Interesting situation that could set some dangerous precedents.

A judge in Alabama is deciding whether residents living around a lake
can
decide what sort of watercraft will be allowed to use the lake.



*************

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A state judge could decide in a little more
than a month whether to uphold an Alabama law banning high-speed
cigarette boats and large house boats from three popular Alabama
lakes.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick heard the final
testimony Monday in a lawsuit challenging the law. He gave attorneys
for both sides 30 days to prepare proposed orders and said he would
rule shortly after receiving them.

In 2006, the Legislature passed - and the governor signed -
legislation that banned some boats from three Alabama Power Co .
lakes: Martin, Weiss and Harris, which is also known as Lake Wedowee.
Banned were cigarette boats longer than 26 feet, 11 inches and rated
for speeds more than 60 mph, and all new boats, including houseboats,
longer than 30 feet, 6 inches. Houseboats already on the lake could
remain, provided they had sanitation systems designed to prevent waste
from getting into the lakes.

Opponents of the law challenged it in court, and state Conservation
Commissioner Barnett Lawley delayed enforcement pending a ruling.

"We still feel that there's no reasonable basis to single out these
law-abiding boaters," Montgomery attorney Frank Wilson told The Daily
Home of Talladega. Wilson represents a Jasper boat dealer and several
boat owners on Lake Martin.

Montgomery attorney Bobby Segall, who represents four Lake Martin
residents, said the law "reflects what 95 percent of the residences on
Lake Martin want." He said the state has the right to set aside water
for specific uses much like it does land.

Alabama Power intervened in the case in support of the law, saying it
has an interest in protecting property values and property uses
because it is a significant landowner at the lakes.

The push for the law began after Georgia developers expressed an
interest in building a resort community on Lake Harris, provided
boating restrictions were enacted.

Information from: The Daily Home - Talladega, http://www.dailyhome.com

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
Interesting situation that could set some dangerous precedents.

A judge in Alabama is deciding whether residents living around a lake
can
decide what sort of watercraft will be allowed to use the lake.



*************

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A state judge could decide in a little more
than a month whether to uphold an Alabama law banning high-speed
cigarette boats and large house boats from three popular Alabama
lakes.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick heard the final
testimony Monday in a lawsuit challenging the law. He gave attorneys
for both sides 30 days to prepare proposed orders and said he would
rule shortly after receiving them.

In 2006, the Legislature passed - and the governor signed -
legislation that banned some boats from three Alabama Power Co .
lakes: Martin, Weiss and Harris, which is also known as Lake Wedowee.
Banned were cigarette boats longer than 26 feet, 11 inches and rated
for speeds more than 60 mph, and all new boats, including houseboats,
longer than 30 feet, 6 inches. Houseboats already on the lake could
remain, provided they had sanitation systems designed to prevent waste
from getting into the lakes.


Sounds like a law that's not quite focused.

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:08:18 GMT, JoeSpareBedroom penned the following
well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

Sounds like a law that's not quite focused.


Sounds like an HOA on the horizon that want to make sure that nobody
is out of step.....

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
-----------------
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Access your favorite newsgroups from home or on the road
-----------------

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:08:18 GMT, JoeSpareBedroom penned the following
well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

Sounds like a law that's not quite focused.


Sounds like an HOA on the horizon that want to make sure that nobody
is out of step.....


Well, they need to separate the rules by safety and "other". There are lakes
around here that are full of modest little cottages, owned by people who
aren't rich at all. They've established speed limits that are viciously
enforced because the lakes are crowded. There's nothing wrong with that. I
*never* see cigarette-type boats on those lakes, I suppose because there's
no point in owning one if the speed limit's 30 mph.

As far as what's ugly...that's another issue.

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:15:25 GMT, JoeSpareBedroom penned the following
well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

As far as what's ugly...that's another issue.

And a bit subjective..... that just might be the problem!

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
-----------------
www.Newsgroup-Binaries.com - *Completion*Retention*Speed*
Access your favorite newsgroups from home or on the road
-----------------

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:15:25 GMT, JoeSpareBedroom penned the following
well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

As far as what's ugly...that's another issue.

And a bit subjective..... that just might be the problem!


Exactly.

Then there's the issue of sewage. I wonder why they're focusing on one
category of boat, as far as sanitation systems. Here, NO boat can discharge
toilet refuse, although there might be a distance limit for those in the
middle of Lake Ontario. I wonder if Alabama has no such rules in place.
Could they really be so backward?

Chuck Gould wrote:
Interesting situation that could set some dangerous precedents.

A judge in Alabama is deciding whether residents living around a lake
can
decide what sort of watercraft will be allowed to use the lake.



*************

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A state judge could decide in a little more
than a month whether to uphold an Alabama law banning high-speed
cigarette boats and large house boats from three popular Alabama
lakes.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick heard the final
testimony Monday in a lawsuit challenging the law. He gave attorneys
for both sides 30 days to prepare proposed orders and said he would
rule shortly after receiving them.

In 2006, the Legislature passed - and the governor signed -
legislation that banned some boats from three Alabama Power Co .
lakes: Martin, Weiss and Harris, which is also known as Lake Wedowee.
Banned were cigarette boats longer than 26 feet, 11 inches and rated
for speeds more than 60 mph, and all new boats, including houseboats,
longer than 30 feet, 6 inches. Houseboats already on the lake could
remain, provided they had sanitation systems designed to prevent waste
from getting into the lakes.

Opponents of the law challenged it in court, and state Conservation
Commissioner Barnett Lawley delayed enforcement pending a ruling.

"We still feel that there's no reasonable basis to single out these
law-abiding boaters," Montgomery attorney Frank Wilson told The Daily
Home of Talladega. Wilson represents a Jasper boat dealer and several
boat owners on Lake Martin.

Montgomery attorney Bobby Segall, who represents four Lake Martin
residents, said the law "reflects what 95 percent of the residences on
Lake Martin want." He said the state has the right to set aside water
for specific uses much like it does land.

Alabama Power intervened in the case in support of the law, saying it
has an interest in protecting property values and property uses
because it is a significant landowner at the lakes.

The push for the law began after Georgia developers expressed an
interest in building a resort community on Lake Harris, provided
boating restrictions were enacted.

Information from: The Daily Home - Talladega, http://www.dailyhome.com



Banning superfast boats on small lakes isn't necessarily a bad idea, nor
is banning boats larger houseboats.

"HK" wrote in message
...

Chuck Gould wrote:
Interesting situation that could set some dangerous precedents.

A judge in Alabama is deciding whether residents living around a lake
can
decide what sort of watercraft will be allowed to use the lake.



*************

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A state judge could decide in a little more
than a month whether to uphold an Alabama law banning high-speed
cigarette boats and large house boats from three popular Alabama
lakes.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick heard the final
testimony Monday in a lawsuit challenging the law. He gave attorneys
for both sides 30 days to prepare proposed orders and said he would
rule shortly after receiving them.

In 2006, the Legislature passed - and the governor signed -
legislation that banned some boats from three Alabama Power Co .
lakes: Martin, Weiss and Harris, which is also known as Lake Wedowee.
Banned were cigarette boats longer than 26 feet, 11 inches and rated
for speeds more than 60 mph, and all new boats, including houseboats,
longer than 30 feet, 6 inches. Houseboats already on the lake could
remain, provided they had sanitation systems designed to prevent waste
from getting into the lakes.

Opponents of the law challenged it in court, and state Conservation
Commissioner Barnett Lawley delayed enforcement pending a ruling.

"We still feel that there's no reasonable basis to single out these
law-abiding boaters," Montgomery attorney Frank Wilson told The Daily
Home of Talladega. Wilson represents a Jasper boat dealer and several
boat owners on Lake Martin.

Montgomery attorney Bobby Segall, who represents four Lake Martin
residents, said the law "reflects what 95 percent of the residences on
Lake Martin want." He said the state has the right to set aside water
for specific uses much like it does land.

Alabama Power intervened in the case in support of the law, saying it
has an interest in protecting property values and property uses
because it is a significant landowner at the lakes.

The push for the law began after Georgia developers expressed an
interest in building a resort community on Lake Harris, provided
boating restrictions were enacted.

Information from: The Daily Home - Talladega, http://www.dailyhome.com



Banning superfast boats on small lakes isn't necessarily a bad idea, nor
is banning boats larger houseboats.

Why larger houseboats? Why not all boats larger than a certain size? This
question is based on the assumption that the reporter's information is
accurate. He mentions sanitation systems......can't other boats have issues
with sanitation, or just houseboats?

On Sep 24, 7:32 am, "JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:
"HK" wrote in message

...





Chuck Gould wrote:
Interesting situation that could set some dangerous precedents.

A judge in Alabama is deciding whether residents living around a lake
can
decide what sort of watercraft will be allowed to use the lake.

*************

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A state judge could decide in a little more
than a month whether to uphold an Alabama law banning high-speed
cigarette boats and large house boats from three popular Alabama
lakes.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick heard the final
testimony Monday in a lawsuit challenging the law. He gave attorneys
for both sides 30 days to prepare proposed orders and said he would
rule shortly after receiving them.

In 2006, the Legislature passed - and the governor signed -
legislation that banned some boats from three Alabama Power Co .
lakes: Martin, Weiss and Harris, which is also known as Lake Wedowee.
Banned were cigarette boats longer than 26 feet, 11 inches and rated
for speeds more than 60 mph, and all new boats, including houseboats,
longer than 30 feet, 6 inches. Houseboats already on the lake could
remain, provided they had sanitation systems designed to prevent waste
from getting into the lakes.

Opponents of the law challenged it in court, and state Conservation
Commissioner Barnett Lawley delayed enforcement pending a ruling.

"We still feel that there's no reasonable basis to single out these
law-abiding boaters," Montgomery attorney Frank Wilson told The Daily
Home of Talladega. Wilson represents a Jasper boat dealer and several
boat owners on Lake Martin.

Montgomery attorney Bobby Segall, who represents four Lake Martin
residents, said the law "reflects what 95 percent of the residences on
Lake Martin want." He said the state has the right to set aside water
for specific uses much like it does land.

Alabama Power intervened in the case in support of the law, saying it
has an interest in protecting property values and property uses
because it is a significant landowner at the lakes.

The push for the law began after Georgia developers expressed an
interest in building a resort community on Lake Harris, provided
boating restrictions were enacted.

Information from: The Daily Home - Talladega,http://www.dailyhome.com

Banning superfast boats on small lakes isn't necessarily a bad idea, nor
is banning boats larger houseboats.

Why larger houseboats? Why not all boats larger than a certain size? This
question is based on the assumption that the reporter's information is
accurate. He mentions sanitation systems......can't other boats have issues
with sanitation, or just houseboats?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Remember, people live in anything down there, I have lived in Bama'
some of the dwellings I saw would not be acceptable as sheds here in
the NE.. This is probably more local than we know. These boats must be
the ones stirring up problems, cigarette boats,the problems are
obvious, with the houseboats, you could be having an influx of
permanant residences being estalished on the lakes, the locals could
be trying to slow this down...

Remember, people live in anything down there, I have lived in Bama'
some of the dwellings I saw would not be acceptable as sheds here in
the NE.. This is probably more local than we know. These boats must be
the ones stirring up problems, cigarette boats,the problems are
obvious, with the houseboats, you could be having an influx of
permanant residences being estalished on the lakes, the locals could
be trying to slow this down...

It's obvious that you haven't seen the homes around these lakes in recent
times. There are no "sheds" on the shores of any of these lakes. Far from
it.