitution gives
original jurisdiction in admiralty matters to the federal courts.
The federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over most admiralty
and maritime claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1333. Under this
statute, federal district courts are granted original jurisdiction
over admiralty actions "saving to suitors," a right to file suit for
most of these actions in state court."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_..._admiralty_law


In other words, any US state or municipality that attempts to
control navigation rights over and above those limits placed upon
it by the federal courts is acting unilaterally and at odds with
federal jurisdiction. All it would take to overturn ANY local law
restricting sailing under bridges would be a case filed in
federal court.


Wilbur Hubbard