Deadly accident prompts call for engine limitation, age restrictions for boaters
 

Interesting response to this tragedy.....

At least the proposed horsepower restriction isn't entirely draconian-
500-HP is enough for most applications.

Question would be; does the local government really have the right to
dictate who can run a boat and how that boat can be rigged on a public
waterway- or should the government's role be limited to ensuring that
whatever boat is operated by whomever- it is operated safely?. Can
Joe Doaks rig his boat with 3000 HP, as long as he obeys the 10-knot
speed limit?

Item:

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

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - An incident in which a large boat sliced through
a smaller boat - killing two people this summer on Long Lake - has
prompted a legislator to propose limits on motors allowed on that
lake.

Rep. Richard Sykes, R-Harrison, wants to submit a bill limiting boat
motors to 500 horsepower or less on Long Lake, where the accident
happened Aug. 11. Sykes also proposes better enforcement of boating
laws, including hiring a summer warden on the lake during high-traffic
periods, and requiring boaters to take tests before they can operate
on Maine waters.

Other lawmakers want to submit similar bills during the 2008 session,
which begins in January. Legislative leaders must vote to allow the
bills to be introduced if they are to be considered.

Two people were killed when 34-foot, high-performance boat with twin,
435-horsepower engines slammed into a smaller, 14-foot boat in
Harrison on Aug. 11.

Robert LaPointe Jr. of Medway, Mass., has been indicted on charges of
manslaughter and operating under the influence in connection with the
collision, which took the lives of Terry Raye Trott, 55, of Naples,
and Suzanne Groetzinger, 44, of Berwick.

LaPointe, 38, and his passenger, 19-year-old Nicole Randall of
Bridgton, were thrown into the water while their boat raced ashore.
LaPointe posted bail earlier this month and was released from jail.

Under present state law, the high-powered boat that was involved in
the Long Lake accident "could have been operated by a 12-year-old
kid," said Sykes, who wants to set a minimum age of 16 for the
operation of certain boats.

State law currently allows a 12-year-old to operate a boat of more
than 10 horsepower if someone at least 16 is supervising.

The state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, which enforces
boating laws on the state's lakes, is not taking a position on the
bills until the final language is drafted.

Deadly accident prompts call for engine limitation, age restrictionsfor boaters
 

Chuck Gould wrote:
Interesting response to this tragedy.....

At least the proposed horsepower restriction isn't entirely draconian-
500-HP is enough for most applications.

Question would be; does the local government really have the right to
dictate who can run a boat and how that boat can be rigged on a public
waterway- or should the government's role be limited to ensuring that
whatever boat is operated by whomever- it is operated safely?. Can
Joe Doaks rig his boat with 3000 HP, as long as he obeys the 10-knot
speed limit?

Item:

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

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - An incident in which a large boat sliced through
a smaller boat - killing two people this summer on Long Lake - has
prompted a legislator to propose limits on motors allowed on that
lake.

Rep. Richard Sykes, R-Harrison, wants to submit a bill limiting boat
motors to 500 horsepower or less on Long Lake, where the accident
happened Aug. 11. Sykes also proposes better enforcement of boating
laws, including hiring a summer warden on the lake during high-traffic
periods, and requiring boaters to take tests before they can operate
on Maine waters.

Other lawmakers want to submit similar bills during the 2008 session,
which begins in January. Legislative leaders must vote to allow the
bills to be introduced if they are to be considered.

Two people were killed when 34-foot, high-performance boat with twin,
435-horsepower engines slammed into a smaller, 14-foot boat in
Harrison on Aug. 11.

Robert LaPointe Jr. of Medway, Mass., has been indicted on charges of
manslaughter and operating under the influence in connection with the
collision, which took the lives of Terry Raye Trott, 55, of Naples,
and Suzanne Groetzinger, 44, of Berwick.

LaPointe, 38, and his passenger, 19-year-old Nicole Randall of
Bridgton, were thrown into the water while their boat raced ashore.
LaPointe posted bail earlier this month and was released from jail.

Under present state law, the high-powered boat that was involved in
the Long Lake accident "could have been operated by a 12-year-old
kid," said Sykes, who wants to set a minimum age of 16 for the
operation of certain boats.

State law currently allows a 12-year-old to operate a boat of more
than 10 horsepower if someone at least 16 is supervising.

The state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, which enforces
boating laws on the state's lakes, is not taking a position on the
bills until the final language is drafted.

Simply limiting the HP is not going to resolve the underlying problem.
Even at 500HP, those two poor souls would not have had a chance.

The issue of whether or not a 12-yr old could operate that boat is
irrelevant to the crash. It is highly unlikely the average 12-yr would
be operating such a boat after 9 pm after a day of drinking. What good
would a change in law for an increased minimum age be to prevent this
from happening again?

Something else sounds a bit fishy here. What reason can a 38 yr old use
to explain being out drinking with a 19 yr old 'family friend'?

Deadly accident prompts call for engine limitation, age restrictions for boaters
 

On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:22:50 -0400, DownTime
wrote:

What reason can a 38 yr old use
to explain being out drinking with a 19 yr old 'family friend'?

rasises hand OBJECTION, your Honor. This is irrelevant and
immaterial.

Perry Mason

Deadly accident prompts call for engine limitation, age restrictions for boaters
 

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ps.com...
Interesting response to this tragedy.....

At least the proposed horsepower restriction isn't entirely draconian-
500-HP is enough for most applications.

Question would be; does the local government really have the right to
dictate who can run a boat and how that boat can be rigged on a public
waterway- or should the government's role be limited to ensuring that
whatever boat is operated by whomever- it is operated safely?. Can
Joe Doaks rig his boat with 3000 HP, as long as he obeys the 10-knot
speed limit?


Huh?

Governments determine how cars can or cannot be equipped. For instance, you
can't run certain types of slicks on your car, at least not on public roads
in NY. However, the problem is not how that boat was equipped. The problem
is the DUI laws. Drunks who kill should face a different law - they should
be tried for murder, not manslaughter, and judges' hands should be tied with
rules for draconian mandatory sentences. Drinking and driving/boating is a
conscious choice you make. Once you start the engine, there is intent to
kill.

Very simple.

Deadly accident prompts call for engine limitation, age restrictions for boaters
 

On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:10:09 -0500, lid wrote:

On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:22:50 -0400, DownTime
wrote:

What reason can a 38 yr old use
to explain being out drinking with a 19 yr old 'family friend'?

I can think of a couple of VERY good reasons that should not only be
acceptable, but encouraged! (Now let's see, if he was 38 and I am 50
then the equivalent gal for me would be 31 - that's not bad, but I
wouldn't mind younger).

rasises hand OBJECTION, your Honor. This is irrelevant and
immaterial.

Perry Mason

Deadly accident prompts call for engine limitation, age restrictionsfor boaters
 

Dave Hall wrote:
On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:10:09 -0500, lid wrote:

On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:22:50 -0400, DownTime
wrote:

What reason can a 38 yr old use
to explain being out drinking with a 19 yr old 'family friend'?

I can think of a couple of VERY good reasons that should not only be
acceptable, but encouraged! (Now let's see, if he was 38 and I am 50
then the equivalent gal for me would be 31 - that's not bad, but I
wouldn't mind younger).

rasises hand OBJECTION, your Honor. This is irrelevant and
immaterial.

Perry Mason

Well, i am 46, by your math, it gives me a 27 yr old 'family friend' for
boating adventures. Legal in every state, except one, The Spousal State
Of Mind.

Ah, but a boater can always dream, can't he?

Deadly accident prompts call for engine limitation, age restrictions for boaters
 

On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 08:47:41 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

Question would be; does the local government really have the right to
dictate who can run a boat and how that boat can be rigged on a public
waterway

The answer is yes. There are many lakes with local restrictions. Some
allow no power boats at all, and some limit horsepower, typically to
under 10 hp or some such.

Deadly accident prompts call for engine limitation, age restrictionsfor boaters
 

DownTime wrote:
Dave Hall wrote:
On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:10:09 -0500, lid wrote:

On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:22:50 -0400, DownTime
wrote:

What reason can a 38 yr old use to explain being out drinking with a
19 yr old 'family friend'?

I can think of a couple of VERY good reasons that should not only be
acceptable, but encouraged! (Now let's see, if he was 38 and I am 50
then the equivalent gal for me would be 31 - that's not bad, but I
wouldn't mind younger).

rasises hand OBJECTION, your Honor. This is irrelevant and
immaterial.

Perry Mason

Well, i am 46, by your math, it gives me a 27 yr old 'family friend' for
boating adventures. Legal in every state, except one, The Spousal State
Of Mind.

Ah, but a boater can always dream, can't he?

NO WAIT! I double checked the math, 19 is one-half of 38. That gives you
a 25 and me a 23. ;)

Deadly accident prompts call for engine limitation, age restrictions for boaters
 

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote
Drinking and driving/boating is a conscious choice you make. Once you
start the engine, there is intent to kill.

I see belong to both the temperance league and the drama club...

Deadly accident prompts call for engine limitation, age restrictions for boaters
 

"Ernest Scribbler" wrote in message
et...
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote
Drinking and driving/boating is a conscious choice you make. Once you
start the engine, there is intent to kill.

I see belong to both the temperance league and the drama club...



Temperance? You never saw me say people should not drink at all.

Drama? In a county south of here, the district attorney tried a drunk driver
for murder rather than manslaughter. The jury almost went for it, too.